Q. The NITI Aayog was constituted replacing the Planning Commission. Consider the following statements regarding the differences between the two bodies:
1. States were more likely to be treated as equal partners vis-a-vis the Centre in Planning Commission than in NITI Aayog.
2. Whereas NITI Aayog boosts only competitive federalism, Planning Commission promoted both cooperative and competitive federalism.
3. Both the Planning Commission and NITI Aayog were provided with powers to allocate funds to states.
How many statements given above are correct?
Exp) Option d is the correct answer
Statement 1 is incorrect – States are treated as equal partners in NITI Aayog. They are part of the governing council of the NITI Aayog and have equal say in strategizing the development. There are also regional councils for specific terms to address any particular issue concerning few or more states. However, in case of Planning Commission, States were more as a mute spectators and role was restricted to National Development Council and Annual interaction during Plan Meetings.
Statement 2 is incorrect – In a paradigmatic shift from the command-and-control approach of the past, NITI Aayog accommodates diverse points of view in a collaborative, rather than confrontationist, setting. In the spirit of federalism, NITI’s own policy thinking too is shaped by a ‘bottom-up’ approach rather than a ‘top-down’ model. NITI Aayog hence is promoting both cooperative and competitive federalism by publishing indexes for the states. Planning Commission however was more of one-way setting and more unitary in nature.
Statement 3 is incorrect. The powers for allocation of funds have not been given to the NITI Aayog. The powers are with the Finance Ministry. Whereas, the Planning Commission had the power to allocate funds to the State Governments and various Central Government Ministries for various programmes and projects at National and State Levels.
