Reconstitution of NITI Aayog:
The Government of India has reconstituted the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI Aayog), appointing Ashok Kumar Lahiri as Vice-Chairperson, succeeding Suman K. Bery, and inducting new five full-time members, of whom three have strong backgrounds in health, biotechnology, and deep tech.This overhaul marks a departure from its traditional economist-heavy composition, signaling a stronger focus on science, technology, and health sectors.The restructuring aligns with NITI Aayog’s recent push to improve the “Ease of Doing Research and Development in India.” It underscores the necessity for adaptable, innovation-driven regulatory frameworks rather than rigid academic silos.The NITI Aayog was formed via a resolution of the Union Cabinet in 2015, replacing the erstwhile Planning Commission.NITI Aayog serves as the apex public policy think tank of the Government of India, and the nodal agency tasked with catalysing economic development and fostering cooperative federalism through the involvement of State Governments in the economic policymaking process using a bottom-up approach.
