NITI Aayog was formed on

The correct answer is Thu Jan 01 2015 00:00:00 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time).

Key Points

• NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on 1st January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission.
• The decision to form NITI Aayog was taken by the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to align with a more participative and decentralized governance framework.
• It serves as the policy think tank of the Government of India, aimed at fostering cooperative federalism through structured support systems for states.
• The primary objective of NITI Aayog is to promote sustainable development, innovation, and strategic policy-making across diverse sectors.
• NITI Aayog functions through an organized structure, including a governing council consisting of the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers, and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories.

Additional Information

• Planning Commission:
  • The Planning Commission was formed in 1950 and played a significant role in formulating India’s Five-Year Plans.
  • It was dissolved in 2014 due to criticisms of being rigid, centralized, and outdated in addressing modern developmental challenges.
• Cooperative Federalism:
  • It is a governance model where the central and state governments work collaboratively to achieve national goals.
  • NITI Aayog promotes this principle by engaging states as equal stakeholders in decision-making and implementation processes.
• NITI Aayog’s Key Initiatives:
  • Aspirational Districts Programme: Aims to improve socio-economic indicators in underdeveloped districts.
  • Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Focuses on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship through initiatives like Atal Tinkering Labs.
  • SDG Monitoring: NITI Aayog tracks India’s progress on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the national and state levels.
• Difference Between Planning Commission and NITI Aayog:
  • Planning Commission followed a top-down approach, while NITI Aayog adopts a bottom-up approach with active state participation.
  • NITI Aayog emphasizes flexible, sector-specific strategies rather than rigid five-year plans.