NITI Aayog

In Context

Parameswaran Iyer, who had spearheaded the implementation of the flagship USD 20 billion Swachh Bharat Mission, took charge as the CEO of NITI Aayog. 

• A 1981-batch IAS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre, Iyer has worked with both the public and private sectors, according to an official statement.

About NITI Aayog

• National Institution for Transforming India, better known as NITI Aayog, was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet on January 1, 2015.
  • The government constituted NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission, which had been instituted in 1950. 
• Composition 
  • The Prime Minister is the chairperson of NITI Aayog. 
  • The vice chairperson is appointed by the Prime Minister. 
    • Currently, there are three full-time members. 
  • Four Union ministers are nominated by the Prime Minister as Ex-officio members. Special Invitees are also nominated to NITI Aayog.
• Functions 
  • It acts as the quintessential platform of the government of India to bring the states to act together in national interest, and thereby fosters cooperative federalism.
  • It is the premier policy think tank of the government of India, providing directional and policy inputs. 
  • It also provides relevant strategic and technical advice to the Centre, states, and Union Territories.
  •  It is developing itself as a state-of-the-art resource centre with the necessary knowledge and skills that will enable it to act with speed, promote research and innovation, provide strategic policy vision for the government, and deal with contingent issues.

Source:ET