By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, JAN 01, 2015 THE Union Cabinet today passed the Resolution to replace the hoary institution of Planning Commission by Niti Aayog. The new body is to be headed by the Prime Minister and all the Chief Ministers will be the Members of the Governing Council. This is also slated to be the 'Think Tank' for transforming India.

NITI Aayog will provide Governments at the central and state levels with relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of policy, this includes matters of national and international import on the economic front, dissemination of best practices from within the country as well as from other nations, the infusion of new policy ideas and specific issue-based support.

The centre-to-state one-way flow of policy, that was the hallmark of the Planning Commission era, is now sought to be replaced by a genuine and continuing partnership of states.

The NITI Aayog will also seek to put an end to slow and tardy implementation of policy, by fostering better Inter-Ministry coordination and better Centre-State coordination. It will help evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, and foster cooperative federalism, recognizing that strong states make a strong nation.

The NITI Aayog will develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans to the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government. It will ensure special attention to the sections of society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress.

The NITI Aayog will create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and partners. It will offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.

In addition, the NITI Aayog will monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes, and focus on technology upgradation and capacity building.

Through the above, the NITI Aayog will aim to accomplish the following objectives and opportunities:

++ An administration paradigm in which the Government is an "enabler" rather than a "provider of first and last resort."

++ Progress from "food security" to focus on a mix of agricultural production, as well as actual returns that farmers get from their produce.

++ Ensure that India is an active player in the debates and deliberations on the global commons.

++ Ensure that the economically vibrant middle-class remains engaged, and its potential is fully realized.

++ Leverage India's pool of entrepreneurial, scientific and intellectual human capital.

++ Incorporate the significant geo-economic and geo-political strength of the Non-Resident Indian Community.

++ Use urbanization as an opportunity to create a wholesome and secure habitat through the use of modern technology.

++ Use technology to reduce opacity and potential for misadventures in governance.