NITI Aayog
The government's policy think tank, created in 2015, chaired by the Prime Minister.
What the paper can ask
- Formed in 2015 by Cabinet resolution; Prime Minister is chairperson; Governing Council of Chief Ministers and LGs.
- It has no power to allocate funds; it is a think tank and advisory body.
- Vice Chairperson Ashok Lahiri (since April 2026, replacing Suman Bery); CEO Anurag Jain (since 17 August 2026, replacing B. V. R. Subrahmanyam). (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Initiatives include the Aspirational Districts programme, the LiFE Mission and Poshan Gyan.
Why exams ask
Setters ask which body it replaced, its formation date and legal status, and who chairs it.
The full story
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the Union government's apex public policy think tank. It was formed in 2015 by a Union Cabinet resolution, so it is neither a constitutional nor a statutory body. The Prime Minister is its chairperson; a Vice Chairperson and a CEO run it day to day; its Governing Council brings in all Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors to push 'cooperative federalism'.
In the news
- NITI Aayog launches India S&T Scoreboard to compare States and UTs on science and technology 3 Nov
- NITI Aayog Investment Friendliness Index 2026: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu lead 17 Jul
- 11th NITI Aayog Governing Council meets on Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat@2047 11 Jun
- Ashok Lahiri named NITI Aayog vice chairperson 24 Apr
Test yourself
1.NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission on:
Correct. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was set up by a Cabinet resolution on 1 January 2015, ending the Planning Commission of 1950.
Not quite. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was set up by a Cabinet resolution on 1 January 2015, ending the Planning Commission of 1950. It goes into your error book.
2.NITI Aayog, formed on 1 January 2015, replaced which body?
Correct. A Cabinet resolution created NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission set up in 1950.
Not quite. A Cabinet resolution created NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission set up in 1950. It goes into your error book.