Q.4 “The idea of the NITI has given a completely new dimension to the process of development planning in the country.” Comment.

Ans. The economic ‘think tank’ set up by the GoI in January 2015 has the potential and imagination to change the very process of development planning in the country. This can be understood by the following major initiatives which has been taken under it—

• For the first time, a central think tank has tried to integrate the strength and aspirations of the Centre, states and the local bodies towards ‘shared national agenda’ of development. Through this India will usher into a new era of ‘decentralised planning’.

In place of the old design of one size fits all (‘top-down’ approach), now

India goes for flexible and decentralised model of development (based on ‘bottom-up’ approach).

• It is for the first time that India is trying to evolve a ‘development model’ which could include which could be integrative in nature, rooted in India’s ethos and open to the new ideas of the world.

• Development planning of the Centre has got more ‘legitimacy’ due to inclusion of the states and UTs in the Governing Council of the NITI— it should be noted that the decisions of the NITI are to come out after due negotiations in the Council.

• The idea of ‘Team India’ is a timely innovation in it—a federal political system can neither realise its developmental desires nor utilise its strength of diversities without integrating the central and state governments.

• The idea of ‘competitive and co-operative federalism’ has already given a new impetus among the states of India to search for a better way and method of development promotion (as the Economic Survey 2015–16 concluded on the basis of empirical proofs).

• Some of the new ideas, such as—conflict resolution, sounding board, vision and scenario planning will make development planning more ‘result-oriented’ and suited to the changing times.

• It has high potential to strengthen the cause of socio-political development in the country as the planning has now become a ‘socio- economic’ process (unlike only economic in the past).

Experts believe that the workings and achievements of the NITI will depend on the federal maturity shown by the governments in the country.