Aayog

Aayog, officially known as the National Institution for Transforming India, is a government think tank established by the Narendra Modi government on January 1, 2015. It replaced the Planning Commission, which had been in existence for 65 years. Aayog serves as an incubator for new ideas and policy research, aiming to foster a more dynamic and participatory approach to policy formulation. Its core mandate is to shape India's development agenda and encourage cooperative federalism by involving both the central and state governments.

The institution's structure comprises a governing council, which includes the Prime Minister as its chairman, chief ministers of all states and union territories, and a vice-chairman who is appointed by the Prime Minister. It also has a full-time functional chairman, members, and various specialized wings focusing on different sectors. Aayog's key functions include acting as a think tank providing evidence-based policy advice, monitoring and evaluating the implementation of programs, and fostering collaboration between different stakeholders. It aims to bring in a paradigm shift from a top-down approach to a bottom-up one, ensuring that the needs and aspirations of the grassroots are reflected in national policies. Aayog also plays a role in promoting research and innovation and in facilitating the adoption of new technologies.