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Institutionalise Project Monitoring To Improve Implementation and Efficacy of Government Schemes
- Monitoring Framework 2018-19 - Given the increased focus on outcome-based monitoring, DMEO (Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Office) of NITI Aayog initiated an exercise.
- The aim is to develop well-defined output and outcomes, along with measurable indicators, for all CS and CSS (Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) outlays.
- The resultant Output Outcome Monitoring Framework 2018-19 is to be monitored through a newly developed web-based interactive dashboard to which Ministries/Departments have access.
- Evaluation of selected programmes is done along with quick assessment studies to identify gaps in scheme implementation.
- Outcome Budget - A dashboard for updating progress of Union Outcome Budget, 2017-18, was developed.
- Ministries/Departments were given access to this dashboard to upload data.
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - The Ministry of Statistics and programme Implementation (MoSPI) has developed an elaborate list of National SDG indicators.
- NITI Aayog is entrusted with the task of overseeing the implementation of SDGs in the country.
- A Task Force on SDGs has been constituted by NITI Aayog, involving participation of Central Ministries, State governments and think tanks.
- NITI Aayog has mapped out Central Ministries as well as centrally sponsored/central sector schemes and other government initiatives on the SDGs and associated targets.
- Many States/UTs have also conducted similar mapping of their departments, schemes and initiatives.
- NITI Aayog has held 21 National /Regional Consultations on SDGs with various stakeholders.
- Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog has presented India’s Voluntary National Review Report on the implementation of SDGs at the UN High Level Political Forum.
- NITI Aayog is also developing a comprehensive SDG India Index with indicators for measuring performance of States/UTs on SDGs.
- The Sustainable Development Framework 2018-22 for India was also signed by NITI Aayog CEO and the UN Secretary General.
- Project Appraisal - Being the Project Appraisal Wing of Government of India, NITI Aayog has appraised several public funded and PPP projects, including Central and State sector projects.
- Monitoring of performance of UTs - NITI Aayog has developed the Dashboard, a progress tracker for Union Territories of India (UTs).
- It monitors and tracks the monthly progress of various developmental schemes/ projects/ initiatives of the government.
Partnerships with National and International Organisations and Promote Stakeholder Consultation in Policy Making
- NITI has provided the platform to collaborate with national and international think tanks on wide-ranging areas.
- SAMAVESH - This is an initiative aimed at networking and partnership with knowledge and research institutions using a hub and spoke model, to share knowledge and link policy with practice.
- Champions of Change - Two workshops of young CEOs and entrepreneurs were organised to make policy making responsive to stakeholder consultation.
- Prime Minister along-with his senior Cabinet Ministers directly interacted with young influencers on topics like New India by 2022, Digital India, Doubling Farmers’ Income, etc.
- Judicial system - A Global Conference on Arbitration discussed on the dispute resolution mechanisms in the country.
- Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Awards declared India as the winner in the ‘Jurisdiction that has made great progress’ category.
Knowledge and Innovation Hub
- Of its several mandates, NITI is tasked to
- maintain a state-of-the-art resource centre
- be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development
- help in dissemination of knowledge to stakeholders
- Several initiatives have been taken to develop the repository of knowledge, including -
- best practices of States across all sectors
- best practices on skilling for employability
- best practices addressing challenges of equity, access, quality, relevance and finance
- Good Practices Resource Book (2015) - to consolidate the innovative work in social security, infrastructure, child protection and local governance
Promote Entrepreneurial Ecosystem
- Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) - This is a flagship initiative under the aegis of NITI Aayog, to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
- AIM is working at the grassroots level to help students and teachers transform into innovators, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, for developing a ‘New India’ by 2022.
- In the first phase, the programmes have established a network of innovation institutions, at the school and higher education levels -
- Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) - students from Class VI onwards work with Robots, 3D printers, internet of things, etc
- Atal Incubation Centres (AIC) - more than 100 institutions have been selected for setting up incubators in a mix of tier 1, 2 and 3 cities
- Atal New India Challenges (ANICs) - supports creation of tech products from existing patents and prototypes
- Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017: Women First: Prosperity for All - NITI hosted the GES 2017 at Hyderabad.
- GES connected top entrepreneurship talent with investors and the start-up ecosystem across the globe.
- As a follow-up to GES it was announced that NITI Aayog would set up a Women Entrepreneurship Cell.
- Women Entrepreneurship Platform - NITI Aayog launched the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
- It is aimed at building an ecosystem to help women realize their entrepreneurial aspirations, scale-up innovative initiatives and chalk-out sustainable, long-term strategies for their businesses.
Catalysing Reforms in Agriculture
In view of the goal of the government to double farmer’s income by 2022, a series of initiatives have been undertaken by NITI Aayog.
- Model Act on Agricultural Land Leasing, 2017 - Formulated by NITI Aayog, the Act's aim is to recognize the rights of the tenant and safeguard interest of landowners.
- Reforms of APMC Act - NITI Aayog launched in 2017, the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Committee (APLMC) Act 2017, which states are being asked to adopt.
- Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index - NITI Aayog developed this index to sensitise States about the need to undertake reforms to induce healthy competition between States.
- This will be in three key areas of agriculture market, land lease and forestry on private land (felling and transit of trees).
- Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - A roadmap for the scheme was prepared by NITI Aayog.
- Rejuvenating Fertilizer Sector - NITI steered several committees for revival of new plants at Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni and Ramagundam, and selection of technology for Talcher plant.
- This is to achieve the aim of India becoming self-sufficient in the production of urea by 2022.
- Pilot project of introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in fertilizer was successfully completed in several States.
- Alternative Mechanisms for Implementation of MSP - As per Budget 2018-19, NITI Aayog is tasked with developing alternative mechanisms for MSP implementation.
- NITI Aayog has laid down a mechanism comprising three options:
- Market Assurance Scheme
- Price Deficiency Payment Scheme
- Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme
- Pilots for Price Deficiency Payments are being proposed in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for cotton and pulses, respectively.
- Doubling farmers’ income - NITI Aayog has constituted a task force to develop a business model to focus on the implementation of the pilot projects in this regard.
- The initiative will promote 10 pilot projects in different agro-climatic regions of India, preferably through social entrepreneurs.
- The key principles are
- market driven approach
- encouraging application of S&T in agriculture production
- minimizing farmer’s risks
- using of modern business practices for value addition
Promoting Adoption of Frontier Technology
- Promoting Digital India - NITI acted as the key driver of the digital payment movement post-demonetisation, and undertook programmes to promote pan-India digital payment.
- A mass literary movement across Ministries, industry bodies, educational institutions and States was undertaken.
- 100 Digi Dhan Melas were organised over 100 days in 100 cities.
- Undertaking information, education and communication to incentivize States/UTs, five crore Jan Dhan accounts were brought to digital platform.
- The Lucky Grahak Yojana and the Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana were launched to promote digital payments - consumers and merchants won cashback rewards under these.
- NITI also promoted the development of the BHIM App to enable ease of digital payments, especially in remote areas.
- Under the NITI-launched Less-Cash Townships Scheme, based on third party verification, 75 townships were certified where more than 80% of transactions were through digital mode.
- Shared, Connected and Clean Mobility Solutions - NITI has been working on these solutions to be adopted readily in smart cities. It came out with the-
- ‘India Leaps Ahead: Transformative Mobility Solutions for All’ report
- policy briefs on ‘India’s Energy Storage Mission: A Make in India Opportunity for Globally Competitive Battery Manufacturing’
- ‘Valuing Society First: an Assessment of the Potential for a Feebate Policy in India’ report
- Besides, EV Charging Stations were setup at NITI to provide charging services to electric vehicles.
- NITI Aayog has formed six inter-ministerial committees to decide on issues related to strategies to scale up transformative mobility.
- The MOVE: Global Mobility Summit was held in September 2018, which focussed on raising awareness on various aspects of Mobility.
- Adoption of frontier technologies in governance:
- Artificial Intelligence - NITI Aayog has been mandated to develop the National Program on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
- It is also tasked to assess their impact on India’s economy, society and governance.
- In partnership with IBM and ISRO, a pilot project to develop a crop yield prediction model using AI to provide real time advisory to farmers is being implemented in 10 aspirational districts.
- Similar pilot projects in the areas of healthcare and re-skilling in collaboration with various developers are being finalised.
- A National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence was released by NITI, detailing core strategies and recommendations on promoting the use of AI in key areas of governance.
- Blockchain - NITI is preparing a discussion paper on India Chain, which will delineate the conceptual framework and architectural design of India Chain.
- This is a proposal on India specific infrastructural platform leveraging elements of India Stack such as Aadhaar, UPI and eSign.
- Projects under consideration are -
- pharmaceutical supply chain for identification of spurious drugs
- fertilizer supply chain eliminating subsidy leakage
- digitisation of land records
- Roadmap for ‘Make in India’ in Body Armour - A NITI Aayog committee has prepared a roadmap for making body armours in India to meet the requirements of defence, para military and security agencies.
- The major recommendations made include -
- promotion of indigenous manufacturing of body armours including raw materials
- creating more testing facilities
- adopting Indian standards in body armours
- setting up of Centres of Excellence to pursue R&D in nano-technology materials for lightweight body armours
- simplification of the procurement process
- Methanol Economy - An apex committee and five task forces are working on a roadmap for implementation of methanol economy.
- Government is contemplating a 'Methanol Economy Fund' to promote indigenously-produced methanol to reduce 10% of India's crude oil imports and thus reducing the fuel bill.
- Initiatives identified include production of methanol from high ash coal and municipal solid waste, storage, transportation and R&D on methanol engines.
- Minister of Shipping has decided to use methanol blended fuel for inland waterways transportation.
Source: PIB
