 "NITI Aayog wants two new members")
The government’s main policy think tank, the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, wants two new members in view of the increasing workload. It currently has three members, besides the vice-chairman.
The vice-chairman is Arvind Panagariya. The other three members are economist Bibek Debroy, agricultural economist Ramesh Chand and scientist V K Saraswat. Each of the three members handles more than five states and an even greater number of central ministries.
In the erstwhile Planning Commission, which the NITI Aayog replaced, almost the same workload was shared by seven members, apart from deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
In a related development, the Aayog could contemplate recalling some of the lower-level staff who had been relocated as part of the restructuring exercise. The Planning Commission had around 1,200 sanctioned staffers and the actual strength was nearly 800 at the time it was replaced by to NITI Aayog. Since then, the total strength has gone down to about 500.
The Aayog recently surrendered 56 posts of Indian Economic Service officials who had been deployed in various ministries and departments.
The vice-chairman is Arvind Panagariya. The other three members are economist Bibek Debroy, agricultural economist Ramesh Chand and scientist V K Saraswat. Each of the three members handles more than five states and an even greater number of central ministries.
In the erstwhile Planning Commission, which the NITI Aayog replaced, almost the same workload was shared by seven members, apart from deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
In a related development, the Aayog could contemplate recalling some of the lower-level staff who had been relocated as part of the restructuring exercise. The Planning Commission had around 1,200 sanctioned staffers and the actual strength was nearly 800 at the time it was replaced by to NITI Aayog. Since then, the total strength has gone down to about 500.
The Aayog recently surrendered 56 posts of Indian Economic Service officials who had been deployed in various ministries and departments.
However, with its workload set to increase in the coming months, officials say the Aayog may need more people, particularly helping staff.
The Aayog has also recruited a number of consultants and advisors and young professionals. Some of them are attached with the members.