UPSC Mains 2018 · GS III · Q11 · 15 marks · 250 words

How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by the erstwhile Planning Commission in India?

हिन्दी में

भारत में नीति आयोग द्वारा अनुसरण किए जा रहे सिद्धान्त इससे पूर्व के योजना आयोग द्वारा अनुसरित सिद्धान्तों से किस प्रकार भिन्न हैं?

Planning and Resource Mobilisation

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Assess the role of NITI Aayog over the past decade in transforming the country's approach to planning and development.”

Astha JainAIR 9 · CSE 2025 · 214 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a date or context

NITI Aayog was est. in 2014 replacing Planning commission, to usher in a new era of planning for the modern India.

Role in transforming

Body · points

  1. Bottom up planning → NITI Aayog takes inputs from the grassroot levels (eg District Admin, Gram Sabha

  2. Support local planning (eg Assitance to Ahmedabad for city plan.

  3. TEAM INDIA verticle helps in cooperative federalism → plans made with state consultation

  4. Public participation → invotes public suggestions on various polices through its website

  5. Exput oriented → make plans with expert advise, invite dignitaries, researchers etc.

  6. Continuous plan & adaptation → NITI made 7yr plan, India @ 75 plan etc

  7. Development through stakeholder approach → (eg) including businessmen in planning

  8. Positive competition (eg) various indices such as Composite water Indet, MDP etc

  9. Evidence based policy making based on data collected

  10. Various schemes → Atal innovation etc

Issues → a) No powers to allocate funds → hamper its utility b) Conflictual federalism → states complain about bias c) Planning becoming more complex d) Lack of resources & capacity etc to conduct meaningful research e) Overlap → various ministries, depts etc also in planning f) still top down plan model followed

Close · a vision

NITI Aayog can ensure a Viksit Bharat by 2047 with its inclusive approach

1 more topper’s answer to this question, part by part, and how they all approached it: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2018, General Studies Paper III, Q11. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.