NITI Aayog: the 2015 resolution, its councils and cooperative federalism
Why in news: An All India Radio report of 19 October 2026 described NITI Aayog's Governing Council, State Support Mission and Aspirational Districts Programme.
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the Union Government's policy think tank, constituted by a Cabinet resolution that took effect on 1 January 2015 and replaced the Planning Commission. The Prime Minister chairs it, and it works with States through its Governing Council and programmes. An All India Radio series revisited this model on 19 October 2026.
Syllabus: GS3 · Indian Economy & Growth; GS2 · Federalism & Local Government; Prelims · Polity & Governance
Why this matters for UPSC
GS2 and GS3 Mains ask how NITI Aayog differs from the Planning Commission and whether it serves cooperative federalism; Prelims asks its basis, the composition of its Governing Council and programmes such as the Aspirational Districts Programme.
In short
NITI Aayog is the Union Government's policy think tank, set up by a Cabinet resolution in 2015 to replace the Planning Commission and to foster cooperative federalism with the States.
NITI Aayog's value rests on persuasion and evidence; its councils and district rankings must keep States as equal partners for cooperative federalism to hold.
Why it matters
Most of what shapes daily life, such as schools, clinics, farm support and roads, is run by State governments. When the Centre and a State plan separately, money and effort can be wasted or pull in different directions. NITI Aayog tries to make them plan together: Chief Ministers sit at one table with the Prime Minister, State planning offices get expert help, and the poorest districts are measured and compared so that lagging ones catch up. A family in a backward district gains if its local clinic or school improves because officials are watched on results. The larger question is how a large federation keeps national goals without overriding its States.
Prelims pointers
- Paragraph 13 of the 2015 resolution: at most 2 part-time members, from universities and research bodies, serving on rotation in an ex officio capacity.
- Ex officio members: at most 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers, nominated by the Prime Minister.
- Chief Executive Officer: appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
- Regional Councils are convened by the Prime Minister and chaired by NITI Aayog's Chairperson or his nominee.
- Governing Council members: Chief Ministers of all States and of Union Territories with legislatures, and Lieutenant Governors of other Union Territories.
- DMEO was constituted in September 2015 by merging the erstwhile Program Evaluation Office and the Independent Evaluation Office.
- Aspirational Districts Programme rests on three principles: Convergence of schemes, Collaboration across levels of government, and Competition through rankings.
- Atal Innovation Mission 2.0: approved by the Union Cabinet in November 2024 with Rs 2,750 crore till 31 March 2028, under NITI Aayog.
Practise a UPSC-style question
With reference to NITI Aayog, consider the following statements:
1. It was constituted by a Cabinet Secretariat resolution that came into force on 1 January 2015.
2. Its founding resolution provides for a Chief Executive Officer in the rank of Cabinet Secretary.
3. The Planning Commission it replaced had also been set up through a Cabinet resolution, in March 1950.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 and 3 only
- (c) 1 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only
Answer: (c) 1 and 3 only. The CEO holds the rank of Secretary to the Government of India, not Cabinet Secretary.
Statement 1: correct. Resolution No. 511/2/1/2015-Cab constituted NITI Aayog with effect from 1 January 2015.
Statement 2: incorrect. Paragraph 13 of the resolution provides a CEO appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
Statement 3: correct. The Planning Commission was set up on 15 March 1950 through a Cabinet resolution, which the 2015 resolution superseded.
Eliminate: Judge statement 2 first: the CEO's rank is Secretary, so statement 2 is incorrect. Out: (a), (b), (d).
Trap: Look-alike names. Secretary and Cabinet Secretary sound close; the resolution fixes the lower rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
Remember: NITI Aayog, 1 January 2015, by Cabinet resolution; CEO in the rank of Secretary.
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