January 22, 2026

NITI Aayog Guide: Policy Dashboards, Internship Scheme & The 'Think Tank' of New India

🏛️ Institution Guide: NITI Aayog

The Action Hub

Access the premier policy 'Think Tank' of the Government of India.

🎓 STUDENT ALERT: NITI Aayog offers one of the most prestigious (unpaid) internships in the government sector. It runs year-round. Check the "Internship" section below for the application hack.

Introduction: From "Command" to "Cooperation"

(Why NITI Aayog Replaced the Planning Commission)

For 65 years, India's economy was run by the Planning Commission (Yojna Aayog). It operated on a "Top-Down" model—bureaucrats in Delhi decided how much money a village in Kerala or a district in Nagaland should spend, often via "Five-Year Plans."

On January 1, 2015, the government scrapped this colonial-era relic and replaced it with NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).

The Core Difference:

  • Planning Commission: Had the power to allocate funds (Financial Power). It could dictate terms to States.
  • NITI Aayog: Has no financial power. It is purely an advisory "Think Tank." Its job is not to command, but to collaborate. It operates on the principle of "Cooperative Federalism"—the idea that a strong nation is built by strong states.

When you track NITI Aayog, you are tracking the future of India. Whether it is the roadmap for Green Hydrogen, the framework for Online Dispute Resolution (ODR), or the strategy for Artificial Intelligence (AI), every major policy innovation usually starts as a "Discussion Paper" on the NITI website.

This guide will help you navigate its massive data dashboards, apply for its coveted internship, and understand how it ranks your state on health and innovation.

🏗️ The Structure: Who Runs NITI?

Understanding the hierarchy is crucial for UPSC aspirants and policy analysts.

1. The Chairperson

  • Who: The Prime Minister (Ex-officio).
  • Role: Sets the broad vision (e.g., "Viksit Bharat @ 2047").

2. The Governing Council

  • Members: All Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of UTs.
  • Significance: This is the only platform (other than the Inter-State Council) where the PM and all CMs sit together to discuss national development, bypassing political differences.

3. The Vice-Chairperson

  • Current Status: Appointed by the PM. Holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
  • Role: The operational head. He/She drives the daily agenda.

4. The CEO (Chief Executive Officer)

  • Status: A senior IAS officer (Secretary rank).
  • Role: The administrative head who manages the staff and implementation.

📊 The "Index" Culture: Ranking the States

NITI Aayog does not give money, but it uses a more powerful tool: "Name and Shame" (Competition). It ranks states on various parameters. States hate being at the bottom and love being at the top, which drives improvement.

1. SDG India Index

  • What is it? It tracks how well states are achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (No Poverty, Zero Hunger, Gender Equality).
  • Why check it? Find out if your state is a "Front Runner" or an "Aspirant." It covers 100+ indicators.

2. India Innovation Index

  • Focus: R&D investment, number of patents filed, and startup ecosystem.
  • Winner: Traditionally, states like Karnataka (due to Bengaluru) dominate this index.

3. State Health Index

  • Focus: Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), Sex Ratio, and hospital infrastructure.
  • Impact: This is the most controversial index. Southern states usually top it, while the "BIMARU" states struggle, leading to heated TV debates.

4. School Education Quality Index (SEQI)

  • Focus: Learning outcomes, not just school buildings. It measures if children can actually read and do math.

🎓 The NITI Internship Scheme: A Student's Dream

If you want "Government of India" on your CV, this is your best shot.

The Details:

  • Eligibility:
    • Undergraduates: Completed 2nd year (4th Semester) with 85%+ marks in Class 12.
    • Graduates/Post-Graduates: Completed the degree or in final year with 70%+ aggregate.
  • Duration: Minimum 6 weeks, Maximum 6 months.
  • Stipend: None (Unpaid). You get a Certificate signed by an Adviser.
  • Location: NITI Aayog, Sansad Marg, New Delhi. (Remote options are rarely given).

How to Apply (The Hack):

  1. Timing: The portal opens from the 1st to the 10th of every month. Do NOT apply on the 11th; the link will be inactive.
  2. Portal: workforindia.niti.gov.in
  3. Choose Division: Don't just select "General." Choose a niche vertical like "LifeStyle for Environment (LiFE)," "Atal Innovation Mission," or "Public-Private Partnership."
  4. Statement of Purpose (SOP): This is the tie-breaker. Do not write generic text. Write specific policy ideas for the division you are applying to.

🚀 Atal Innovation Mission (AIM): Creating Creators

One of NITI Aayog's most visible success stories is AIM.

1. Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL)

  • Target: Schools (Class 6-12).
  • Concept: The government gives ₹10 Lakh to a school to set up a lab with 3D Printers, Robotics kits, and IoT sensors.
  • Goal: To convert children from "rote learners" to "tinkerers."
  • Status: There are over 10,000 ATLs across India. You can check if your local school has one on the NITI dashboard.

2. Atal Incubation Centres (AIC)

  • Target: Universities and Startups.
  • Concept: Funding to create world-class incubators that provide space, mentorship, and seed capital to startups.

🌳 The "LiFE" Mission: Lifestyle for Environment

You will see the LiFE logo on every NITI document.

  • Origin: Proposed by PM Modi at COP26 (Glasgow).
  • Philosophy: Climate change cannot be fought by policy alone; it needs behavioral change by individuals.
  • NITI's Role: NITI Aayog quantifies this. They measure how much carbon is saved if you switch to LED bulbs, turn off the engine at red lights, or eat millets instead of rice. They call these "Pro-Planet People" (P3).

🏙️ Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)

This is NITI Aayog's attempt to fix the most backward areas of India.

  • The Logic: Instead of looking at state averages, NITI identified 112 specific districts (like Kalahandi in Odisha or Bastar in Chhattisgarh) that were dragging the country down.
  • The Strategy: "Convergence" (Central + State schemes), "Collaboration" (Officers + Civil Society), and "Competition" (Monthly Delta Ranking).
  • The Dashboard: The "Champions of Change" dashboard tracks these districts in real-time. If a district improves its vaccination rate, it gets extra funds as a reward.

For the researcher and the citizen:

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is NITI Aayog a constitutional body?

No. It is an Extra-Constitutional and Non-Statutory body.

  • It was created by an Executive Resolution of the Union Cabinet. It is not mentioned in the Constitution (unlike the Election Commission or Finance Commission) and was not created by an Act of Parliament (unlike SEBI or NHRC).

Q2. Does NITI Aayog allocate funds to States?

No. The power to allocate funds (which the Planning Commission had) is now with the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure). NITI only recommends; it cannot sign the cheque.

Q3. What is the "Team India Wing"?

It is a specialized wing within NITI Aayog comprising representatives from every State and Ministry. Its job is to act as the permanent platform for national collaboration, ensuring that the Centre doesn't create policies that are impossible for States to implement.

Q4. Can I cite NITI Aayog reports in UPSC answers?

Absolutely. Citing a NITI Aayog report (e.g., "According to NITI Aayog's Multidimensional Poverty Index...") adds immense credibility to your answer. It is considered the official data point.

Q5. What is "Shoonya" Campaign?

It is a NITI Aayog initiative to promote Zero-Pollution Delivery Vehicles. It partners with companies like Swiggy, Zomato, and Uber to push for 100% electric vehicle (EV) adoption in the delivery sector.

Stay ahead of the curve with Sansad Online. Today's NITI Aayog discussion paper is tomorrow's national law.