YEARS OF NITI AAYOG

NAYI NITI, NAYI DISHA, NAYA BHARAT

ON COMPLETION OF 3 YEARS
OF NITI AAYOG’S EXISTENCE,
WE LOOK BACK TO SEE HOW
WE FARED IN ACHIEVING THE
GOAL OF TRANSFORMING THE
POLICY MAKING ARENA AND
MOVING TOWARDS BUILDING A
RESURGENT NEW INDIA.
3 EVENTFUL YEARS
AT NITI AAYOG
NAYI NITI, NAYI DISHA, NAYA BHARAT
NITI Aayog, established in 2015, is one of Indian democracy’s youngest
institutions. Entrusted with the mandate of re-imagining the development
agenda by dismantling old-style central planning, it was mandated to foster
cooperative federalism, evolve a national consensus on developmental goals,
redefine the reforms agenda, act as a platform for resolution of cross-sectoral
issues between Center and State Governments, capacity building and to act as a
Knowledge and Innovation hub - a huge mandate for a nascent organization.
STRONG STATES MEASURING PERFORMANCE
AND RANKING STATES
ON OUTCOMES IN
FOR A STRONG CRITICAL SECTORS

NATION -
With emphasis on outcomes, NITI assess the performance of district data analytics. NITI has also developed a
finalized indices to measure incremental hospitals to measure and monitor Digital Transformation Index (DTI) which
annual outcomes in critical social sectors hospital performance with focus on will measure states’ progress in ushering
like health, education and water with a outputs and outcomes: The Guidebook in digital economy, digital infrastructure,
view to nudge the states into competing was released on World Health Day 2016. and digitally available government

PROMOTING
with each other for better outcomes, The Implementation phase is presently services.
sharing best practices and innovations. underway in collaboration with MoHFW.
District hospital index was developed to Indian Statistical Institute is assisting in

COOPERATIVE SUSTAINABLE ACTION

FOR TRANSFORMING

AND SATH aimed at initiating transformation

HUMAN CAPITAL (SATH)
Karnataka for improvement in their

COMPETITIVE
in two key social sectors, viz. education healthcare delivery and key health
and health by hand holding States to indicators and for the education sector
improve their social sector indicators and Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, and Jharkhand
provide technical support to States over were selected.
three years was launched with selection

FEDERALISM
of states through an unique challenge
method. Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and

06 07
EBSB EK BHARAT SHRESTHA
BHARAT
Conceptualized EBSB to make the
country united, strong and promote
Development, took forward the
initiative. Towards further integration,
REGULATORY REFORMS NITI finalized the consolidation of laws for
Rajasthan and the work for Jammu &
Kashmir and Maharashtra is in progress.

excellence in all walks of life through

long-term inter-state engagements in
100 commonly used conversational
sentences throughout India were
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IN HEALTH
cultural exchanges and education. MoUs identified and translated into 22 Indian
Developed a guiding framework for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of
were entered with six paired States/UTs. languages, compiled in a form of book
States for implementation of district select Non-Communicable diseases, viz.
Department of Higher Education, and widely disseminated.
hospital level-focus on tier II/ tier III cities Cardiac Sciences, Oncology and
Ministry of Human Resource
by engaging services of private/voluntary Pulmonary Sciences.
sector providers for achieving health
goals of the Govt. in the area of

DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES TO

STATES (DSSS) FOR DEVELOPMENT RESOLUTION
OF INFRASTRUCTURE OF PENDING ISSUES
To establish a Centre-State Partnership Out of over 450 projects received from 20 OF STATES
Model and reignite and establish Private States, 11 projects from 8 States in 10
Public Partnership across infrastructure sectors were shortlisted through the WITH CENTRAL MINISTRIES
sectors DSSS was launched to de-risk challenge method, for structuring and
projects and address key structural issues implementation.
Sought pending issues with the Central
in project development and build
Ministries from all States and UTs for
institutional and organizational capacities.
expeditious resolutions. Issues received
from the States of Rajasthan, Himachal
Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Puducherry
have since been resolved.

04
08 05
09
 STATE TRANSFORMATION
OF 115 IDENTIFIED

HUMAN
ASPIRATIONAL DISTRICTS
A special initiative focusing on 115
aspirational districts which need to
improve on key indicators like health,

DEVELOPMENT
nutrition, education, basic infrastructure
and poverty has been launched. The
focus will be on technology and sharing
of best practices. At least one aspirational
district has been selected from every
State and Prabhari Officers (Coordinating

115
REPORT
Officers) appointed for the all 115
districts to converge and integrate
Central and State Government
programmes. District Magistrate has
The State of Maharashtra, Assam, Tamil been made the fulcrum on which the
Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Nagaland, programme rests. The project would be
Bundelkhand region and Delhi were implemented in the true spirit of
supported for preparation of State cooperative federalism.
Human Development Report.

10 11
PROMOTING
Based on recommendations made by NITI on the committed liabilities under PMS for SCs,
Department of Social Justice has initiated the process for revamping of scheme to provide
transparency regarding students, institutes, courses, etc. and also for clearing pending
Central arrears.

INCLUSIVE After discontinuation of Planning and merger of Plan and Non-Plan Expenditure, new
guidelines for earmarking of funds for SCs and STs in the new budgeting system have been
prepared.

GROWTH – A report prepared on Revamping of Tribal Research Institutes (TRIs) to promote them as Top
Class Research Institutes and circulated to States/UT and Ministry of Tribal Affairs for
consultations.

GIVING FILLIP TO
Monitoring Framework for SCSP and TSP has been developed and circulated to the nodal
Ministries for online monitoring of SCSP & TSP.

Gaps in the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities, 2006 have been identified and

GOVERNMENT'S
forwarded to D/o Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities for revision of the Policy.

Critical issues have been identified and forwarded to D/o Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities for resolution towards meeting the goals of Accessible India Campaign.

GOAL OF ‘SABKA A concept paper on the “Means of livelihood in LWE Areas: Prospects of Aroma, Honey,
Dairying and other traditional Industries” has been circulated to the concerned Central
Ministries, States and other Stakeholders for their views.

SAATH SABKA
Common Guidelines for Implementation of CSS/CS schemes through NGOs have been
prepared and circulated.

The new NGO-Darpan Portal which when live w.e.f. 06.04.2017 was developed giving

VIKAS’
electronic dynamic database of NGOs in the country. It facilitates NGOs to sign up and obtain
Unique ID to be eligible to apply for grants from any central Ministry/Department.

12 13
ENABLING FINALIZING THE THREE YEAR-
NATIONAL ACTION AGENDA

EVIDENCE BASED
As Government moves away from Five- after detailed consultations with the State Agenda covers areas ranging from
Year Plans and Annual Plans to long-term Governments, Union Territories, Ministries agriculture, industry, services, health,
vision, a three-year Action Agenda of the Central Government and other education and management of water
covering the period from 2017-18 to stakeholders like scientists, economists, resources, revenue and expenditure

POLICY MAKING
2019-20 was prepared. The Action Agenda journalists, voluntary organizations, framework. It contains ambitious yet
framework allows better alignment of the industry associations and experts in achievable proposals to achieve
development strategy with the changed education, health, culture, defence, far-reaching changes in India’s economy.
reality of India. The Agenda was prepared transport and other fields. The Action

AND ENHANCING
PRODUCTIVE
REFORM OF CENTRAL
PUBLIC SECTOR
ENTERPRISES
EFFICIENCY WITH After being mandated to identify CPSEs for
strategic disinvestment, NITI Aayog in
consultation with administrative ministries,
Affairs for in-principle
disinvestment. The process of divestment
strategic

is being carried out by DIPAM and the initial

examined for strategic disinvestment.
A report was submitted to the Government
on 74 sick/loss-making/non-performing

LONG-TERM
made recommendations in four tranches transactions are expected in the current CPSEs. The recommendations are under
for strategic disinvestment in PSU’s. So far, financial year after a long gap of 14 years. In implementation and so far more than 15
based on NITI Aayog's recommendations, line with the government's philosophy that CPSEs are undergoing closure.
more than 30 CPSEs have been approved government should not be in the business
by the Cabinet Committee on Economic of business, more CPSEs are being

VISION
14 15
 BALANCED REGIONAL HEALTH SECTOR REFORMS
DEVELOPMENT
NITI has been initiating radical reforms in the finalized after extensive deliberations. Further needs and targets.
health sector covering wide range of critical evaluation of NIPERs was conducted and way
Development support to the North East: submitted the Draft Site Development in-depth capacity development Establishment of National Nutrition
problem areas of medical education, forward for Pharmaceutical Education has
North East Industrial Development Scheme Potential Reports in respect of these two programme for State Officials at BISAG in Mission:The National Council on Nutrition
nutrition, drug policy, etc. bee suggested.
(NEIDS), 2017- To examine and suggest a packages in October 2017. As regards November 2017 for customized State has been constituted under Vice
road map for a new industrial policy for North Package II (Little Andaman), technical and softwares prepared by BISAG. Medical Education Sector: To expand the Evolving the National Nutrition Strategy: Chairman, NITI Aayog and a Technical
Eastern and Himalayan States, a committee financial evaluation of bids have been Medical Education Sector, National Medical National Nutrition Strategy formulated Support Unit (TSU) for Monitoring &
was constituted under the Chairmanship of completed. Award of work for preparation Commission Bill 2017 was framed after following extensive consultative process. The Evaluation of various programs is being
CEO, NITI Aayog by the CCEA. After detailed of concept development plans and extensive consultations. The Bill has been strategy provides the rationale and roadmap setup.
deliberations and consultations with the detailed master plans is under progress. approved by Cabinet and has been for policy makers to bring nutrition at centre
Pushing Reforms in Pharmaceuticals
stakeholders and the concerned States introduced in Parliament. National stage of India’s Development Agenda. It
Island Development Agency (IDA): Sector: NITI provided policy inputs for
Governments, the Committee Commission for Homoeopathy (NCH) Bill, focuses on inter-sectoral convergence and
The IDA was set up on June 01, 2017 under making available affordable drugs and
recommended the North East Industrial 2017 and the National Commission for Indian identifies priority districts to tackle
the chairmanship of Hon’ble Home devices.
Development Scheme (NEIDS), 2017. Systems of Medicine Bill, 2017 have also been malnutrition and meet the country’s nutrition
Minister, Government of India. CEO NITI
Holistic Development of Islands: Aayog is the Convener of the Agency. It has
NITI Aayog has been mandated to steer so far held two meetings. As
the process of holistic development of
identified islands as unique models of
recommended by the IDA, NITI Aayog is in
the process of identification of additional
DRIVING INDIA’S ENERGY SECTOR
sustainable development. Accordingly, in 10-15 Islands in Andaman and Nicobar
India Energy Security Scenarios (IESS), 2047 In a stakeholder-driven“roadmap”exercise, Draft National Energy Policy (NEP),
consultation with key stakeholders, NITI Islands and Lakshadweep for their
was revamped in 2015 and under third NITI has prepared and launched a “Report developed by NITI following large scale
Aayog has shortlisted 10 islands for holistic development.
division is being used for nationally on India’s Renewable Electricity Roadmap consultation with other departments and
development in the first phase namely
UNDP Projects – GIS Based Planning: determined targets. NITI also supported three 2030” summarizing the opportunities and public feedback is under finalization.
Smith, Ross, Long and Aves of Andaman
All the States and UTs have been exposed states Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Assam for barriers.
and Nicobar (Package I) Little Andaman of NITI also undertook several research
to the Best Practice of GIS based planning the“Development of State Energy Calculator”.
Andaman and Nicobar (Package II) and NITI Aayog has engaged Deloitte and PwC projects on individual areas. Two reports
being implemented by BISAG, On 16th November, 2017, Andhra Pradesh
Minicoy, Bangaram, Tinnakara, Cheriyam to prepare the State Action Plan (SAP) for “Energy-water-Food Nexus” and
Ahmedabad. On NITI Aayog’s initiative, State Energy Calculator 2050 was launched
and Suheli islands of Lakshadweep RE- Integration in 10 states (8 RE-rich and “Decarbonisation of transport Sector” are
MeitY agreed to support the endeavor of while the other two states are ready with their
(Package III). 2-non-RE rich). The prepared SAPs are under finalisation.
GIS based planning in all States with respective first drafts. In the second phase,
The consultants engaged by NITI Aayog for awaiting states’consent.
support of BISAG for which customized three more states - Karnataka, Tamilnadu and
preparation of concept development
software based on the actual requirement Maharashtra have been taken up.
plans and detailed master plans for
of each State/UT is being separately
Package I and Package III islands have
developed. NITI Aayog organized the

16 17
 OTHER GROSS SECTORAL Recommendations to transform India’s gold market is under finalization.

INTERVENTIONS Roadmap to promote Tribal Research Institutes as Top Class Research Institutes forwarded
and is being examined by the Department for necessary action.
Task Force on Employment and Exports: In September 2017, NITI Aayog constituted a high
level Task Force under the chairmanship of Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog on Employment and ‘Manual on Gender inclusive Planning’ and ‘Manual for Social Audit’ has been published for
Exports. The Task Force comprised of senior secretary-level officials of the government of use as training & practice guide for the Social Sector programme facilitators.
India and external experts. The Task Force sought to bring centrestage the role of exports in Report on “Strategies for Self-reliance in Critical and Strategic Resources of Rare Earths”
boosting employment. The Task Force has made several sector-wise recommendations to
give an impetus to jobs and exports to the Union Minister of Commerce. Strategy for effective utilisation and monitoring of “Fly Ash and Slag”.

Rural Drinking Water - Released Rs. 1000 crore to the States for developing water resources in Roadmap for revising the National Mineral Policy, 2018 to revitalise the growth of Mineral
19 Arsenic and Fluoride affected States for providing safe drinking water. sector

Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM) - Serviced the Sub Group of 9 Chief Ministers to bring out the A Challenge Method Guidelines for Selection of sites for key Central Government assisted
key policy recommendations for implementing SBM. The coverage of rural households with projects has been evolved.
toilets has increased from 39% since launch of the Mission on 2nd October, 2014 to 73% till Strategic Mobility Framework for tier 2 and tier 3 cities to improve public transport and
November, 2017. Non Motorised Transport is being finalised.
Short-term measures for reforms in higher education sector, including proposals for graded A Sub- Group of 10 Chief Ministers on Skill Development was serviced by NITI Aayog which
autonomy; reforms in accreditation framework and many more targeted recommendations made recommendations for improving access, equity, relevance, quality and enhanced
to push for quality and remove out-dated regulatory aspects of UGC and AICTE. Ministry is in sources of finances. The Ministry of Skill Development is taking forward the key
advanced stages of implementing these recommendations. recommendations of the committee.
Efficiency in Port Ecosystem: NITI drove the Port Ecosystem Efficiency movement through a High level Committee under Vice Chairman set up for management of water resources in
series of inter-sector meetings and as a result of various initiatives notable achievements were the North Eastern Region. Expert Committee also set up under CEO to examine policy for
reported in cutting down delays in customs processing, loading of railway rakes in Jawaharlal revitalisation of rivers.
Nehru Port Trust and documentation.
NITI Aayog is coordinating the implementation of initiative for merger of 36 Tribunals to 18
Working of 679 Autonomous Bodies under the Central Government reviewed and the draft Tribunals among all the concerned Ministries.
Report of Phase-I submitted to the Government while the Phase-II is under progress.

18 19
INSTITUTIONALISE PROGRAMME MONITORING
Following the paradigm shift from outlays to outcome based governance, DMEO in NITI has developed measurable output and outcome
indicators for more than 850 CS/CSS outlays covering a budget of about Rs. 9.44 lakh crore while the implementing Ministries of the

PROJECT
Government of India would continue to have the primary responsibility for monitoring the implementation of programmes, DMEO would
evaluate and monitor their implementation. A web-based interactive dashboard has been developed by DMEO to monitor the progress of
houses being sanctioned and constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Aawas Yojana (Rural and Urban).

The screen shots of PMAY dashboard are as below:

MONITORING TO
IMPROVE
IMPLEMENTATION
AND EFFICACY OF
GOVERNMENT
SCHEMES
20 21
 SECTORAL REVIEWS BY PMO OUTCOME BUDGET
To monitor the implementation of major decisions taken by the Government an interactive dashboard has been developed. At present A web-based interactive dashboard for monitoring the implementation of Union Outcome Budget, 2017-18 has been developed and
there are 15 sectors (12 infrastructure and 3 social sectors) which are being monitored through the dashboard. During 2017, the sectors information about 69 Ministries/Departments have been uploaded on the dashboard. Ministries/ Departments having access to the
covered included Road, Railways, Airports, Ports, Digital India, Coal PNG, Power, NRE, Urban Housing, Rural Housing and PMGSY. dashboard upload data. Work is in progress to upgrade dashboard enabling it to automatically fetch data from the MIS of Ministries and
also to have granular information i.e. State and District level data.
Screenshots of Sectoral Review dashboard are as below:
The screen shot are:

22 23
 A rigorous exercise to bring qualitative improvement in the Output-Outcome Framework by reviewing and identifying relevant outputs and Mapping: NITI Mapped out 17 goals and 169 targets on concerned Central Ministries, Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSSs) and other
outcomes, and quantifiable and measurable indicators to monitor them has been undertaken. With the help of an external agency and in government initiatives to facilitate better awareness, common understanding of roles and responsibilities and faster implementation of
compliance to the international best practices in performance monitoring, a standardized strategy has been adopted using Strategic Outcomes the SDGs.
Verification Process (SOVP), an analytical tool. Indicators identified through the exercise would be incorporated by the Ministry of Finance in the
Consultations: 18 National and Regional Consultations on various SDGs and their implementation strategies have been conducted
Outcome Budget, 2018-19.
involving Central Ministries, State Governments/UTs, United Nations, think tanks, civil society organizations, academia, international
Several presentations have been made in different fora explaining the above monitoring mechanism. organizations and other stakeholders for sensitization and awareness building.

Central point for monitoring achievement and progress on SDG goals: NITI Aayog is coordinating SDG implementation across Central
Ministries, and States/UTs.
PROGRAMME EVALUATION Voluntary National Review Report: NITI Aayog presented India’s 1st Voluntary National Review (VNR) report on implementation of SDGs
on 19th July, 2017 in the United Nations High Level Political Forum (HLPF) at New York.
Evaluation of selected programmes under implementation is also undertaken for an objective assessment of the processes and impacts of the
development programmes, identification of the areas and reasons for the successes and failures at different stages of programme execution;
suggest mid-course corrections and disseminate lessons for the future. So far evaluation has been done for 12 programmes, including Border Area
Development Programme; Command Area Development and Water Management Programme; Integrated Child Development Services;
PROJECT APPRAISAL WING OF GOVT. OF INDIA:
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidayalaya Programme; Navodaya Vidayalaya Samiti Scheme; Backward Region Grants Fund; Rajiv Gandhi Gramin
Since 1st January 2015, NITI Aayog has appraised 525 public funded projects with a total cost of Rs.39,96,726 crore. In addition, 204 Public Private
Vidyutikaran Yojana; Minimum Support Price; Role of PDS in shaping Household and Nutritional Security; Nai Roshani; Process Evaluation of
Partnership (PPP) projects with a total cost of Rs.1,51,296 crore, including 158 Central sector projects and 46 State sector projects have also been
introduction of DBT in TPDS in 3 UTs of Chandigarh, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Puducherry and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojana.
appraised.
In addition to the above, evaluation studies are near finalization in another 5 programmes, including, MGNREGA. The Evaluation Report is under
finalization for: Prime Minister Employment Generation Programme, National Scheduled Caste Finance Development Corporation, RTE:
Harmonized Sarv Siksha Abhiyaan and PMAY (Urban) MONITORING OF PERFORMANCE OF
UNION TERRITORIES: DEVELOPMENT
IMPLEMENTATION AND MONITORING PROGRESS OF UT PROGRESS TRACKER
ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS A Progress Tracker dashboard for Union Territories of India (UTs) has been developed, http://progresstracker.in/ to monitor and track the monthly
progress of various developmental schemes/ projects/ initiatives of the government. The UTs feed the data, Ministries vets it and NITI Aayog/MHA
In the light of the global SDG indicators endorsed been constituted by NITI Aayog involving undertakes monthly and Quarterly monitoring. As of now, the tracker monitors the progress of 42 developmental schemes/ projects/initiatives.
by the UN Statistical Commission, the Ministry of participation of Central Ministries, State This monitoring has impacted the delivery of services in UTs significantly.
Statistics and programme Implementation governments and think tanks to review progress
(MoSPI) has developed an elaborate list of of implementation of SDGs.
National SDG Indicators. A Task Force on SDGs has

24 25
PARTNERSHIPS WITH NITI has provided the platform to collaborate
with national and international think tanks on
wide-ranging areas. Through conferences,
NATIONAL AND work-shops, joint research projects NITI has
enabled expert inputs in the policy making

INTERNATIONAL exercise of the government.

‘SAMAVESH’, - a major initiative aimed at networking and partnership with
knowledge and research institutions using a hub and spoke model was launched.

ORGANISATIONS
34 Knowledge and Research Institutions have entered into a Memorandum of
Understanding with NITI in knowledge sharing and linking policy with practice.

NITI lecture series on transforming India – three lectures have been held where
global thought leaders have addressed top policymakers on varied topics to instill

AND PROMOTING
debate and catalyze fresh thought in governance. The NITI lectures series has seen
the Hon’ble Prime Minister gracing each lecture as an audience member along
with other cabinet members and secretaries to the Government of India. The
lecture series saw Mr. Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Hon’ble Deputy Prime Minister
of Singapore, Mr. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and Mr. Michael Porter, Professor,

STAKEHOLDER
Harvard Business School as keynote speakers besides other luminaries as panelists.

Champions of Change – In a unique initiative, two workshops of Young CEOs and

Young Entrepreneurs were organised titled“Champions of Change to make policy
making responsive to stakeholder consultation. Prime Minister alongwith his

CONSULTATION IN
senior Cabinet colleagues and Secretaries directly interacted with young
influencers on varied themes, viz. New India by 2022; Digital India reaching last mile;
Education & Skills; Energizing a Sustainable Tomorrow; Health and Nutrition; and
Soft Power Incredible India, Make in India; Doubling Farmers’ Income; World Class

POLICY MAKING
Infrastructure; Cities of Tomorrow and Reforming the Financial Sector.
Recommendations made in this exercise are being implemented by the concerned
Ministries.

26 27
 KNOWLEDGE AND
Conferences organised to build consensus on critical issues relating to judicial system - Global Conference on Arbitration was organised
to discuss dispute resolution mechanisms in the country. Following this Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Awards, the most prestigious
arbitration award in the world, declared India as the winner in the category‘Jurisdiction that has made great progress’. A Conference was
also organized in association with Law Commission of India on the occasion of the National Law Day, 2017 on Balancing Roles of 3 Wings
of the State towards India’s Development.

Oil and Natural Gas - Two meetings (January, 2016 and October, 2017) with Global Oil & Gas Experts under the chairmanship of Hon’ble
Prime Minister.

Some other initiatives in this regard were:

INNOVATION HUB
A meeting on "India Power Sector: Supporting a Low Carbon Transition" with IEA and other stakeholders on best practices in the field of
flexible generation and storage solutions for RE.
One of the mandates of NITI was that it would
Five Regional Workshops conducted between February – April, 17 across India on Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) in maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a
partnership with Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy and United Nations Development Programme. Based on the discussion, a
report was published. repository of research on good governance and best
A report titled“Energising India”was prepared and launched under Joint Research Projects with Institute of Energy Economics Japan on
assessing various (natural gas/ LNG, RE and coal) energy scenarios in both, India and Japan.
practices in sustainable and equitable development
For Energy Data Management in India, NITI has engaged with Energy Information Administration, and International Energy Agency as well as help their dissemination to stake-holders.
Several initiatives were taken to develop the
(IEA). International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Austria is working with NITI Aayog to build up in-house Energy
Modelling Capability, while Indian Space Research Organization has been entrusted with the responsibility of development of GIS
Energy Map of India.
repository of knowledge, some notable being :
In partnership with Govt. of Singapore NITI Aayog organized Capacity Building workshops for State urban leaders wherein about 200
officers from 7 States attended different workshops in Delhi and Singapore. Compendium on exhaustive set of case studies that reflect the States’ best practices across all sectors, titled“States Forward: Best Practices
Providing thrust to Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor project: NITI has been the key driver of MAHSR Corridor from Our States”
project. The Government of India and Japan inked a Memorandum of Cooperation in December, 2015 for MAHSR Corridor project. This Developed the Good Practices Resource Book (2015) to consolidate the innovative Good Practices in Social Security, Infrastructure, Child
collaboration was based on the recommendation of the Empowered Committee for Innovative Collaborations led by VC, NITI. A‘High Protection and Local Governance.
Level Joint Committee on Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Project’jointly led by VC, NITI and Special Advisor to the Hon’ble Prime
Minister of Japan is reviewing the project to accelerate the execution of this project with focus on issues like Make in India, transfer of A real-time Knowledge Portal to share best practices across sectors and States will be shortly launched reflecting the spirit of cooperative
technology, loan agreements, contractual issues, land acquisition and technical Issues have been driven by NITI. federalism, the portal will give the right to upload best practices to key government officials at State level including District Magistrate.

Compendium “Skilling for Employability: Best Practices” highlighting best practices addressing challenges of equity, access, quality,
relevance & finance by state governments, private sector & civil society was published by NITI.

An India Energy Portal (www.indiaenergy.gov.in) was developed that houses this initiatives - India Energy Security Scenarios (IESS) 2047 and
Energy Dashboards; in its second version, the dashboards have also started to create an energy data repertoire.

28 29
ATAL INNOVATION MISSION
Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in NITI Aayog has strengthened the country’s innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem by spuring
innovation in schools, colleges, and driving the entrepreneurship movement.
CATALYSING
Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs): To foster creativity and scientific temper in students, AIM has selected 2441 schools across India to set up ATLs,
where students are designing prototypes to solve challenges they see around them, using rapid prototyping technologies that have
emerged in recent years. More than 600 ATL in-charges have been trained nationwide to supervise the students.
REFORMS IN
AGRICULTURE
Atal Incubation Centres (AICs): AIM is providing financial support for setting up of AICs across India, which will help startups expand
quicker and enable innovation-entrepreneurship, in core sectors such as manufacturing, transport, energy, education, agriculture, water
and sanitation. 19 Atal Incubation Centres were selected in Round 1 and 50 more (out of 2500 applications) will be selected in January 2018.

Liberalization era initiated in the 1990s had failed to

GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP SUMMIT 2017:
impact the agriculture sector. Lack of transformational
WOMEN FIRST: PROSPERITY FOR ALL
reforms relating to major problem areas like land tenancy
NITI hosted the GES 2017 at Hyderabad during November 28-30, 2017 which was launched by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the
and administration, agricultural marketing, etc was led to
US Delegation was led by Advisor to the US President Ms. Ivanka Trump. GES connected top entrepreneurship talent with investors and
startup ecosystem across the globe to innovate solutions to the challenges facing the world. Over 2500 entrepreneurs, investors and farmer distress in selling their produce and realization of
speakers from over 150 countries participated in the 53 sessions held over three days. Held under the theme Women First: Prosperity for all,
the GES 2017 had 53% women entrepreneurs. A young Indian woman entrepreneur, Ms Ajaita Shah, won the 2017 Global Innovation adequate prices. As consequence, the income of farmers
through Science and Technology (GIST) Catalyst pitch competition. This event has firmly placed India as a leader in the global
entrepreneurship ecosystem. remained much lower than the income of services and
As a lead-up to GES, more than 50 events cantering around entrepreneurship and innovation was organised in collaboration with various
partner organisations all over the country. As a follow-up to GES a Women Entrepreneurship Cell has been set up in Niti Aayog.
manufacturing sector workers. In view of the goal of the
government to double farmer’s income by 2022, a series of
initiatives were taken by NITI to usher in critical reforms in
the agriculture sector. Some major initiatives are:

30 31
 MODEL ACT ON AGRICULTURAL PRADHAN MANTRI
LAND LEASING, 2017 KRISHI SINCHAYEE YOJANA:
To recognize the rights of the tenant and safeguard interest of landowners NITI Aayog A roadmap for Pradhan Mantri Krishi SinchayeeYojana was prepared and shared
formulated a Model Agricultural Land Leasing Act, 2016 that would enable investment, with the concerned Central Ministries/Departments, the States and other
technology, economy and employment in agriculture. Several States like Uttar Pradesh, stakeholders. The roadmap aims at achieving the objective of Har Khet Ko Pani
Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Karnataka, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh have either as it contains strategies for storage, conveyance and on-farm application of water
already adopted or have initiated work to amend their respective laws. with emphasis on efficient and sustainable use of available water resources.

REFORMS OF THE AGRICULTURAL OTHER POLICY PROPOSALS

PRODUCE MARKETING COMMITTEE ACT Policy Papers/Discussion Papers: In addition to above several
papers have been prepared including on Doubling of Farmers’
NITI Aayog in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture, States and other Income; Changing Structure of Rural Economy of India:
stakeholders launched in February, 2017 the Model Agricultural Produce Implications for Employment and Growth; Changing Crop
and Livestock Marketing Committee (APLMC) Act 2017. States are being Production Cost in India: Input Prices, Substitution and
asked to adopt the APMC Act. Technological Effects.

Rejuvenating Fertilizer Sector: To achieve the aim of India

becoming self-sufficient in urea by 2022, NITI steered several
AGRICULTURAL MARKETING AND committees for revival of new plants at Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni

FARMER FRIENDLY REFORMS INDEX:

and Ramagundam and selection of technology for Talcher plant.
Pilot project of Introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in
fertilizer was successfully completed in several States and taken
NITI Aayog developed the first ever‘Agriculture Marketing and Farmer forward for implementation across all States.
Friendly Reforms Index’to sensitise states about the need to undertake
reforms in the three key areas of Agriculture Market Reforms, Land
Lease Reforms and Forestry on Private Land (Felling and Transit of
Trees). The aim of the index is to induce healthy competition between
States and percolate best practices in implementing farmer-friendly
reforms. This has already started showing its impact. Following the
launch of the Index many states reformed the marketing laws, issued
felling and transit guidelines for minor forest produce and on-farm
timber produce. An ordinance was also effected by MoEFCC to modify
the Indian Forest Act 1926 related to bamboo as non-tree produce.
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 Promotion of Digital India
PROMOTING NITI acted as the key driver of the Digital Payment movement
post-demonetisation. It undertook an extensive advocacy and

ADOPTION OF
outreach programme to promote pan-India digital payment. A mass
literary movement across Ministries, Industry bodies, educational
institutions and States was undertaken. 100 Digi Dhan Melas over
100 days in 100 cities were organised from December 25th to April

FRONTIER
14th. Launched a scheme to provide Central assistance to the districts
for undertaking Information, Education and Communication to
incentivize States/UTs and bring 5 crore Jan Dhan accounts to digital
platform. Launched two other incentive schemes - the Lucky Grahak

TECHNOLOGY
Yojana and the Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana - to promote digital
payments across all sections of society. Over 16 lakh consumers and
merchants won cash reward amounting to Rs. 256 crore under these
two schemes.

NITI constituted a Committee of Chief Ministers on Digital Payments

with Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, as the
Convener to make recommendations on promote digital payments.
Several of the recommendations of the Interim report that was
submitted to Hon’ble Prime Minister in January 2017 have since been
implemented.

NITI also promoted the development of the BHIM App to enable ease
of digital payments, especially in remote areas.

NITI launched the less-cash townships scheme and based on third

party verification 75 townships certified as less-cash townships
where more than 80 percent of transactions within the townships
were through digital mode. Hon’ble Prime Minister declared these as
less-cash townships on April 14, 2017.

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 SHARED, CONNECTED AND
Blockchain for social good: NITI is exploring ways in which blockchain can transform governance for India. International hackathon were
conducted at IIT Delhi from November 10th to 12th, 2017 on blockchain in which working prototypes were solicited from premier international

CLEAN MOBILITY SOLUTIONS and national institutes on social applications of blockchain. Currently NITI is working on a strategy paper for blockchain in India which will outline
use cases as well as map out the schemes of Government of India that stand to benefit from the utilization of the technology. Partner organisations
from private sector as well as state/UT government are being identified to implement proof-of-concepts utilizing blockchain technology in
A quick pilot on the proposal to develop electric vehicle infrastructure in Delhi-NCR from NOIDA to Gurgaon was developed and
different sectors. NITI is parallely working on a platform called‘IndiaChain’, which will be a shared, India-specific blockchain infrastructure for India
put in on NITI’s portal for industries’ reference. An India-France Workshop on Electric Mobility and various interactions with
utilizing the power of the Jan-Dhan-Yojana, Aadhaar, and Mobile trinity and enable blockchain developers to build social applications.
industries and foreign companies were held.

A‘Term of Reference’for policy formulation on Electric Mobility on Zero Emission of Next Generation Vehicle has been entered with
METI, Japan. OTHER NEW INITIATIVES
Methanol Economy: To reduce the dependency on fossil fuel and to minimize imports, an Apex Committee and 5 Task Forces are working on a
ADOPTION roadmap for implementation of Methanol Economy. Initiatives identified include production of methanol from high ash coal and municipal solid
waste, storage, transportation and R&D on methanol engines. Minister of Shipping has decided on use of methanol blended fuel for inland
OF FRONTIER TECHNOLOGIES waterways transportation. Government is contemplating a 'Methanol Economy Fund' to promote indigenously-produced methanol that could
reduce 10 percent of India's crude oil imports, thereby reducing the fuel bill by around 30 percent by 2030.
IN GOVERNANCE Roadmap for“Make in India”in Body Armour: A report has been submitted to the Government on roadmap for Make in India in body armour.
Recommendations have been made on promoting indigenous production of body armour and meet the requirements of defence, para military
Promotion of artificial intelligence (AI) for social sector: NITI has also led the initiative if making India a leader in the global space on the AI
and security agencies. The recommendations have been accepted and under implementation.
research with focus on adopting AI to address problems faced in developing countries. To set the context and develop the requisite ecosystem for
utilizing AI technology for key sectors, viz. Education, health and agriculture, NITI held international scale hackathons on AI, organized a national
case study competition on use of AI in the field of AgriTech and is working with different organizations to design proof-of-concepts utilizing AI
technology in different sectors. Use cases have also been shortlisted in health, education, and agriculture to develop proof-of-concepts in
coordination with the respective ministries which they can then take up as projects. NITI has already begun exploring ways in which advanced
encryption technologies can be used so that data can be used for training AI algorithms while maintaining individual privacy.

National Data and Analytics Portal: Work on developing a National Data and Analytics Portal is at an advanced stage. The portal besides being a
single point source of sectoral data for researchers, policymakers and citizens will also enable training dataset sharing between different
organizations for AI applications.This will be a world-class platform facilitating a policy support system through accurate sourcing, storing, analysing
and presentation of data in a usable and visually appealing manner. This platform will meet internationally accepted standards for safeguarding the
privacy of individuals and entities and ensuring the security of data, systems and platforms. The sourcing of data will be from the Ministries and
Departments of the Government of India, State Governments, and the agencies and organisations under the administrative control of such
Ministries and Departments. The NDAP will be accessible to all individuals and public and private entities.

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