NITI Aayog@10: Fostering Cooperative Federalism

NITI Aayog, or the National Institution for Transforming India, was established on January 1, 2015, replacing the six-decade-old Planning Commission. The move marked a fundamental shift in India’s governance philosophy, moving away from a centralized, top-down model to a more collaborative and consultative approach. The core objective of NITI Aayog is to foster Cooperative Federalism, enabling states to play a more active role in the national development agenda.

Background

The central issue is the transition from the Planning Commission's command-and-control structure, which often dictated policies to states, to NITI Aayog's advisory and facilitative role.

This shift aims to empower states, but ....