Thursday, January 29, 2015

Travel by premium trains on LTC

"travel by Premium Trains is not permissible on LTC. Hence, the fare charged by the Indian Railways for the journey(s) performed by Premium trains shall not be reimbursable for the purpose of LTC."

G.I., Dep.of Per. & Trg., O.M. No.31011/2/2015-Estt.(A-IV), dated 27.1.2015

Subject: Travel by Premium Trains on LTC- Clarification reg.

The undersigned is directed to say that several references are received by this Department from various Ministry / Departments seeking clarification regarding admissibility of travel by Premium Trains run by Indian Railways while availing of LTC.

2. The matter has been examined in consultation with Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance and it has been decided that travel by Premium Trains is not permissible on LTC. Hence, the fare charged by the Indian Railways for the journey(s) performed by Premium trains shall not be reimbursable for the purpose of LTC. Cases where LTC travel in such Premium Trains has already been undertaken by the Central Government Employees, the train fare may be reimbursed restricting it to the admissible normal fare for the entitled class of train travel or the actual fare paid, whichever is less.


To view Department of Personnel and Training OM No.31011/2/2015-Estt (A-IV) dated 27-01-2015 please Click Here.

LTC TO NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES

The civil aviation ministry has given its nod to a proposal to provide leave travel concession for government employees to Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Sri Lanka to boost tourism in the region.
A senior official in the ministry confirming the development said, “The move is intended to boost tourism within SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries. Pakistan and Bangladesh has been left out for now because of security issues.”
The approval from the ministry of civil aviation was required so that the LTC can be availed of on national carrier Air India while flying to these countries.

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

SEMINAR ON 'NEW POSTAL POLICY'.

A SEMINAR WILL BE ORGANISED UNDER THE BANNER OF AIPEU, POSTMEN & MTS, WB CIRCLE ON 14.02.2015 AT 4 PM AT SARAT BOSE ROAD POST OFFICE, SOUTH KOLKATA DIVISION ON THE SUBJECT ''NEW POSTAL POLICY'. HON'BLE PMG (KR) SRI SUBRAT DAS WILL DELIVER HIS SPEECH ON THE SUBJECT.

NOTICE OF CWC MEETING OF P-IV UNION.


Saturday, January 24, 2015

Discontinuation of Central Recruitment Fee (CRF) Stamps

To view Directorate Memo No. 6-4/2006-PO(Pt) dated  /01/2015, please CLICK HERE.

Thursday, January 22, 2015

GENERAL BODY MEETING OF POSTMASTER CADRE OF WEST BENGAL CIRCLE

GENERAL BODY MEETING OF POSTMASTER CADRE OF WEST BENGAL CIRCLE WILL BE HELD ON 22-02-15 AT TARAPADA MEMORIAL HALL (CIRCLE UNION), 37,GANESH CHANDRA AVENUE, KOLKATA-13,NEAR CHANDNI METRO STATION AT 10.00 HRS. COM. R.N.PARASAR, SECRETARY GENERAL, NFPE AND OTHER CHQ/ CIRCLE LEADERS WILL ATTEND THE MEETING.
         ALL THE EMPLOYEES OF POSTMASTER CADRE (GRADE-I & GRADE-II) UNDER W.B CIRCLE ARE REQUESTED TO PARTICIPATE THE MEETING IN TIME.
         ALL THE DIVISIONAL/ UNIT SECRETARIES ARE REQUESTED TO TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION SO THAT ALL THE MEMBERS OF PM CADRE WILL ATTEND. THEY ARE ALSO REQUESTED TO ATTEND THE MEETING ALONG WITH THEIR MEMBERS. RLY/ BUS TICKET ARE TO BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE.

SB Order 02/2015 : Introduction of new scheme "Sukanya Samriddhi Account" under Small Savings Scheme from 22.01.2015.

Wednesday, January 21, 2015



A seminar was organized by Co-ordination Committee of Central Govt. Employees & Workers Association on 20th January’2015 on the 46th death ceremony of our beloved Com. K. G. Bose. The tropic of the seminar was “Middle Class and media” and Com. Debasish Chakraborty. Senior journalist was the speaker of the seminar. Com. Tapan Dasgupta, president of CGCC was presided the seminar.   

Tuesday, January 20, 2015




OBITUARY
                 Com. Sanat Nandy, our beloved leader and Ex-ACS of Gr. “C” union has breathed his last on 19th January’ 2015 at 9.30 hrs. He was nearly 80 years old. We pay our respectful homage to his glorious memory and express our condolence to his bereaved family members. 
           

THE EFFORTS OF LEADERSHIP OF NFPE HAS BRING OUT THE RESULT

AN ORDER HAS BEEN ISSUED BY CHIEF PMG, WB CIRCLE TO APPOINT THE SELECTED PA/SA CANDIDATES OF 2013-14 AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE........

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Saturday, January 17, 2015

CCS (Conduct) Rules – Filing of annual Immovable Property Returns – Dopt Orders 2015

F. No. 11013/3/2014-Estt.(A)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
Establishment Division
North Block, New Delhi — 110001
Dated January 16 , 2015

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 — Filing of annual Immovable Property Returns – regarding

The undersigned is directed to state that as per various notifications issued by this Department, relating to the Public Servants (Furnishing of Information and Annual Returns of Assets and Liabilities and the Limits for Exemption of Assets in Filing Returns) under the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, the public servant who has filed declaration, information and annual returns of property under the provision of the rules applicable to such public servant, should file the declaration, information and return indicating his/her assets and liabilities, as on 01.08.2014, to the competent authority on or before, 30.04.2015. The notifications are available on the Department’s website at http://persmin.gov.in/Lokpal HomePage From CCIS.asp.


2. The Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, are being amended to align them with the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013. Presently, as per the Rule 18(1)(ii) of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, every Government servant belonging to any service or holding any post included in Group ‘A’ and Group ‘B’ is required to submit an annual return regarding the immovable property inherited/owned/ acquired/ held on lease or mortgage either in his own name or in the name of any family member or in the name of any other person.

3. It has, inter-alia, been clarified by this Department vide Office Memorandum No. 407/12/2014-AVD-IV(B) dated 13.01.2015 that the requirement of filing returns regarding assets and liabilities under the Lokpal Act is in addition to, and not in supersession of the requirement of filing similar returns under the existing Conduct Rules. In view of this, all Government Servants may be directed as follows:

(i) The annual Immovable Property Return, as on 31.12.2014, under the existing CCS(Conduct) Rules, 1964 is required to be filed on or before 31.01.2015;

(ii) The first return under the Lokpal Act (as on 01.08.2014) should be filed on or before 30.04.2015; and

(iii) The next annual return under the Lokpal Act, for the year ending 31.03.2015 should be filed on or before 31.07.2015.

4. It is, therefore, requested that all concerned may be suitably advised to file the Immovable Property Returns (IPRs) and the return under the Lokpal Act as per the dates indicated above, Further, in accordance with the instruction contained in this Department’s Office Memorandum No. 11013/3/2011-Estt.A dated 11.04.2011, IPRs (to be submitted by 31 st January of each year) shall be placed in public domain by 31 st March of that year. A compliance report in respect of the IPRs filed by Group ‘A’ Officers of the Central Civil Services, as on 31.01.2015, may please be furnished to this Department by 30.04.2015.

5. Similar action may kindly be taken by the authorities controlling services not covered by the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964.

6. Hindi version will follow.

sd/-
(J.A. Vaidyanathan)
Director (Establishment)

Monday, January 12, 2015

Postal J C A warns the Department to go on Indefinite Strike if the recommendations of the Task Force are implemented in  hurry without discussion and consent of the Unions

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS INVITES PJCA LEADERS FOR DISCUSSION ON 40 POINTS CHARTER OF DEMANDS



DEPARTMENT OF POSTS INVITES PJCA LEADERS FOR DISCUSSION ON 40 POINTS CHARTER OF DEMANDS.


INAGURATION PROGRAMME OF CBS OF BARASAT HEAD POST OFFICE ON 12/01/2015



 CBS OF BARASAT HEAD POST OFFICE INAUGURATED BY SRI SUBRAT DAS , PMG (KR)


SRI SUMAN GHOSH, POSTMASTER BARASAT HEAD POST OFFICE

SUBRATA MUSTAFI, SECRETARY AIPEU GR-C, BARASAT DN WELCOMES PMG KR



KHURSHID ALAM, SECRETARY AIPEU, POSTMAN & MTS, BARASAT DN WELCOMES SRI PARIMAL KUMAR MITRA , SPOST BARASAT DN.



SUJIT PRAMANIK, EX SECRETARY AIPEU PART TIME, BARASAT DN WELCOMES POSTMASTER BARASAT HEAD POST OFFICE



 SRI SUBRAT DAS, PMG KR ADDRESSED THE INAUGURATION PROGRAMME

SRI PARIMAL KR MITRA, SPOS BARASAT DIVN. ADDRESSED THE INAUGURATION PROGRAMME

Friday, January 9, 2015

Circle  Union's  Letter  To  The  Chief  Postmaster  General  For  Early  Joining  Of  New Postal  Assistants 

     The scanned image of the above letter, as mentioned in the earlier blog (below) is here for your reference.

 

Thursday, January 8, 2015

NEWS  FOR  NEW  POSTAL  ASSISTANTS  WAITING  TO  JOIN  OUR  DEPARTMENT  IN  WEST  BENGAL  CIRCLE

     AIPEU Group-C, West Bengal Circle Union (NFPE) has issued a letter to the Chief Postmaster General, West Bengal Circle to relax the stringent protocols, procedures and formalities of  documents etc. as far as possible so that the joining of the new Postal Assistants can be completed early. A scanned image of the letter will appear in this blog shortly. We have bitter experiences in yesteryears that joining of successful candidates gets delayed due to non-response or non-cooperation of different concerns (outside the department) to complete these formalities. We are insisting so that the Postal Administration acts leniently in making arrangements this year for their immediate joining.

    Please note that Circle Union has also invited new candidates in a cordial discussion on Friday, 09.01.2015, at 4-30 P.M. at Circle Union office (37, Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Kolkata-13, near Chandni Chowk Metro Rail station). We shall be discussing the preparation for documents for joining, service-related issues and also difficulties and problems presently being faced by candidates for various reasons. Circle Union will take up the points of such problems with the Circle Administration and will make sincere efforts to redress them realistically as much as possible.

      If any candidate finds it difficult to attend the meeting due to other engagements, his/her guardian may also join us if he/she wishes so. You may contact us at 94334-59963 (Janardan Majumder, Circle Secretary), 95648-89643(Asit Bangabas, Asstt Circle Secretary) or 98312-09684 (Bijan Chakraborty, Asstt Circle Secretary).

     Divisional Secretaries please assist all new entrants in reaching us conveniently.

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

    Training class (phase-II) on 'Disciplinary Proceedings and Role of Defence Assistant' has been arranged on 11.01.2015, Sunday, at Group-C Circle Union office at 12:00 noon. Com. Shibsankar Roy will continue imparting training. All candidates who appeared in the first class are requested to attend in time. They are also requested to please bring the copy of Rule-14 chargesheet distributed in the first class.

          Divisional Secretaries are requested to ensure participation of the above candidates.

Tuesday, January 6, 2015

GROUP-C  CIRCLE  WORKING  COMMITTEE  MEETING  ON  17.01.2015

       An urgent Circle Working Committee has been convened on 17th January, 2015 at Tarapada Memorial Hall at 10 A.M. All Circle Office-Bearers are requested to please attend the meeting in time. the copy of notice is given below.


REALLOTMENT OF NEWLY SELECTED PA/SA- regarding

ARE YOU NOT SATISFIED REGARDING YOUR ALLOTMENT TO A DIVISION/ UNIT ?

ARE YOU BELIEVE   THAT ANY CANDIDATE GOT UNDUE ADVANTAGE SO THAT YOU WERE ALLOTTED TO A DISTANCE PLACE?


        CIRCLE SECRETARY, AIPEU, GROUP-C, WEST BENGAL CIRCLE ALREADY DISCUSSED  THIS MATTER WITH  CIRCLE ADMINISTRATION FOR RE ALLOTMENT SUCH JUSTIFIED CASE.

         TO DISCUS AND SUBMIT THE PARTICULAR PROPOSALS, ALL THE CANDIDATES WHO  ARE WILLING TO CHANGE THEIR POSTING, IF JUSTIFIED  ARE INVITED TO ATTEND A MEETING ON 9TH JANUARY, 2015,FRIDAY AT 4.30 PM AT CIRCLE UNION OFFICE  (Tarapada memorial Hall, 37,Ganesh Chandra avenue,Kolkata-13, near Chandni metro station). CIRCLE SECRETARY AND OTHER LEADERS OF THIS UNION WILL ATTEND THE MEETING.

           PLEASE ATTEND AND INFORM TO OTHER SUCH CANDIDATES.

INTERESTED SELECTED CANDIDATE MAY CONTACT WITH FOLLOWING PERSON:-

1. Asit Bangabas-9474503392
2. Manoj Kumar Show-9433776200
3. Adhir Das-9474093841

Monday, January 5, 2015

SRI. P.VENKATRATNAM.85 YRS.FATHER OF COM. P.PANDURANGARAO.G.S.AIPEU GDS NFPE DIED ON 04.01.14 AT .AKKAGARIPETA.B.O.GUDUR. DN. APCC GROUP OF NFPE WB CIRCLE CONVEYS ITS HEART FELT CONDOLENCES TO COM.PANDURANGA RAO AND HIS FAMILY.

Expected DA from January 2015 WILL BE 113 %(6%INCREASE)


The All-India CPI-IW for november, 2014 remained stationary at 253 (two hundred and fifty three).
In the coming months, if the AICPIN value remains at 253 or 1 to 4 point increase or decrease based (249 to 257) then we may get up to 6% DA increase i.e. 113%.below 249 for example(incase 248) 5 point decrease only get 5% DA
Download excel sheet-Expected-da-from-january-20152
EXPECTED DA FROM JAN 2015
The All-India CPI-IW for november, 2014 remained stationary at 253 (two hundred and fifty three). On 1-month percentage change, it remained static between October, 2014 and november, 2014
Presently, the value of AICPIN for the month of november has been released. The value remains at 253 points. When compared to the AICPIN value of October, the present value has not gone up or down and remains constant.
To calculate the DA for Jan 2015 accurately, we need the AICPIN value for the next one months. However, we only have the AICPIN value for five months now. In the coming months, if the AICPIN value remains at 253 or 1 to 4 point increase or decrease based (249 to 257) then we may get up to 6% DA increase i.e. 113%.below 249 for example(incase 248) 5 point decrease only get 5% DA

Saturday, January 3, 2015

REVISION OF HONORARIUM to IOs & POs

PLI SUM ASSURED LIMIT RAISED TO RS FIFTY LAC


Friday, January 2, 2015

PLANNING COMMISSION replaced by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)

        PLANNING COMMISSION replaced by NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Cabinet

01-January-2015 

Government constitutes National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog

 Press Note

            The Government has replaced Planning Commission with a new institution named NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India). The institution will serve as ‘Think Tank’ of the Government-a directional and policy dynamo. NITI Aayog will provide Governments at the central and state levels with relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of policy, this includes matters of national and international import on the economic front, dissemination of best practices from within the country as well as from other nations, the infusion of new policy ideas and specific issue-based support. 

The following is the full text of the Cabinet  Resolution:-  

RESOLUTION  

Mahatma Gandhi had said:  “Constant development is the law of life, and a man who always tries to maintain his dogmas in order to appear consistent drives himself into a false position”. Reflecting this spirit and the changed dynamics of the new India, the institutions of governance and policy have to adapt to new challenges and must be built on the founding principles of the Constitution of India, the wealth of knowledge from our civilizational history and the present day socio-cultural context.   

2.            The Planning Commission was set up on the 15th of March, 1950 through a Cabinet Resolution.  Nearly 65 years later, the country has transformed from an under-developed economy to an emergent global nation with one of the world’s largest economies.

3.            From being preoccupied with survival, our aspirations have soared and today we seek elimination, rather than alleviation, of poverty.  The people of India have great expectations for progress and improvement in governance, through their participation.  They require institutional reforms in governance and dynamic policy shifts that can seed and nurture large-scale change. Indeed, the ‘destiny’ of our country, from the time we achieved Independence, is now on a higher trajectory.

4.            The past few decades have also witnessed a strengthening of Indian nationhood.  India is a diverse country with distinct languages, faiths and cultural ecosystems.  This diversity has enriched the totality of the Indian experience.  Politically too, India has embraced a greater measure of pluralism which has reshaped the federal consensus.  The States of the Union do not want to be mere appendages of the Centre.  They seek a decisive say in determining the architecture of economic growth and development.  The one-size-fits-all approach, often inherent in central planning, has the potential of creating needless tensions and undermining the harmony needed for national effort.  Dr. Ambedkar had said with foresight that it is “unreasonable to centralise powers where central control and uniformity is not clearly essential or is impracticable”. 

5.            At the heart of the dynamics of transforming India lies a technology revolution and increased access to and sharing of information.  In the course of this transformation, while some changes are anticipated and planned, many are a consequence of market forces and larger global shifts.   The evolution and maturing of our institutions and polity also entail a diminished role for centralised planning, which itself needs to be redefined.
    6.   The forces transforming India are many and include: 
a.       The industry and service sectors have developed and are operating on a global scale now.  To build on this foundation, new India needs an administration paradigm in which the government is an “enabler” rather than a “provider of first and last resort”.  The role of the government as a “player” in the industrial and service sectors has to be reduced.  Instead, government has to focus on enabling legislation, policy making and regulation.  

b.      India’s traditional strength in agriculture has increased manifold on account of the efforts of our farmers and improvements in technology.  We need to continue to improve, and move from pure food security to a focus on a mix of agricultural production as well as the actual returns that farmers get from their produce. 

c.       Today, we reside in a ‘global village’, connected by modern transport, communications and media, and networked international markets and institutions.  As India ‘contributes’ to global endeavours, it is also influenced by happenings far removed from our borders.  Global economics and geo-politics are getting increasingly integrated, and the private sector is growing in importance as a constituent within that.  India needs to be an active player in the debates and deliberations on the global commons, especially in relatively uncharted areas. 

d.      India’s middle class is unique in terms of its size and purchasing power.  This formidable  group is increasing with the entry of the neo-middle class.  It has been an important driver of growth and  has enormous potential on account of its high education levels, mobility and willingness to push for change in the country.  Our continuing challenge is to ensure that this economically vibrant group remains engaged and its potential is fully realised.  

e.       India’s pool of entrepreneurial, scientific and intellectual human capital is a source of strength waiting to be unleashed to help us attain unprecedented heights of success.  In fact, the ‘social capital’ that is present in our people has been a major contributor to the development of the country thus far and, therefore, it needs to be leveraged through appropriate policy initiatives. 

f.       The Non-Resident Indian community, which is spread across more than 200 countries, is larger in number than the population of many countries of the world. This is a significant geo-economic and geo-political strength.  Future national policies must incorporate this strength in order to broaden their participation in the new India beyond just their financial support.  Technology and management expertise are self-evident areas where this community can contribute significantly. 

g.      Urbanisation is an irreversible trend.  Rather than viewing it as an evil, we have to make it an integral part  of our policy for development.  Urbanisation has to be viewed as an opportunity to use modern technology to create a wholesome and secure habitat while reaping the economic benefits that it offers. 

h.      Transparency is now a sine qua non for good governance.  We are in a digital age where the tools and modes of communication, like social media, are powerful instruments to share and explain the thoughts and actions of the government.  This trend will only increase with time.  Government and governance have to be conducted in an environment of total transparency – using technology to reduce opacity and thereby, the potential for misadventures in governing. 

7.            Technology and information access have accentuated the unity in diversity that defines us.  They have helped integrate different capabilities of our regions, states and eco-systems towards an interlinked national economy.  Indeed, Indian nationhood has been greatly strengthened on their account.  To reap the benefits of the creative energy that emerges from the Indian kaleidoscope, our development model has to become more consensual and co-operative.  It must embrace the specific demands of states, regions and localities.  A shared vision of national development has to be worked out based on human dignity, national self-respect and an inclusive and sustainable development path.  
     8.  The challenges we face as a country have also become more complex:  

a.            India’s demographic dividend has to be leveraged fruitfully over the next few decades.  The potential of our youth, men and women, has to be realized through education, skill development, elimination of gender bias, and employment.  We have to strive to provide our youth productive opportunities to work on the frontiers of science, technology and knowledge economy. 

b.            Poverty elimination remains one of the most important metrics by which alone we should measure our success as a nation.  Every Indian must be given an opportunity to live a life of dignity and self respect.  The words of Tiruvalluvar, the sage-poet, when he wrote that “nothing is more dreadfully painful than poverty”, and “gripping poverty robs a man of the lofty nobility of his descent”, are as true today as they were when written more than two thousand  years ago. 

c.            Economic development is incomplete if it does not provide every individual the right to enjoy the fruits of development. Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya had enunciated this in his concept of Antyodaya, or uplift of the downtrodden, where the goal is to ensure that the poorest of the poor get the benefits of development.  Inequalities based on gender biases as well as economic disparities  have to be redressed.  We need to create an environment and support system that encourages women to play their rightful role in nation-building.  Equality of opportunity goes hand in hand with an inclusiveness agenda.  Rather than pushing everyone on to a pre-determined path, we have to give every element of society – especially weaker segments like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes - the ability to influence the choices the country and government make in setting the national agenda.  In fact, inclusion has to be predicated on a belief in the ability of each member of society to contribute.  As Sankar Dev wrote centuries ago in the Kirtan Ghosh: “To see every being as equivalent to one’s own soul is the supreme means (of attaining deliverance)”. 

d.            Villages (Gram) continue to be the bedrock of our ethos, culture and sustenance.  They need to be fully integrated institutionally into the development process so that we draw on their vitality and energy. 

e.            India has more than 50 million small businesses, which are a major source of employment creation.  These businesses are particularly important in creating opportunities for the backward and disadvantaged sections of the society.  Policy making must focus on providing necessary support to this sector in terms of skill and knowledge upgrades and access to financial capital and relevant technology. 

f.             Responsible development implies environmentally sound development.  India is one of the mega-diverse countries.  Our environmental and ecological assets are eternal, and must be preserved and safeguarded.  The country’s legacy of respect for environment is reflected in our reverence for trees and animals.  Our legacy to future generations must be sustainable progress.  Each element of our environment (paryavaran) and resources, namely water, land  and forest (Jal, Jameen evam Jungle) must be protected; and this must be done in a manner that takes into account their inter-linkages with climate (jal vayu) and people (jan).  Our development agenda has to ensure that development does not sully the quality of life of the present and future generations. 

9.            The role of the government in achieving ‘national objectives’ may change with time, but will always remain significant.  Government will continue to set policies that anticipate and reflect the country’s requirements and execute them in a just manner for the benefit of the citizens.  The continuing integration with the world – politically and economically - has to be incorporated into policy making as well as functioning of the government. 

In essence, effective governance in India will rest on the following pillars: 

a.       Pro-people agenda that fulfils the aspirations of the society as well as individual,

b.      Pro-active in anticipating and responding to their needs,

c.       Participative, by involvement of citizens,

d.      Empowering   women in all aspects

e.       Inclusion of all groups, with special attention to the economically weak (garib), the SC, ST and OBC communities,  the rural sector and farmers (gaon and kisan), youth and all categories of minorities.

f.       Equality of opportunity to our country’s youth,

g.      Transparency through the use of technology to make government visible and responsive. 

10.         Governance, across the public and private domains, is the concern of society as a whole.  Everyone has a stake in ensuring good governance and effective delivery of services. Creating Jan Chetna, therefore, becomes crucial for people’s initiative.    In the past, governance may have been rather narrowly construed as public governance.  In today’s changed dynamics – with ‘public’ services often being delivered by ‘private’ entities, and the greater scope for ‘participative citizenry’,  governance encompasses and involves everyone.
  
11.          The institutional framework of government has developed and matured over the years.   This has allowed the development of domain expertise which allows us the chance to increase the specificity of functions given to institutions.  Specific to the planning process, there is a need to separate as well as energize the distinct ‘process’ of governance from the ‘strategy’ of governance. 
In the context of governance structures, the changed requirements of our country, point to the need for setting up an institution that serves as a Think Tank of the government – a directional and policy dynamo.  The proposed institution has to provide governments at the central and state levels with relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of policy.  This includes matters of national and international import on the economic front, dissemination of best practices from within the country as well as from other nations, the infusion of new policy ideas and specific issue-based support.  The institution has to be able to respond to the changing and more integrated world that India is part of. 
An important evolutionary change from the past will be replacing a centre-to-state one-way flow of policy by a genuine and continuing partnership with the states.   The institution must have the necessary resources, knowledge, skills and, ability to act with speed to provide the strategic policy vision for the government as well as deal with contingent issues. 
Perhaps most importantly, the institution must adhere to the  tenet that while incorporating positive influences from the world, no single model can be transplanted  from outside into the Indian scenario. We need to find our own strategy for growth.  The new institution has to zero in on what will work in and for India.   It will be a Bharatiya approach to development. 
12.          The institution to give life to these aspirations is the NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India).  This is being proposed after extensive consultation across the spectrum of stakeholders including inter alia state governments, domain experts and relevant institutions.  The NITI Aayog will work towards the following objectives: 
a.            To evolve a shared vision of national development priorities, sectors and strategies with the active involvement of States in the light of national objectives.    The vision of the NITI Aayog will then provide a framework ‘national agenda’ for the Prime Minister and the Chief Ministers to provide impetus to. 
b.            To foster cooperative federalism through structured support initiatives and mechanisms with the States on a continuous basis, recognizing that strong States make a strong nation. 
c.            To develop mechanisms to formulate credible plans at the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government. 
d.            To ensure, on areas that are specifically referred to it, that the interests of national security are incorporated in economic strategy and policy. 
e.            To pay special attention to the sections of our society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress.  
f.             To design strategic and long term policy and programme frameworks and initiatives, and monitor their progress and their efficacy.  The lessons learnt through monitoring and feedback will be used for making innovative improvements, including necessary mid-course corrections. 
g.            To provide advice and encourage partnerships between key stakeholders and national and international like-minded Think Tanks, as well as educational and policy research institutions. 
h.            To create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and other partners. 
i.              To offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda. 
j.              To maintain a state-of-the-art Resource Centre, be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development as well as help their dissemination to stake-holders. 
k.            To actively monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes and initiatives, including the identification of the needed resources so as to strengthen the probability of success and scope of delivery. 
l.              To focus on technology upgradation and capacity building for implementation of programmes and initiatives. 
m.           To undertake other activities as may be necessary in order to further the execution of the national development agenda, and the objectives mentioned above.  
13.   The NITI will comprise the following:  
a.            Prime Minister of India as the Chairperson 
b.            Governing Council comprising the Chief Ministers of all the States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories 
c.            Regional Councils will be formed to address specific issues and contingencies impacting more than one state or a region.  These will be formed for a specified tenure.  The Regional Councils will be convened by the Prime Minister and will comprise of the Chief Ministers of States and Lt. Governors of Union Territories in the region.  These will be chaired by the  Chairperson of the NITI Aayog or his nominee. 
d.            Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister 
e.            The full-time organizational framework will comprise of, in addition to the Prime Minister as the Chairperson: 
  i.      Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by the Prime Minister
 ii.      Members: Full-time  
 iii.      Part-time members: Maximum of 2 from leading universities research organizations and other relevant institutions in an ex-officio capacity.  Part time members will be on a rotational basis.
 iv.      Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister. 
 v.      Chief Executive Officer : To be appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India.
 vi.      Secretariat as deemed necessary. 
14.          Swami Vivekananda said “Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life – think it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.” Through its commitment to a cooperative federalism, promotion of citizen engagement, egalitarian access to opportunity, participative and adaptive governance and increasing use of technology, the NITI Aayog will seek to provide a critical directional and strategic input into the governance process.  This, along with being the incubator of ideas for effective governance, will be the core mission of NITI Aayog. 

Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India

New Delhi, 1st January 2015