NITI Aayog, which stands for National Institution for Transforming India, replaced the erstwhile Planning Commission on January 1, 2015. It serves as the premier policy 'Think Tank' of the Government of India, providing both directional and policy inputs. Its primary role is to foster cooperative federalism and facilitate economic growth by involving states in policy-making.

Objectives of NITI Aayog:

1. Cooperative Federalism: To foster cooperative federalism by ensuring the active participation of State Governments in the formulation of national policy, providing a platform for states to voice their concerns and contribute to national development.
2. Bottom-up Planning: To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities and strategies with the active involvement of States, moving away from a 'top-down' approach to a 'bottom-up' one.
3. Knowledge and Innovation Hub: To act as a knowledge and innovation hub, offering a platform for good governance, best practices, and innovative ideas, and to facilitate their dissemination across states.
4. Policy Formulation and Monitoring: To develop mechanisms to formulate credible long-term strategic frameworks, policy and program frameworks, and monitor their progress and efficacy.
5. Sectoral Expertise: To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international think tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions.
6. Conflict Resolution: To serve as a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda.
7. Technology Upgradation: To focus on technology upgradation and capacity building for the implementation of programs and initiatives.

Composition of NITI Aayog:

• Chairperson: The Prime Minister of India.
• Governing Council: Comprising the Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories with Legislatures, and Lt. Governors of other Union Territories. This body provides a national forum for deliberations.
• Regional Councils: Formed to address specific regional issues, comprising Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the region, chaired by the Chairperson or his nominee.
• Vice-Chairperson: Appointed by the Prime Minister, holding the rank of a Cabinet Minister. Currently, Dr. Suman Bery.
• Full-time Members: Experts and specialists with the rank of Minister of State, appointed by the Prime Minister.
• Part-time Members: A maximum of two members from leading universities and research organizations, on a rotational basis.
• Ex-officio Members: A maximum of four Union Ministers nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, with the rank of Secretary to the Government of India. Currently, B.V.R. Subrahmanyam.
• Special Invitees: Experts, specialists, and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge, nominated by the Prime Minister.

Significant Achievements of NITI Aayog:

1. Aspirational Districts Program (ADP): Launched in 2018, this program aims to rapidly transform 112 most under-developed districts across India. NITI Aayog monitors their progress across key performance indicators, fostering competitive and cooperative federalism. It has shown significant improvements in health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure in these districts.
2. Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): A flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. AIM has established Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) in schools, Atal Incubation Centres (AICs), and Atal Community Innovation Centres (ACICs), fostering a vibrant ecosystem for startups and innovators.
3. Policy Documents and Vision Strategies: NITI Aayog has published numerous significant policy documents, including the 'Three-Year Action Agenda' (2017-2020), 'Strategy for New India @75' (2018), and 'Vision India @2047,' providing a long-term strategic framework for national development.
4. Monitoring and Evaluation: It has developed robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks for various government schemes and programs, providing data-driven insights for policy refinement and better implementation.
5. Indices and Dashboards: NITI Aayog regularly releases various indices like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index, Health Index, School Education Quality Index (SEQI), and Innovation Index, which promote competitive federalism among states and track progress on critical development parameters.
6. Data-Driven Policy Making: It has championed the use of data and technology in policy formulation and implementation, promoting evidence-based decision-making.
7. COVID-19 Response: NITI Aayog played a crucial role in coordinating and strategizing India's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including vaccine policy, healthcare infrastructure planning, and economic recovery measures.
8. Facilitating Reforms: It has been instrumental in advocating for and facilitating various economic reforms, including those in agriculture, labor, and public sector enterprises.