Lok Sabha Question No. 2400 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-30
Subject: Macro Economy
Ministry: PLANNING
Asked by: RABINDRA KUMAR JENA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PLANNING LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO: 2400

TO BE ANSWERED ON: 30.11.2016

## MACRO ECONOMY

## 2400.     SHRI RABINDRA KUMAR JENA:

Will the Minister of PLANNING be pleased to state:

- (a) the specific role the NITI Aayog play in planning the macro economy of  India and how does the Finance Ministry view this big shift in the planning process;
- (b) whether there is any reported miscommunication in implementation of schemes due to this change from Planning Commission to NITI Aayog and if so, the details of steps taken to deal with this transition;
- (c) whether NITI Aayog have any financial devolution powers and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) whether the NITI Aayog plays a role in the budget process of the country and if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR MINISTRY OF URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND MINISTRY OF HOUSING & URBAN POVERTY ALLEVIATION (RAO INDERJIT SINGH)

- (a) Allocation of Business Rules 1961, notified on 23 rd March, 2015 mandated NITI Aayog inter-alia to 'develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government', 'offer a platform for resolution of development agenda' and 'undertake other activities as may be necessary in order to further the national development agenda'. Accordingly, Five Year Plans will be discontinued after the end of 12 th Five Year Plan period (2012-17) and beyond this a longer Vision of 15 years is being formulated by NITI Aayog keeping in view the social goal set/ proposed and in consonance with Substainable Development Goals.
- (b) No, there is no reported miscommunication in implementation of schemes under Centrally Sponsored Schemes, Central Sector Schemes etc. due to the change from Planning Commission to NITI Aayog. All these schemes are duly implemented by the Ministries/ Departments of Government of India where the schemes rest as in the regime of Planning Commission as per the scheme guidelines.
- (c) The Union Budget 2015-16, provided for special assistance of Rs.20,000 crore under Demand No.37 which was to be provided to the States by specific interventions through NITI. However, this amount was revised  to  Rs.12,450  crore  in  2015-16  RE.  This  amount  was  released  to  different  States  as  one  time assistance to complete their projects under Backward Region Grant Fund (State Component), Uttarakhand Reconstruction package and Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan & Flood Relief 2014 (J&K), support for developing water sources for arsenic and fluoride affected areas etc. There is no similar provision to NITI Aayog in 2016-17 BE.
- (d) The  Budget  Circular  2017-18,  entrusted  NITI  Aayog  to  approve  the  Outcome  Budget  of  line Ministries/Departments which will form the basis for discussions and arriving at Revised Estimates (RE) for 2016-17 and help the Government to decide the Budget Estimates (both revenue & capital) for 2017-18.

----------