In biggest reform, 4 new members join NITI Aayog under the leadership of Ashok Lahiri India News
The government has reconstituted NITI Aayog by appointing Ashok Lahiri as the new vice-chairman and four new members in the think tank’s biggest reshuffle since it was set up in 2015.AIIMS Delhi director M Srinivas has been named member along with Science and Technology Secretary Abhay Karandikar and honorary professor KV Raju of Chanakya University.Gobardhan Das, director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, who contested the 2021 assembly elections in West Bengal on a BJP ticket, has also been appointed member, Rajeev Gauba remains the only member who was part of the previous team.The revival of NITI Aayog has been under discussion since the NDA returns to power in 2024, as the think tank had lost steam with very few new ideas emerging from the building that once housed the Planning Commission.The change began last month with BVR Subramaniam, who served as CEO for three years, leaving NITI Aayog. Who will be the new CEO is being actively discussed in policy circles and School Education Secretary Sanjay Kumar is seen as the frontrunner.The new make-up of the team is a mix of experts from all sectors of the economy – from the medical field to rural management.‘Need to make appropriate policies to fulfill PM’s vision’Lahiri is an experienced economist and Raju is a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, with expertise in agriculture, water and rural management.Srinivas is the health expert, while Karandikar will handle science and technology and Das will handle immunology and health. Gauba’s rich experience in administration will provide valuable insights into policy making and reform.“Improving the quality of life of remote areas, farming community and general public is essential for the overall development of the country,” Das said in a post on X. He said that this was a big opportunity for a Dalit coming from a family of farmers in West Bengal.“PM Modi’s dream is to make the country ‘Developed India’ by 2047… To fulfill this vision, we need to ensure that appropriate policies are made… I give credit to the past education policies of West Bengal, which played a big role in my appointment as Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog… It is a great honor for the state of West Bengal,” Lahiri said after meeting the PM.“NITI Aayog has emerged as a key pillar in India’s policy-making architecture, promoting cooperative federalism, driving reforms and promoting ‘ease of living’. It serves as a dynamic platform for innovation and long-term strategic thinking across all sectors,” PM Narendra Modi said in a post on Twitter.