Initiatives and Programmes
- Assessing States' performance - NITI finalized indices to measure incremental annual outcomes in terms of critical social sectors like health, education, water and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
- The District Hospital Index was developed to measure and monitor the performance of hospitals with a focus on outputs and outcomes.
- A guidebook was released on World Health Day 2016.
- Presently, the implementation phase is underway in collaboration with MoHFW; Indian Statistical Institute is assisting in data analytics.
- NITI Aayog has developed the ‘Healthy States, Progressive India’ Report also known as the ‘Health Index’.
- The Composite Water Management Index was also launched.
- The ‘School Education Quality Index (SEQI)’, ‘SDG India Index’ and the ‘Digital Transformation Index’ (DTI) which will measure states’ progress in respective sectors are in the works.
- Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital (SATH) - SATH is aimed at initiating transformation in two key social sectors - education and health.
- States are guided towards improving their social sector indicators and are provided technical support over three years.
- It was launched with selection of states through a unique challenge method.
- A major school consolidation and integration programme has been initiated with over 26,000 schools merged for better efficiencies and utilisation of resources.
- Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Karnataka were selected to improve their healthcare delivery and key health indicators.
- In education, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand were selected.
- Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat - EBSB was conceptualized to make the country united, strong and promote excellence in all walks of life.
- It achieves this by means of long-term inter-state engagements through cultural exchanges and education.
- MoUs were entered with six paired States/UTs. The Department of Higher Education, MHRD continued the initiative.
- Towards further integration, 100 commonly used conversational sentences throughout India were identified.
- They were translated into 22 Indian languages, compiled in a form of book and widely disseminated.
- Development Support Services to States (DSSS) for Development of Infrastructure - DSSS was launched to de-risk projects and address key structural issues in project development and build institutional and organizational capacities.
- It aims at establishing a Centre-State partnership model and reignite Private Public Partnership across infrastructure sectors.
- Projects received from the states were shortlisted using the challenge method, for structuring and implementation.
- Public-Private Partnership in Health - A guiding framework was developed for States, for implementation at district hospital level, focusing on tier II/III cities and by engaging services of private/voluntary sector providers.
- This is to help States achieve government's health goals in the area of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of select Non-Communicable processes.
- E.g. Cardiac Sciences, Oncology and Pulmonary Sciences
- A model concessionaire agreement was also launched in October 2018 along with the guidelines for promoting PPP in Healthcare.
- Resolution of pending issues - All pending issues with the Central Ministries from all States and UTs have been expeditiously resolved.
- State Human Development Report - Maharashtra, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Nagaland, Bundelkhand region and Delhi were supported in the preparation of State Human Development Reports.
- Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) - Launched in January, 2018, ADP is a special initiative to rapidly transform 115 identified districts.
- These had shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas and emerged as pockets of under-development, posing a challenge to ensure balanced regional development.
- So the aim was to realise the vision of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’ (collective efforts, inclusive growth), and ensure that India’s growth process remains inclusive.
- Under ADP, 49 key performance indicators (KPIs) have been identified.
- Health and nutrition, education, agriculture and water resources, financial inclusion and skill development and basic infrastructure are the main sectors of focus.
- In April, 2018, NITI Aayog released the baseline ranking of these districts for them to ascertain their status in these sectors and work to becoming the best district in the State.
- ADP also offers a platform for different segments of population and institutions - civil service organisations, private sector foundations, philanthropies etc to work for inclusive development.
- An Aspirational Districts Dashboard has been developed, called ‘Champions of Change’, which captures real-time data and ranking across all indicators.
- The District Collectors/Magistrates are providing self-reported data through this dashboard to capture progress.
Promoting Inclusive Growth - giving fillip to government’s goal to ‘sabka saath, sabka vikas’
- New Guidelines have been issued to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.
- They are to ensure transparent and equitable allocation of funds amongst States deprived of central fund under the areas covered under Constitution's sixth schedule.
- To leverage the pivotal role of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), an expert committee was constituted, which recommended restructuring of the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA).
- RGSA has since became a centrally sponsored scheme from 2018-19 to 2021-22 to address the challenges faced by the States.
- Government discontinued with the Five Year Planning model and also merged the Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure recently.
- So new guidelines for earmarking of funds for SCs and STs in the new budgeting system have been prepared and forwarded to the Ministry of Finance for necessary action.
- A report on Revamping of Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) to promote them as top class research institutes is being examined by NITI Aayog for further necessary actions.
- Monitoring framework for SCSP (Schedules Caste Sub-Plan) and TSP (Tribal Sub-Plan) has been developed and circulated to the nodal Ministries for online monitoring of SCSP and TSP.
- Gaps in the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities, 2006 have been identified.
- The details were forwarded to the department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for revision of the Policy.
- A concept paper - 'Means of livelihood in LWE Areas: Prospects of Aroma, Honey, Dairying and other Traditional Industries' - has been finalised.
- It was circulated to the concerned Central Ministries, States and other stakeholders for necessary actions.
- The new NGO-Darpan Portal which went live in April 2017 was developed as a dynamic database of NGOs in India. 43,000 NGOs have already registered.
- It is also designed for NGOs to obtain Unique ID to be eligible to apply for grants from any central Ministry/Department.
Enabling Evidence-Based Policy Making and Enhancing Productive Efficiency with Long-Term Vision
- Three Year National Action Agenda and the Strategy for New India @75 - NITI Aayog prepared a Three Year Action Agenda covering the period from 2017-18 to 2019-20.
- The Action Agenda framework allows better alignment of the development strategy with the changed reality of India.
- Strategy document for India’s 75th year of independence covering the period 2017-18 to 2022-23 is being prepared by NITI Aayog.
- It presents goals for 2022-23 as well as a way forward on how to achieve them and it shall be launched soon.
- Reform of Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) - NITI Aayog, in consultation with administrative ministries, made recommendations for strategic disinvestment in PSUs.
- Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of more than 30 CPSEs so far, based on these recommendations.
- The process of divestment is being carried out by DIPAM, and the first transactions are expected in the current financial year after a long gap of 14 years.
- A report was submitted to the Government on 74 sick/loss-making/non-performing CPSEs.
- The recommendations for this are under implementation, and so far more than 15 CPSEs are undergoing closure.
- Balanced Regional Development :
- 1)Release of Special Funds - NITI Aayog recommended release of balance funds to Odisha, Bihar and West Bengal under the Special Plan (BRGF-State component) approved during the 12th Five Year Plan period.
- Release of one-time special assistance to Assam, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Tripura for the areas covered under sixth schedule was done.
- 2)Development support to the North East - A Committee was constituted to examine and suggest a road map for a new industrial policy for North Eastern and Himalayan States.
- Based on the recommendations, the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) prepared the North East Industrial Development Scheme (NEIDS) 2017.
- 3)NITI Forum for North East - It is the first ever regional forum constituted by NITI Aayog with representation from all the NE States and the concerned Central Ministries/Departments.
- The forum also has eminent experts and reputed institutions (IIT, IIM, NERIST, RIS, RFRI etc.) as members.
- It is to identify constraints for accelerated, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and to recommend interventions for addressing the constraints.
- 4)Holistic Development of Islands - NITI Aayog is mandated to steer the process of holistic development of identified islands as unique models of sustainable development.
- It has shortlisted 10 islands in the first phase. Final Site Potential Development Reports have been prepared for all the Islands.
- Global Investor’s Conference was held in August 2018 to showcase the tourism, economic and employment potentials of Lakshadweep and Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
- 5)Island Development Agency (IDA) - IDA was set up in June 2017 under the Chairmanship of the Home Minister of India, with the CEO, NITI Aayog as the Convener.
- It undertakes reviews on the progress of holistic development of identified islands.
- 6)UNDP Projects - GIS Based Planning - The innovative GIS model was used and “Village Profile and Talukka Planning Atlas” was developed at BISAG Gujarat.
- BISAG is developing the customized software based on the actual requirement of each State/UT separately.
- Based on this, NITI Aayog suggested using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) in planning, management and monitoring of government service delivery.
- Health & Nutrition Sector Reforms - National Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) Bill, 2017 and National Commission for Indian Systems of Medicine Bill, 2017 have been finalized.
- 1)National Nutrition Strategy - NITI formulated the Strategy, providing the rationale and roadmap for policy makers to make nutrition central in India’s Development Agenda.
- It focuses on inter-sectoral convergence and identifies priority districts to tackle malnutrition and meet India's nutrition needs and targets.
- 2)POSHAN Abhiyaan - This has been launched with the aim of improving nutrition outcomes in India in the next three years.
- The National Council responsible for steering of the programme is anchored in NITI Aayog and is chaired by its Vice-Chairman.
- September 2018 was designated as the POSHAN Maah, and a massive awareness and outreach campaign was launched.
- 3)Reforms in Pharmaceuticals Sector - NITI provided policy inputs for making available affordable drugs and devices.
- Evaluation of National Institute for Pharmaceutical Education and Research was conducted and needed suggestions were made.
- An ordinance was promulgated to establish a Board of Governors under the Chairmanship of NITI Aayog Member Dr V K Paul, to replace the Medical Council of India (MCI).
- Energy Sector - India Energy Security Scenario (IESS), 2047 was revamped in 2015 and was used to determine Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) targets.
- NITI also supported Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam for the “Development of State Energy Calculator”.
- In the second phase, three more states - Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have been taken up.
- In a stakeholder-driven, roadmap development exercise, NITI has launched a report on ‘India’s Renewable Electricity Roadmap 2030’, summarizing the opportunities and barriers in the sector.
- Draft National Energy Policy (NEP) developed by NITI Aayog is being finalized.
- NITI Aayog has also developed the State Energy Index to assess States' status in ensuring accessible and affordable energy and their sustainability and environment friendliness.
- NITI Aayog is also developing a dynamic GIS Energy Map of India in collaboration with Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO).
- The consolidated energy map would provide requisite energy related information to all stakeholders for better decision making.
Cross Sectoral Interventions
- Employment and Exports - In 2017, NITI Aayog constituted a high level Task Force under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog on employment and exports.
- Comprising senior secretary-level officials of the government of India and external experts, it has made sector-wise recommendations on jobs and exports.
- Rural Drinking Water - Rs 1000 crore was released for developing water resources in 19 arsenic- and fluoride-affected States for providing safe drinking water.
- More than 3100 arsenic-/fluoride-affected habitations of 14 States have been covered so far with safe drinking water.
- Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) - Since its launch in 2014, about 3.64 lakh villages, 385 districts and 13 States & 4 UTs have declared themselves Open Defecation Free (ODF).
- The achievements in this regards are as follows:
- coverage of rural households with toilets has increased from 39% to 84% in the last four years
- more than 90% of rural households who have access to toilets are now using them
- in the urban areas, 100% door to door collection of solid waste has been achieved in nearly 62,000 out of 84,000 wards
- 2,618 cities have declared themselves ODF out of which 2089 cities have been certified as ODF by Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs through third party verification
- Higher Education - Recommendations were made for short-term measures for reforms in higher education sector, including -
- proposals for graded autonomy
- reforms in accreditation framework
- targeted recommendations to push for quality and to remove out-dated regulatory aspects of UGC and AICTE
- MHRD is in advanced stages of implementing these recommendations.
- Port Ecosystem - NITI drove the Port Ecosystem Efficiency movement through a series of inter-sector meetings.
- India’s gold market - NITI Aayog's recommendations to transform India’s gold market was finalised and submitted to the Finance Minister.
- Training and practice guide for the social sector - ‘Manual on Gender Inclusive Planning’ and ‘Manual for Social Audit’ has been published in this regard.
- Strategy reports - Reports on strategies for ‘Self-reliance in critical and strategic resources of rare earths’ and for effective utilisation and monitoring of ‘Fly Ash and Slag” were produced.
- National Mineral Policy, 2018 - A roadmap for revising the 2018 Policy to revitalise the growth of Mineral sector was formulated.
- Challenge Method Guidelines for selection of sites for key Central Government assisted projects has been evolved.
- Strategic Mobility Framework for tier 2 and tier 3 cities to improve public transport and non-motorised transport is being worked out.
- Skill Development - A sub-group of 10 Chief Ministers on Skill Development was serviced by NITI Aayog.
- It made recommendations for improving access, equity, relevance, quality and enhanced sources of finances, which are being taken forward by the Ministry of Skill Development.
- Water resources in the North Eastern Region - For management of water resources in the region, a high level Committee under Vice Chairman was set up.
- Expert Committee was also set up under CEO, NITI Aayog to examine policy for revitalisation of rivers.
- Tribunals Merger - The merger of 36 Tribunals to 18 Tribunals is being coordinated and implemented by NITI Aayog with all the concerned Ministries.
Source: PIB
