How are the principles followed by the niti aayog different from those followed by the erstwhile planning commission in india?
Answers
A major institutional reform is the move away from planning, to transforming India. The setting up of NITI Aayog, is a step in this direction. -Narendra Modi
Inception of NITI Aayog
From the ramparts of the Red Fort on 15th August 2014, the Prime Minister of India made statement to replace Planning Commission with NITI Aayog. PM statement made it amply clear that the Nehruvian Model of planning commission has breathed its last.
Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position. -Mahatma Gandhi
Plnning Commission | योजना आयोग
p anning Commission was established on 15th March 1950 by Late Jawahar Lal Nehru taking inspiration from Soviet Union’s Experiment of planned development aiming towards having a socialistic society using process of hierarchical or top down model. It was seen as one of the important power centers in the Union government, sarcastically called as the Super Cabinet. It was also known for its Five Year Plans.
NITI Aayog (Policy Commission) | नीति आयोग
NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India. . It was established in 1st January 2015 with the aim to achieve Sustainable Development Goals and to enhance cooperative federalism by fostering involvement of State Government of India in the economic policy-making process using a non-hierarchical or bottom up approach. It is the policy think tank of Government of India and a replacement of Planning commission.
Why was replacement needed?
The replacement of the Planning Commission by NITI Aayog will help change the emphasis from projects and programmes to policy and institutions, from expenditure inputs to real outcomes through better governance, and from political disputation over incremental allocations to new challenges and opportunities.
Planning Commission Vs NITI Aayog
Composition, Constitution & Reporting
Planning Commission had deputy chairperson, a member secretary, and full-time members. Secretaries or member secretaries appointed by the usual process.
NITI Aayog has two new posts of CEO of secretary rank, and Vice-Chairperson. It has five full-time members and two part-time members. Four cabinet ministers serves as ex-officio members. CEO is appointed directly by Prime Minister. Current composition of NITI Aayog-Manish Kumar's answer to How is NITI Aayog structured?
2. Planning
Planning commission goes for top-down planning for government with public sector resources.
NITI Aayog goes for bottom up approach to formulate national development strategy in a market economy integrated with the globalized world.
3. Finance
The role of Finance Commission was greatly reduced with the formation of Planning Commission. Allocation of funds were decided by the Planning Commission.
NITI Aayog don’t any role in fund allocation. Finance ministry to decide the share of taxes to states, fund allocation and Union assistance
4. Role of States
The planning commission was a central government institution and no representation of state government. There was no structural mechanism for interaction with states.
NITI Aayog provides a partnership with state governments to promote co-operative federalism. It provides a platform for structured and regular interaction with states.
Drawbacks of NITI Aayog
Like planning commission, it’s also a non-constitutional body which is not responsible to parliament.
Dismantled planning commission without consulting the states.
UTs are represented by Lieutenant Governors, not by chief ministers. This is against the principles of federalism.
Fund allocation to welfare schemes may get affected.
NITI Aayog Current Status & Way Forward
NITI Aayog and CEO Amitabh Kant have always been in the news for initiating new and challenging policies. Many initiatives that are known to you by the face of Narendra Modi is creativity of NITI Aayog such Digital India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, Agricultural reforms, Skill Development and many more. It is the NITI Aayog which is the real hero of this development and Narendra Modi being its mascot. As far as future is concerned, its initiatives include 15 year road map, 7 years vision, strategy and action plan and the growth of India in these 3 years since its inception proves that NITI Aayog is on the right track.