Why in News?
The 10th meeting of the NITI Aayog Governing Council was recently held under the theme “Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047″. It focused on boosting cooperative federalism as a key strategy for India’s long-term development. The meeting witnessed discussions on state-specific demands, economic reforms, security preparedness, and sustainable growth goals.
Key Concepts Explained
| Concept | Simplified Explanation |
|---|---|
| Cooperative Federalism | Central and state governments working together for national development. |
| Competitive Federalism | States competing to perform better, using rankings and indices. |
| GSDP | Gross State Domestic Product – the total economic output of a state. |
| Operation Sindoor | Jointly supported national-level mission for counter-terrorism. |
| 3T Model | Technology, Transparency, Transformation – Chhattisgarh’s model for rapid growth. |
| Investment-Friendly Charter | A new guideline being developed to attract global investors to India. |
| Viksit Bharat@2047 | India’s vision to become a fully developed country by the year 2047. |
| Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) | NITI Aayog’s effort to improve underdeveloped districts. |
| State Institutions of Transformation (SITs) | State-level bodies for implementing better governance. |
News Simplified
| Theme | Key Details |
| State-Specific Demands | Tamil Nadu demanded 50% tax share & Clean Cauvery Mission; Punjab sought Yamuna rights & funds for border issues. |
| Trade & Investment Push | States asked to remove old laws and attract investors. NITI to prepare an Investment-Friendly Charter. |
| Security Preparedness | PM urged long-term security planning. States backed Operation Sindoor. |
| Economic Goals | Chhattisgarh presented 3T Model to double GSDP; Andhra proposed sub-groups for AI, GDP, and population. |
| Sustainable Development | PM urged eco-tourism, hydrogen energy, and skilling youth. States to develop Tier 2/3 cities. |
Role of NITI Aayog
| Role of NITI Aayog | Explanation |
| Competitive Federalism | Uses indexes (e.g., Fiscal Health, Water Index) to encourage state performance. |
| Cooperative Federalism | Aligns state and central policies via initiatives like Team India Hub and ADP. |
| Policy Advisory | Helps with governance reforms through SITs. Focus on policy over fund distribution. |
| Social Interventions | Runs Poshan Abhiyan, SATH-E, and shares successful state models. |
| Digital Innovation | Promotes Atal Innovation Labs, data platforms, and startup mentoring. |
Challenges
| Challenges | Details |
| Federal Dialogue Gaps | Rare meetings of NITI & GST Council reduce coordination. |
| Central Overreach | Withholding of funds (e.g., Tamil Nadu) erodes federal spirit. |
| Unequal Tax Distribution | High-contribution states like TN get less in return. |
| Regional Disparities | Some states like Odisha lack infrastructure despite resource wealth. |
| Water Disputes | Persistent issues like Cauvery and Yamuna river sharing. |
Measures Needed
| Measures Needed | Explanation |
| More Dialogue | Regular NITI, GST, and Inter-State Council meetings. |
| Fair Finance | Higher tax share for states; conditional funds for reforms. |
| State Mentorship | Stronger states help weaker ones in skills, industry, and infra. |
| Water Coordination | Unified water policy & joint projects. |
| Shared Vision | Common measurable targets till 2047 with state input. |
Prelims MCQs
- Which of the following is NOT a function of NITI Aayog? a) Financial allocation to states
b) Promoting cooperative federalism
c) Policy advisory to governments
d) Running Aspirational Districts Programme - What does the “3T Model” presented by Chhattisgarh stand for? a) Trust, Trade, Technology
b) Technology, Transparency, Transformation
c) Taxes, Talent, Transformation
d) Technology, Training, Trade - Which of the following contributes to Competitive Federalism in India? a) Operation Sindoor
b) Poshan Abhiyan
c) Composite Water Management Index
d) Inter-State Council
Mains Questions
- “NITI Aayog has transformed India’s federal structure from a top-down model to a cooperative and competitive one.” Discuss with examples. (GS2 – 2022 PYQ Reference: Role of NITI Aayog in Indian Polity)
- What are the major barriers to true cooperative federalism in India and how can they be addressed for realizing Viksit Bharat@2047? (GS2 Contemporary Issue)
Prelims Answer Key & Explanations
| Question | Correct Answer | Explanation |
| Q1 | a) Financial allocation to states | NITI Aayog focuses on policy advice, not fund distribution (which was Planning Commission’s role). |
| Q2 | b) Technology, Transparency, Transformation | 3T model was proposed by Chhattisgarh for GSDP growth. |
| Q3 | c) Composite Water Management Index | It ranks states and fosters competition to improve water resource management |
