NITI Aayog completes 100 Days, begins 12th Plan Appraisal

A mid-term appraisal of the 12th Plan (2012-17), to take stock of the progress thus far and finalise a strategy for course correction where needed is one of the top priorities for the government’s principal think tank, Niti Aayog, as it completed 100 days on Saturday.

“This opportunity is also being used to weave in the national development agenda discussed in the meeting of the governing council for its suitable implementation in the remaining two years of the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17),” the council said in a statement.

Referring to the tasks undertaken during its 100 days in office, the think tank said the Governing Council of NITI Aayog has requested states to create appropriate institutional mechanisms to address issues which cause delay in execution of the project. This is being further monitored by the council.

Following the decision taken in the Governing Council meeting, two task forces have been formed in order to tackle subjects of agriculture development and elimination of poverty. In addition, every state will constitute task forces on these subjects.

The Union Budget 2015-16 announced the setting up of Atal Innovation Mission (AIM), Self-Employment and Talent Utilization (SETU) and Unified National Agriculture Market under the NITI Aayog.

The council was constituted with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chair and economist Arvind Panagariya as the vice chair. While Bibek Debroy and V.K. Saraswat are full-time members, bureaucrat Sindhushree Khullar is the chief executive.

The other tasks undertaken by Niti Aayog include:

* The first meeting of sub group on rationalisation of Centrally Sponsored Schemes, was held in the NITI Aayog on March 27, 2015

* An e-book on the NITI Aayog was launched

* As NITI’s first initiative, the report “India’s Renewable Electricity Roadmap 2030-Toward Accelerated Renewable Electricity Deployment” was released at the Renewable Energy Global Investors Meet & Expo (IANS)