Niti Aayog being decked up to welcome top functionaries

Niti Aayog has replaced the 65-year old Planning Commission, a vestige of the socialist era.

The room of Panagariya, which was earlier occupied by his predecessor Montek Singh Ahluwalia is being refurbished for the new occupant.

The staff has even put the name plate of Panagariya on the door, though he is expected to take charge only in a couple of days.

The landmark sign board in front of Yojana Bhawan has already been repainted as Niti Aayog. The rooms to seat the other full time members of the Aayog is also being prepared before their joining.

The anxious staff of the Yojana Bhawan appeared to be heaving a sign of relief after the government announced formation of the Niti Aayog on January 1.

Government had announced the appointment of Noted economist, Panagariya as Vice-Chairman of the Niti Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) and its other members on Monday.

Economist Bibek Debroy and former DRDO chief V K Saraswat were appointed as full-time members by the Prime Minister who is the formal head of the Aayog.

Read: News in Hindi and Newspaper

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NITI Aayog replaces Planning Commission; PM Modi to head new body

The inclusion of Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors in the Governing Council is a break with the past in the structuring of NITI Aayog, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi, described as a landmark change that will foster spirit of cooperative federalism.

The body will have a Vice Chairperson and a CEO in addition to five full-time members and two part-time members, while four union ministers would serve as ex-officio members.


The erstwhile command economy era body set up nearly 65 years ago by late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had a Deputy Chairman and full-time members with a member secretary, an official, as a convener.

A PMO statement said 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. It will put an end to "slow and tardy implementation of policy", it said.

Noted economist Arvind Panagariya is tipped to be the first Vice-Chairman of Niti Aayog.

Source: Hindi News and Newspaper

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