Context: An experienced policy economist and research administrator, Bery has replaced Rajiv Kumar as the vice-chairman of NITI Aayog.
NITI Aayog

• It was established as the successor to the planning commission in 2015.
• It is neither a constitutional body nor a statutory body.
• It is the premier policy ‘Think Tank’ of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs.
• It provides relevant technical advice to the Centre and States.

Composition

• Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India.
• Governing Council: It comprises the Chief Ministers of all the States, Chief Ministers of Union Territories with Legislatures (i.e., Delhi, Puducherry, and Jammu and Kashmir), and Lt. Governors of other Union Territories.
• Regional Councils: These are formed to address specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one state or a region. These are formed for a specified tenure.
• These are convened by the Prime Minister and comprised of the Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the region.
• These are chaired by the Chairperson of the NITI Aayog or his nominee.
• Special Invitees: Experts, specialists, and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Full-time Organisational Framework: It comprises, in addition to the Prime Minister as the Chairperson:
• Vice-Chairperson: He is appointed by the Prime Minister.

Members

• Full-time (They enjoy the rank of a Minister of State).
• Part-time Members: Maximum of 2, from leading universities research organizations, and other relevant institutions.
• Part-time members would be on a rotation.
• Ex-Officio Members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Chief Executive Officer: He is appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
• Secretariat: As deemed necessary.

Objectives

• To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors, and strategies with the active involvement of States.
• To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation.
• To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government.
• To ensure, in areas that are specifically referred to it, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economic strategy and policy.
• To pay special attention to the sections of society that may be at risk of not benefiting adequately from economic progress.
• To design strategic and long-term policy and program frameworks and initiatives, and monitor their progress and their efficacy.
• The lessons learned through monitoring and feedback will be used for making innovative improvements, including necessary mid-course corrections.
• To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-minded think tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
• To create a knowledge, innovation, and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners, and other partners.
• To offer a platform for the resolution of inter-sectoral and inter­ departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.
• To maintain a state-of-the-art resource center, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stakeholders.