10 Years of NITI Aayog: Achievements and the Viksit Bharat Roadmap

10 Years of NITI Aayog: The year 2025 marks ten years since the formation of NITI Aayog, India premier policy think tank that replaced the Planning Commission in 2015. Over the past decade NITI Aayog has played a key role in shaping India development agenda by promoting cooperative and competitive federalism. 

It has focused on evidence-based policymaking, innovation and sustainable growth across sectors like health, education, energy and technology. As NITI Aayog completes a decade it reflects India shift towards a more dynamic, inclusive and forward-looking model of governance.

10 Years of NITI Aayog Overview 

India policy landscape saw a huge change on January 1, 2015. This was the day the government established the National Institution for Transforming India or NITI Aayog. It replaced the 65-year-old Planning Commission. 

This change was a clear sign that India needed a new way to plan for its future. The old, centralized planning model was no longer suitable for a diverse, market-oriented economy.

The name NITI itself means guidance or policy. This body was set up as the premier policy think tank of the Government of India. 

Its core job is to provide strategic and technical advice to both the Central and State governments. The first ten years have been crucial. The period of 10 Years of NITI Aayog shows a definite shift from rigid top-down planning to a more flexible, collaborative approach. 

The entire journey of 10 Years of NITI Aayog has been about creating a strong nation through strong states. The Aayog mandate is simple: bring fresh ideas, involve the states, and focus on long-term policy.

How NITI Aayog Differs from the Planning Commission

Understanding the differences between NITI Aayog and the Planning Commission is essential. The structure and function of the new body reflect a philosophical shift in how India approaches development.

The key differences are simple and focus on federalism and power:

• Funding Authority: The Planning Commission used to allocate funds to states. NITI Aayog does not have this power; it is purely an advisory body.

• Policy Imposition: The Planning Commission often imposed policies on states. NITI Aayog has no authority to impose policies. It relies on dialogue and consensus.

• Federalism Style: The Planning Commission followed a top-down approach. NITI Aayog promotes Cooperative Federalism. This means the states are active participants in policy formulation, not just recipients.

• Structure: NITI Aayog is organized into two main hubs:

• Team India Hub: This is the interface between the Central government and the States. Its job is to strengthen cooperative federalism

Achievements of NITI Aayog 

Over the past 10 years, NITI Aayog has shifted its focus from just spending money to achieving real, measurable results on the ground. Acting as an Action Tank it brings new ideas and solutions to the government.

Here are its most important achievements:

Fostering Competitive Federalism: The Index Revolution

One of NITI Aayog biggest successes has been encouraging healthy competition among states. It does this through transparent and data-driven indexes and ranking systems.

• SDG India Index: NITI Aayog oversees the adoption and monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals in India. The SDG Index tracks the progress of states and Union Territories toward these global goals.

• Composite Water Management Index: This index evaluates how states are managing their water resources. It encourages states to adopt better water conservation measures.

• Health Index: States are ranked based on their overall health performance across 24 indicators, driving improvements in healthcare delivery.

• India Innovation Index: This index ranks states based on their innovation ecosystem, promoting a culture of technological advancement. 

Building an Innovation Ecosystem The AIM Initiative

The Atal Innovation Mission is a key initiative to promote innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. AIM runs several programs:

• Atal Tinkering Labs: These labs are established in schools to foster curiosity and innovation in young students. It is anticipated that the number of such labs will cross 5,000.

• Atal Incubation Centre: These centers encourage start-ups and young innovators by providing support and resources.

• Student Entrepreneurship Programme: This helps students turn their grassroot innovations into final products.

Transforming Backward Districts (ADP)

The Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) aims to quickly transform 112 of the most underdeveloped districts in the country. NITI Aayog closely monitors the progress in these districts based on key areas like:

• Health and Nutrition.

• Education.

• Agriculture and Water Resources.

• Skill Development.

• Basic Infrastructure.

This model shows NITI Aayog focus on inclusive development and reaching the last mile. The successful implementation of ADP is a major highlight of the 10 Years of NITI Aayog journey.

NITI Aayog and Vision Viksit Bharat @2047

The focus of NITI Aayog has now broadened to the ambitious goal of Viksit Bharat @ 2047. This vision aims to transform India into a developed nation by the 100th anniversary of its independence.

The target for NITI Aayog 2025 and beyond is immense:

• Transform the Indian economy into a $30 to $40 trillion powerhouse within two decades.

• Focus on four main pillars: Youth (Yuva), Poor (Garib), Women (Mahilayen) and Farmers (Annadata).

• Prioritize technology, especially Artificial Intelligence (AI) and frontier technologies. NITI Aayog Frontier Tech Hub is working on 10-year thematic roadmaps across 20+ sectors.

• Ensure that progress is inclusive, making sure vulnerable sections of society benefit.

Key Focus of the 10th Governing Council Meeting

The 10th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog was held on May 24, 2025. This meeting answered the question: What is the 10th meeting of NITI Aayog. The meeting theme was Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

Key discussion points included:

• State Alignment: States were urged to prepare their own bold, inclusive vision documents that align with the national 2047 goal.

• Manufacturing and Services: Encouraging states to attract investors and leverage their strengths, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities.

• Skilling: Emphasis on training youth in modern technologies like AI and semiconductors to leverage India’s demographic dividend.

• Green Economy: Focus on renewable energy and sustainable practices.

• Nari Shakti: Highlighting the strength of women and the need for reforms in public and private sectors to support working women.

The Challenges After 10 Years of NITI Aayog

Despite the major achievements, the journey of 10 Years of NITI Aayog has faced its share of criticism. 

• Lack of Financial Power: NITI Aayog has no authority to allocate funds. This severely limits its ability to incentivize states or enforce its policy recommendations, reducing its influence in federal coordination.

• Advisory Only: Its recommendations are non-binding because it is not a statutory body. Its role is purely advisory.

• Staff and Resources: Compared to the old Planning Commission, the Aayog operates with limited staff and financial resources. This can make comprehensive policy research and monitoring difficult.

• Dependence on Government: Critics argue that it lacks true independence from the government. This can sometimes affect the quality and objectivity of its policy documents.