NITI Aayog and The Governing Council

Which of the following statements are correct about NITI Aayog?

  1. NITI Aayog was established to replace the Planning Commission of India.
  2. The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime Minister of India.
  3. The Governing Council includes all the Governors of States.

(A) Only II and III
(B) Only II
(C) Only I
(D) Only I and II

EXPLANATION

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established to replace the Planning Commission of India. Let’s analyze each statement in detail.

1️⃣ Statement I:

NITI Aayog was established to replace the Planning Commission of India. ✅ True

  • Background:

    • The Planning Commission was established in 1950 to formulate India’s Five-Year Plans and allocate resources centrally.

    • Over time, the Planning Commission was criticized for being overly centralized and not accommodating the needs of states effectively.

  • NITI Aayog:

    • Established on 1 January 2015 by the Government of India.

    • Objectives:

      1. Promote cooperative federalism – giving states a bigger role in policy-making.

      2. Serve as a policy think tank – focusing on long-term strategic planning rather than centralized resource allocation.

      3. Act as an advisory body – providing recommendations to the Union and State governments.

✅ Therefore, Statement I is correct.

2️⃣ Statement II:

The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime Minister of India. ❌ False

  • Actual fact:

    • The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog is appointed by the President of India, not the Prime Minister.

    • Term: Typically 3 years, can be extended.

    • The Prime Minister serves as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.

So, Statement II is incorrect.

3️⃣ Statement III:

The Governing Council includes all the Governors of States. ❌ False

  • Actual fact:

    • The Governing Council includes:

      • Chief Ministers of all States

      • Lt. Governors of Union Territories

    • Governors of states are not members.

Hence, Statement III is incorrect.

Summary Table:

Statement Correct/Incorrect Reason
I ✅ Correct NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission.
II ❌ Incorrect Vice Chairman appointed by President, not PM.
III ❌ Incorrect Governing Council includes CMs & Lt. Governors, not Governors.

Conclusion:

  • Only Statement I is correct.

✅ Final Answer: (C) Only I

 

NITI Aayog and The Governing Council