NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, established to foster cooperative federalism and provide strategic and technical advice on key policy matters. It replaced the Planning Commission, shifting the focus from a centralised, top-down planning approach to a more participative and bottom-up model involving States and Union Territories.

NITI Aayog works to formulate strategic and long-term policy frameworks, monitor their implementation, and provide a platform for resolving inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues. It promotes cooperative and competitive federalism by fostering structured engagement with State Governments while designing long-term policy and programme frameworks.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) – NITI Aayog's flagship initiative to promote a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship across the country, supporting Atal Tinkering Labs in schools, incubators, and community innovation centres for startups and young innovators.

Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) – Aims to rapidly transform 112 of India's most under-developed districts by monitoring progress across health, nutrition, education, agriculture, financial inclusion, and infrastructure. It has since been extended into the Aspirational Blocks Programme, covering 500 blocks across the country.

SDG India Index – A pioneering tool that tracks the progress of States and Union Territories towards the Sustainable Development Goals, promoting competitive and cooperative federalism through data-driven rankings.

Other Key Indices – NITI Aayog also publishes several widely-referenced indices, including the Health Index, Composite Water Management Index, India Innovation Index, and Export Preparedness Index, to drive evidence-based policymaking and reform across States.