Economy

NITI Aayog and the Planning Commission

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) replaced the Planning Commission on 1 January 2015. It is a policy think tank of the Government of India, chaired by the Prime Minister, and promotes cooperative federalism by involving States in policy-making.

Last reviewed 2026-10-15

Structure

Chairperson: the Prime Minister. It also has a Vice-Chairperson and a Chief Executive Officer.
Governing Council: Chief Ministers of States, Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories and the Union Government.
It is not a constitutional or statutory body. It was created by a Cabinet resolution.

Planning Commission, for comparison

Set up in March 1950, also not a constitutional body.
Drew up Five-Year Plans. The first plan covered 1951-56 and the Twelfth Plan (2012-17) was the last.
NITI Aayog follows a bottom-up approach and does not allocate funds.

Indices it publishes

NITI Aayog releases the SDG India Index, the National Multidimensional Poverty Index, the India Innovation Index and the Health Index, among others.

Frequently asked questions

When did NITI Aayog replace the Planning Commission?

On 1 January 2015.

Who chairs NITI Aayog?

The Prime Minister of India.

Is NITI Aayog a constitutional body?

No, it was set up by a Cabinet resolution.