The Structure of NITI Aayog

In one line

NITI Aayog is the Prime Minister as chairperson, a council of every Chief Minister, and a small full time body of a vice chairperson, members and a chief executive officer.

In the wording a student can write in an exam: paragraph 13 of the Resolution of 1 January 2015 provides that NITI Aayog comprises the Prime Minister as Chairperson; a Governing Council; Regional Councils formed for specified purposes and tenures; special invitees; and a full time organisational framework consisting of a Vice Chairperson, full time Members, a maximum of two part time members, a maximum of four ex officio members from the Union Council of Ministers, a Chief Executive Officer and a Secretariat.

The structure, limb by limb

(a) The Chairperson

The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson. As with the Planning Commission, the head of government heads the body, which is what gives its advice weight in the absence of any money.

(b) The Governing Council

As originally enacted it comprised the Chief Ministers of all the States and the Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories.

As substituted by the Resolution of 16 February 2015, item (b) reads:

"Governing Council comprising the Chief Ministers of all the States and Union territories with Legislatures and Lt. Governors of other Union territories."

What the amendment did and why it matters. The original wording gave a seat to the Lieutenant Governor of every Union Territory, including Delhi and Puducherry, which have elected legislatures and Chief Ministers of their own. The amendment brings the Chief Ministers of the Union Territories with Legislatures into the Council in place of their Lieutenant Governors, so that the elected head sits where there is one. A student who reproduces only the original wording is quoting a superseded provision.

What the Council is for. It is the forum in which the Union and every State sit together, and it is the institutional content of the phrase cooperative federalism. It meets periodically under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

(c) Regional Councils

Formed to address specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one State or a region, and for a specified tenure. They are convened by the Prime Minister, comprise the Chief Ministers of States and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories in the region, and are chaired by the Chairperson of NITI Aayog or his nominee.

Note the two features that distinguish them from the Governing Council: they are regional and they are temporary, formed for a purpose and a period rather than standing. A drought across four States, a river basin, a cluster of hill States, are the kind of subject they exist for.

(d) Special invitees

Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge, nominated by the Prime Minister. This is the channel through which outside expertise enters, and it is a deliberate difference from a body staffed entirely by officials.