Appointment of New CEO and Structure of NITI Aayog

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Key takeaways

Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain officially took charge as the Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog.
Formed on January 1, 2015, NITI Aayog replaced the 65-year-old Planning Commission to introduce a decentralized bottom-up model.
It functions as an extra-constitutional apex think tank chaired by the Prime Minister to promote cooperative and competitive federalism.
The body measures state performance using benchmark tools like the SDG India Index, Health Index, and Innovation Index.

Senior IAS officer Anurag Jain (1989-batch, Madhya Pradesh cadre) officially took charge as the CEO of NITI Aayog.
His appointment received final clearance from the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet.

NITI Aayog serves as the apex policy think tank and strategic advisory body of the Government of India.
It replaced the 65-year-old Planning Commission to shift India from a top-down planning approach to a bottom-up model.
The Union Cabinet formed this organization on January 1, 2015 through an official executive resolution.
It functions as a non-constitutional, non-statutory, extra-constitutional body without statutory backing.
Its main goal is to promote cooperative and competitive federalism by guiding Central and State governments toward shared national priorities.

The Prime Minister of India serves as the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
The Prime Minister appoints the Vice-Chairperson, who holds the rank and status of a Union Cabinet Minister.
The Governing Council comprises the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of all States and UTs with legislatures, and Lieutenant Governors of other UTs.
The organization sets up Regional Councils on a need basis to address specific inter-state or regional development issues.
The Prime Minister nominates up to 4 members from the Union Council of Ministers along with domain experts.
The Prime Minister appoints the Chief Executive Officer for a fixed tenure with the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.

It strengthens cooperative federalism through structured Centre-State dialogue and drives competitive federalism using benchmarks like the SDG India Index, Health Index, and Innovation Index.
It develops planning mechanisms starting at the village or panchayat level and connects them to national development strategies.
It designs long-term policy frameworks, tracks flagship central schemes in real time, and recommends mid-course updates.
It operates as an internal research hub that collects best governance practices, global benchmarks, and technological advancements.
It integrates national security priorities into economic policies and designs targeted solutions for vulnerable social groups.