Highlights of Initiatives Under NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog, previously known as NITI, was created on January 1, 2015. It is also known as the think tank of the GOI, providing policy and direction contributions. NITI Aayog provides relevant technical assistance to the Centre, States, and Union Territories in addition to creating strategic and long-term policies and programs for the Government of India. The Prime Minister and all the Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories with legislatures and Lt Governors of other Union Territories chair the Governing Council of NITI Aayog. The NITI Aayog replaced the 1950 Planning Commission by the Government of India. This action was taken to better serve the people’s needs and ambitions. NITI Aayog is a significant evolutionary change that serves as the Government of India’s primary platform for bringing the States together in the national interest, fostering cooperative federalism. Let’s study further about the highlights of initiatives under NITI Aayog.

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The Planning Commission was made in 1950 after the independence, but this was a new era that required new solutions for new problems. Hence, the Government of India decided to launch NITI Aayog. Let’s take a look at the initiatives of Niti Aayog:

Vision Beyond the 12th Five Year Plan:

To replace the Five-Year Plans beyond March 31, 2017, NITI Aayog is preparing a 15-year vision document that will consider the social goals set and/or recommended for 15 years. A 7-year strategy plan, spanning 2017-18 to 2023-24, is also being developed to translate the long term vision into actionable policy and action as part of a “National Development Agenda.” The 3-year Action Agenda for 2017-18 to 2019-20 has been prepared & presented to the PM at the third Governing Council Meeting on April 23. 

 Changes in Agriculture:

Model Land Leasing Law

NITI Aayog has prepared a Model Agricultural Land Leasing Act, 2016, to both acknowledge the rights of tenants and protect the interests of landowners in response to an increase in incidences of leasing in and out of land and sub-optimal use of land with fewer farmers. In addition, NITI has established a dedicated land reform cell. 

• The Act of Reforms of the Agricultural Produce Marketing Committee 

On October 21, 2016, NITI Aayog held a consultation with the states on two essential reforms –

1. Agricultural marketing reforms
2. Agricultural land leasing

Model APMC Act version 2 was then created. To approve the APMC Act version 2, the states are being consulted.

• Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index

• The first-ever ‘Agriculture Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index’ has been created by NITI Aayog to raise awareness about the need for reforms across states in three critical areas — agriculture market reforms, land lease reforms, and private land forestry (Felling and Transit of Trees). The index has a score ranging from 0 to 100, with 0 indicating no reforms and 100 implying comprehensive reforms in the selected areas

• Reforms in medical education :

  • A committee formed by the Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog proposed that the Medical Council of India be abolished, and a new body be established to regulate medical education. The proposed National Medical Commission’s draft legislation has been presented to the government for further consideration.

    1. Digital Payments Movement 

    A strategy for advocacy, awareness, and coordination of handholding initiatives among the general public, small businesses, and other stakeholders was developed. Appropriate print and multimedia literature was developed for extensive distribution concerning the issue. NITI Aayog hosted presentations/interactions for various Ministries/Departments of the Government of India, representatives of State/UTs, Trade and Industry Bodies, and all other stakeholders for training and capacity building. A Committee of Chief Ministers on Digital Payments was also formed by the NITI Aayog. The Lucky Grahak Yojana and the Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana are two incentive schemes launched by Niti Aayog to promote digital payments among all sectors of society.

    1. Atal Innovation Mission

    The Atal Innovation Mission, also known as AIM, has been established by the Government within NITI Aayog with the goal to strengthen the country’s creativity and entrepreneurship by establishing institutions and programs that encourage innovation in schools, colleges, and businesses in general. The following important schemes were implemented in 2016-17:

    • Atal Tinkering Labs –

    AIM is assisting 500 ATLs in schools across India to encourage creativity and scientific temper in kids.

    • Atal Incubation Centres – 

    AIM will provide financial support of Rs.10 crore as well as capacity building for the establishment of Atal Incubation Centres (AICs) across India, which will help startups expand faster and enable innovation-entrepreneurship in core sectors.

    1. Measuring States’ Performance in Health, Education and Water Management with Indices

    NITI has developed indices to track incremental annual outcomes in critical social sectors such as health, education, and water, to encourage states to compete for better results while also sharing best practices and innovations to help one another- an example of competitive and cooperative federalism.

    1. SubGroup on Rationalization of Centrally Sponsored Schemes of CMs

    NITI Aayog submitted a Cabinet note in view of the ideas of this SubGroup, which the Cabinet approved on August 3, 2016. The sub-group led to the streamlining of the current CSSs into 28 umbrella schemes, among other major decisions.

    1. Sub-Group on Swachh Bharat Abhiyan of Chief Ministers 

    The Sub-Group was established by NITI Aayog on March 9, 2015. The Sub-Group submitted its report to the Prime Minister in October of the same year, with the majority of its suggestions being adopted.

    1. Sub-Group of CMs on Skill Development

    The report of the SubGroup of CMs on Skill Development, which was formed on March 9, 2015, was given to the  Prime Minister on December 31, 2015. The Prime Minister approved the report’s recommendations and actionable measures, which are already being implemented by the Ministry of Skill Development.

    1.  Elimination of Poverty in India –  Task Force

    The Task Force was established on March 16, 2015, under the chairmanship of Dr. Arvind Panagariya, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, and its report was submitted to the Prime Minister on July 11, 2016. The Task Force’s study focuses primarily on concerns of poverty measurement and poverty-fighting tactics. In terms of poverty-fighting measures, the Task Force has offered recommendations for speedier poverty reduction through employment-intensive, sustained economic growth and effective anti-poverty program implementation.

    1. Task Force on Agriculture Development

    The Task Force on Agricultural Development, chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya, was established on March 16, 2015. Based on its findings, the Task Force published an occasional paper titled “Raising Agricultural Productivity and Making Farming Rewarding for Farmers,” which focused on five key areas of Indian agriculture. These include (I) Increasing Productivity, (ii) Fair Prices for Farmers, (iii) Land Leasing, Land Records, and Land Titles; (iv) Focusing on the Eastern States in the Second Green Revolution; and (v) Responding to Farmers’ Distress.

    1. Transforming India Lecture Series

    As the country’s leading think tank, NITI Aayog sees knowledge creation and transmission as a key enabler of meaningful change in states. On August 26, 2016, NITI Aayog, with the full support of the Prime Minister, started the ‘NITI Lectures: Transforming India’ series to establish knowledge systems for States and the Centre. The lecture series is aimed at the Government of India’s highest policy-making team, which includes cabinet members and various senior tiers of the bureaucracy. Its goal is to convey cutting-edge development policy ideas to Indian policymakers and the general public to advance India’s transformation into a flourishing modern economy.

    Conclusion 

    To conclude, the government of India made a thoughtful decision by launching NITI Aayog as the 65-year-old Planning Commission had outlived its usefulness. It used to be relevant, but not anymore. India is a diverse country, with states at different stages of economic growth, each with its own set of strengths and disadvantages. In this setting, a one-size-fits-all approach to economic planning is no longer appropriate. NITI Aayog has played a role in improving these issues.