“Arvind Panagariya has been given Cabinet minister rank by the government and the other two members would be given the rank of minister of state,” a source said.
The post of Niti Aayog Vice-chairman has Cabinet minister rank as per warrant of precedence. However, the pay and allowances of the Vice-Chairman has been fixed at the Cabinet Secretary’s level.
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The other two members, Bibek Debroy and V K Saraswat, have the status of minister of state but they are getting salary of a secretary of central government.
The source said that Panagariya will also be invited for Cabinet meetings and a separate order will be issued for that.
NITI Aayog was set up on January 1 by a Cabinet resolution to replace the erstwhile Planning Commission.
The new order of the government will override the resolution for elevating the status and salary of Vice-Chairman and members of Aayog.