India’s Mars Orbiter team wins US award
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India’s Mars Orbiter programme team has won the 2015 Space Pioneer Award in the science and engineering category from the US based National Space Society (NSS), the society said.
In a statement issued in Washington on Monday, the NSS said its 2015 Space Pioneer Award in the science and engineering category has been won by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Programme team.
“This award will be presented to an ISRO representative during the National Space Society’s 2015 International Space Development Conference, the 34th ISDC, to be held in Toronto, Canada,” the statement said.
The conference will run form May 20-24.
According to the NSS, India’s Mars Orbiter launched on Nov 5, 2013 that went into Mars orbit on Sep 24, 2014 achieved two significant mission firsts in terms of an Indian spacecraft that has gone into orbit around Mars on the very first try and that no other country has ever done this. Secondly, the spacecraft is in an elliptical orbit with a high apoapsis, and has a high resolution camera which is taking full-disk colour imagery of Mars.
Very few full disk images have ever been taken in the past, mostly on approach to the planet, as most imaging is done looking straight down in mapping mode.
These images will aid planetary scientists.
The Mars Orbiter programme team located in Bangalore is headed by Mylswamy Annadurai, the statement said.
The NSS is an independent non-profit educational membership organisation dedicated to the creation of a space faring civilisation.
In a statement issued in Washington on Monday, the NSS said its 2015 Space Pioneer Award in the science and engineering category has been won by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) Mars Orbiter Programme team.
“This award will be presented to an ISRO representative during the National Space Society’s 2015 International Space Development Conference, the 34th ISDC, to be held in Toronto, Canada,” the statement said.
The conference will run form May 20-24.
According to the NSS, India’s Mars Orbiter launched on Nov 5, 2013 that went into Mars orbit on Sep 24, 2014 achieved two significant mission firsts in terms of an Indian spacecraft that has gone into orbit around Mars on the very first try and that no other country has ever done this. Secondly, the spacecraft is in an elliptical orbit with a high apoapsis, and has a high resolution camera which is taking full-disk colour imagery of Mars.
Very few full disk images have ever been taken in the past, mostly on approach to the planet, as most imaging is done looking straight down in mapping mode.
These images will aid planetary scientists.
The Mars Orbiter programme team located in Bangalore is headed by Mylswamy Annadurai, the statement said.
The NSS is an independent non-profit educational membership organisation dedicated to the creation of a space faring civilisation.
India's first Net Zero Energy consumption building
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NEW DELHI: United Nations secretary general Ban Ki-moon on Tuesday visited India's first 'Net Zero Energy' consuming building - Indira Paryavaran Bhawan - which is constructed in such a way that it can meet most of its annual energy requirement through solar power.
Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar showcased the secretary general the salient features of the green building which comprises of India's largest roof-top solar panel.
Javadekar is learnt to have also used this opportunity to reiterate India's commitment to move on clean energy path using more and more solar and wind power in the next five years and assured Ban Ki-moon about his country's willingness to work with other nations to have an equitable global climate deal in Paris later this year.
In fact, Ban Ki-moon had expressed his desire to see the green building when Javadekar had last met him during the UN climate conference in Lima, Peru in December, 2014 and explained him the features of the 'Paryavaran Bhawan' from where his ministry works. The building is located at Jor Bagh in South Delhi.
The building, which was dedicated to the nation by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early last year, is focused on increasing the efficiency of resources like energy, water and materials while minimizing the impact of the building on human habitat and environment.
The 'Net Zero Energy' building - also called Net Zero Building - is a structure with zero net energy consumption where the total amount of energy used in the premises on an annual basis is more or less equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.
Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar showcased the secretary general the salient features of the green building which comprises of India's largest roof-top solar panel.
Javadekar is learnt to have also used this opportunity to reiterate India's commitment to move on clean energy path using more and more solar and wind power in the next five years and assured Ban Ki-moon about his country's willingness to work with other nations to have an equitable global climate deal in Paris later this year.
In fact, Ban Ki-moon had expressed his desire to see the green building when Javadekar had last met him during the UN climate conference in Lima, Peru in December, 2014 and explained him the features of the 'Paryavaran Bhawan' from where his ministry works. The building is located at Jor Bagh in South Delhi.
The building, which was dedicated to the nation by the then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh early last year, is focused on increasing the efficiency of resources like energy, water and materials while minimizing the impact of the building on human habitat and environment.
The 'Net Zero Energy' building - also called Net Zero Building - is a structure with zero net energy consumption where the total amount of energy used in the premises on an annual basis is more or less equal to the amount of renewable energy created on the site.
First District of India with Complete Rural Broadband Coverage
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The Minister for Communications and IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad inaugurated the launch of the high speed broadband for the entire Idukki district of Kerala.
With the commissioning of the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), the Idukki district of Kerala has become the first in India to be connected with the high speed broadband for all the areas of the district. Currently the District has a total of eight (8) Block Offices & 53 Gram Panchayats of which 8 Block Offices & 52 Gram Panchayats have been connected on Optical Fibre and one Gram Panchayat, namely Edamalakudy, is connected through VSAT. Edamalakudy, is a Tribal Gram Panchayat consisting of 26 Tribal villages with around 2200 people. It is remotely located around 18 Kms from Pettimudi which is last point one can go in a vehicle. BSNL has made exceptional efforts in connecting this Gram Panchayat and now Broadband Internet as well as Mobile services are also available here. For the first time all villages under this Panchayat would be connected through Mobile phones and internet.
The establishment of NOFN would open up new avenues for Access service providers such as Telecom Service Providers, Internet Service Providers, and Cable TV operators, Content Providers etc. to launch next generation services and spur creation of local employment opportunities in a big way.
The Kerala Chief Minister Shri Oommen Chandy, the Minister for Industry and IT, Govt. of Kerala Shri P. K. Kunhalikutty and Secretary Telecom Shri Rakesh Garg were present on this occasion.
With the commissioning of the National Optical Fibre Network (NOFN), the Idukki district of Kerala has become the first in India to be connected with the high speed broadband for all the areas of the district. Currently the District has a total of eight (8) Block Offices & 53 Gram Panchayats of which 8 Block Offices & 52 Gram Panchayats have been connected on Optical Fibre and one Gram Panchayat, namely Edamalakudy, is connected through VSAT. Edamalakudy, is a Tribal Gram Panchayat consisting of 26 Tribal villages with around 2200 people. It is remotely located around 18 Kms from Pettimudi which is last point one can go in a vehicle. BSNL has made exceptional efforts in connecting this Gram Panchayat and now Broadband Internet as well as Mobile services are also available here. For the first time all villages under this Panchayat would be connected through Mobile phones and internet.
The establishment of NOFN would open up new avenues for Access service providers such as Telecom Service Providers, Internet Service Providers, and Cable TV operators, Content Providers etc. to launch next generation services and spur creation of local employment opportunities in a big way.
The Kerala Chief Minister Shri Oommen Chandy, the Minister for Industry and IT, Govt. of Kerala Shri P. K. Kunhalikutty and Secretary Telecom Shri Rakesh Garg were present on this occasion.
US, India to discuss progress on defence, nuke cooperation
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The US and India will try to make progress in defence and civil nuclear cooperation when President Barack Obama visits Delhi this month end, Secretary of State John Kerry said today.
He also said that they expected India to sign a landmark climate change agreement in Paris at the end of this year and this would be part of the discussions Obama will have with Prime Minister Modi.
Obama will be in India as chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations this year. He will also have discussions with Modi on bilateral and other issues.
"We will try to make progress on issues like defence agreements, civil nuclear agreement as well as economic progress," Kerry told reporters here giving the outline of the discussion with Modi.
"We are also working together to strengthen maritime security. We are strengthening our partnership to combat terrorism, piracy and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We are committed to regional dialogue on key political and security issues," he said.
After the landmark nuclear deal between the two countries in 2008, cooperation in the sector has been stalled over the tough provisions in the Civil Nuclear Liability Act that have come as a dampener for foreign operators.
Speaking about his yesterday's meeting with Modi, Kerry said, "I had productive discussion with prime minister Narendra Modi when president Obama is coming here next month. Obama is honoured to be invited as a chief guest at the Republic Day parade and is going to be the first sitting president to be on a visit to India for the second time".
Kerry, who is here to take part in the seventh edition of the Vibrant Gujarat summit, his second visit to India after Modi took over as prime minister, also said that he is impressed by the event.
He also said that they expected India to sign a landmark climate change agreement in Paris at the end of this year and this would be part of the discussions Obama will have with Prime Minister Modi.
Obama will be in India as chief guest at the Republic Day celebrations this year. He will also have discussions with Modi on bilateral and other issues.
"We will try to make progress on issues like defence agreements, civil nuclear agreement as well as economic progress," Kerry told reporters here giving the outline of the discussion with Modi.
"We are also working together to strengthen maritime security. We are strengthening our partnership to combat terrorism, piracy and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. We are committed to regional dialogue on key political and security issues," he said.
After the landmark nuclear deal between the two countries in 2008, cooperation in the sector has been stalled over the tough provisions in the Civil Nuclear Liability Act that have come as a dampener for foreign operators.
Speaking about his yesterday's meeting with Modi, Kerry said, "I had productive discussion with prime minister Narendra Modi when president Obama is coming here next month. Obama is honoured to be invited as a chief guest at the Republic Day parade and is going to be the first sitting president to be on a visit to India for the second time".
Kerry, who is here to take part in the seventh edition of the Vibrant Gujarat summit, his second visit to India after Modi took over as prime minister, also said that he is impressed by the event.
Fate of ocean plastic remains a mystery
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Large plastic items are thought to degrade into microplastic in the ocean, but evidence of this is scarce. More than 5 trillion plastic pieces, with a combined mass of more than 2,50,000 tonnes, are floating in the ocean, researchers reported in PLoS ONE. On its face, the estimate is shockingly high – but it is still much lower than expected, amounting to less than 1 per cent of the annual global production of plastic, says study co-author Hank Carson, a marine biologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife in Olympia.
A team led by Marcus Eriksen, research director at the Five Gyres Institute in Los Angeles, California, took samples with fine-mesh nets and visually counted pieces of trash on 24 expeditions through all five subtropical gyres – areas of rotating ocean currents where plastic collects – as well as coastal Australia, the Bay of Bengal and the Mediterranean Sea. The team combined its observations with those from other ocean-sampling efforts, then fed the data into a model of ocean-plastic distribution to arrive at the estimate. The findings are on par with other recent estimates of ocean plastic.
A study published in Environmental Science and Technology used data from 2,500 samples taken with fine mesh nets to estimate that there are 21,290 tons of
floating microplastic in the Pacific Ocean.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that the global ocean contains between 7,000 and 35,000 tons of floating plastic. Andrés Cózar, a marine ecologist at the University of Cádiz in Spain, says that the latest estimate is larger because Eriksen and his team counted large items visually, whereas Cózar’s team based their estimate on what they caught in nets. Nevertheless, he says that Eriksen’s study is a valuable addition to the literature. Eriksen’s team found that microplastic accounted for a small proportion of the estimated mass.
Where is all the plastic?
A team led by Marcus Eriksen, research director at the Five Gyres Institute in Los Angeles, California, took samples with fine-mesh nets and visually counted pieces of trash on 24 expeditions through all five subtropical gyres – areas of rotating ocean currents where plastic collects – as well as coastal Australia, the Bay of Bengal and the Mediterranean Sea. The team combined its observations with those from other ocean-sampling efforts, then fed the data into a model of ocean-plastic distribution to arrive at the estimate. The findings are on par with other recent estimates of ocean plastic.
A study published in Environmental Science and Technology used data from 2,500 samples taken with fine mesh nets to estimate that there are 21,290 tons of
floating microplastic in the Pacific Ocean.
A study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences concluded that the global ocean contains between 7,000 and 35,000 tons of floating plastic. Andrés Cózar, a marine ecologist at the University of Cádiz in Spain, says that the latest estimate is larger because Eriksen and his team counted large items visually, whereas Cózar’s team based their estimate on what they caught in nets. Nevertheless, he says that Eriksen’s study is a valuable addition to the literature. Eriksen’s team found that microplastic accounted for a small proportion of the estimated mass.
Where is all the plastic?
Cheap asphalt to trap carbon dioxide created
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Researchers have developed an inexpensive type of asphalt that can capture carbon dioxide from natural gas wells and keep it out of the atmosphere.
The study from the laboratory of James Tour at Rice University found that a compound made cheaply in a few steps from asphalt is even better than a green carbon capture material for wellhead sequestration discovered last year.
The best version made by the Tour lab is a powder that holds 114 per cent of its weight in carbon dioxide.
These new porous carbon materials capture carbon dioxide molecules at room temperature while letting the desired methane natural gas flow through.
The basic compound known as asphalt-porous carbon (A-PC) captures carbon dioxide as it leaves a wellhead under pressure supplied by the rising gas itself.
When the pressure is relieved, A-PC spontaneously releases the carbon dioxide, which can be piped off to storage, pumped back down-hole or repurposed for such uses as enhanced oil recovery.
“This provides an ultra-inexpensive route to a high-value material for the capture of carbon dioxide from natural gas streams,” Tour said.
“Not only did we increase its capacity, we lowered the price substantially,” said Tour.
He said they tried many grades of asphalt, the black, petroleum-based substance primarily used to build roads, some costing as little as 30 cents per pound.
The study from the laboratory of James Tour at Rice University found that a compound made cheaply in a few steps from asphalt is even better than a green carbon capture material for wellhead sequestration discovered last year.
The best version made by the Tour lab is a powder that holds 114 per cent of its weight in carbon dioxide.
These new porous carbon materials capture carbon dioxide molecules at room temperature while letting the desired methane natural gas flow through.
The basic compound known as asphalt-porous carbon (A-PC) captures carbon dioxide as it leaves a wellhead under pressure supplied by the rising gas itself.
When the pressure is relieved, A-PC spontaneously releases the carbon dioxide, which can be piped off to storage, pumped back down-hole or repurposed for such uses as enhanced oil recovery.
“This provides an ultra-inexpensive route to a high-value material for the capture of carbon dioxide from natural gas streams,” Tour said.
“Not only did we increase its capacity, we lowered the price substantially,” said Tour.
He said they tried many grades of asphalt, the black, petroleum-based substance primarily used to build roads, some costing as little as 30 cents per pound.
Indian jurist’s NOTA proposal could ease Hong Kong tension (Jan 2015)
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An Indian jurist’s proposal derived from a Supreme Court ruling could play a key role in building consensus on Hong Kong’s political reforms which are grabbing headlines following the surge in recent street protests.
There are deep divisions in Hong Kong’s political class, which have surfaced prominently during the course of student protests which had, for months, rocked the territory’s Central Business District.
Hong Kong elections
But the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) is reporting that the popular mood in Hong Kong maybe slowly changing. Shifting from the earlier maximalist demand for abolishing the Nominating Committee — supposedly a cabal of pro-Beijing functionaries — which is to pick candidates eligible to stand for Hong Kong’s 2017 elections for the chief executive, there could now be more room for a functional compromise with the Opposition.
That is where a bridging proposal by Shubhankar Dam, an Assistant Professor at the Singapore Management University’s School of Law, is coming into play.
'None of the Above' option
Taking the cue from a Supreme Court ruling in the case People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v Union of India (2013), Mr. Dam wrote in the Jurist magazine that without the abrogation of the “pre-selection” provision of eligible candidates by the nominating committee, the Hong Kong electorate must be given the None of the Above (NOTA), option, when they vote for the Chief Executive’s post.
This would give the voters a choice of rejecting all the candidates in the fray.
In an e-mail to The Hindu, Mr. Dam explained that he had made one major modification to the Supreme Court’s ruling. “In India, the Court clarified that even if NOTA gets the majority of votes in a constituency, it will have no effect. The candidate with the second highest vote would be declared the winner.”
He added: “I argued that Hong Kong should implement a different rule. Perhaps the rule should be that if a majority of voters in Hong Kong opt for NOTA it should mean that NOTA has won: all other candidates must be declared as having lost the elections. And the consequence should be that new elections must be called for.”
Mr. Dam’s proposal could be making a dent in Beijing’s power elite, mainly because the idea has been picked up and further tweaked by Albert Chen Hung-yee, an influential legal expert trusted by Beijing.
There are deep divisions in Hong Kong’s political class, which have surfaced prominently during the course of student protests which had, for months, rocked the territory’s Central Business District.
Hong Kong elections
But the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) is reporting that the popular mood in Hong Kong maybe slowly changing. Shifting from the earlier maximalist demand for abolishing the Nominating Committee — supposedly a cabal of pro-Beijing functionaries — which is to pick candidates eligible to stand for Hong Kong’s 2017 elections for the chief executive, there could now be more room for a functional compromise with the Opposition.
That is where a bridging proposal by Shubhankar Dam, an Assistant Professor at the Singapore Management University’s School of Law, is coming into play.
'None of the Above' option
Taking the cue from a Supreme Court ruling in the case People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) v Union of India (2013), Mr. Dam wrote in the Jurist magazine that without the abrogation of the “pre-selection” provision of eligible candidates by the nominating committee, the Hong Kong electorate must be given the None of the Above (NOTA), option, when they vote for the Chief Executive’s post.
This would give the voters a choice of rejecting all the candidates in the fray.
In an e-mail to The Hindu, Mr. Dam explained that he had made one major modification to the Supreme Court’s ruling. “In India, the Court clarified that even if NOTA gets the majority of votes in a constituency, it will have no effect. The candidate with the second highest vote would be declared the winner.”
He added: “I argued that Hong Kong should implement a different rule. Perhaps the rule should be that if a majority of voters in Hong Kong opt for NOTA it should mean that NOTA has won: all other candidates must be declared as having lost the elections. And the consequence should be that new elections must be called for.”
Mr. Dam’s proposal could be making a dent in Beijing’s power elite, mainly because the idea has been picked up and further tweaked by Albert Chen Hung-yee, an influential legal expert trusted by Beijing.
India joins hands with UAE’s humanitarian campaign
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Dubai: An Indian church has instructed all its members in the UAE to participate in a humanitarian campaign led by the Gulf nation’s President, aimed at helping one million Syrian refugees who are struggling against freezing winter in Levant region.
The Supreme Head of Indian Malankara Orthodox Church and Catholicose of All The East Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II has instructed all church members in the UAE to actively participate in the ‘UAE Compassion’ campaign.
The campaign aims at helping millions of refugees in Levant region struggling against freezing winter in flimsy tents with inadequate facilities, Gulf News reported.
The campaign is being directed by President of UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and reiterated by Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Extensive arrangements are in place to collect and distribute winter clothes, blankets and food supplies to the refugees in association with UAE Red Crescent Society, under the leadership of Vicars of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah parishes, the report said.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who came to India in AD 52.
The Indian Malankara Orthodox Church is a regular participant in the charity drives spearheaded in the world.
Meanwhile, over Dh 13 million (USD 3.5 million) was donated by Dubai citizens yesterday, bringing the total donations to around Dh 190 million (USD 51.72 million)
Donation are expected to reach Dh 200 million (USD 54.45 million), Mohammad Abdullah Al Haj Al Zarouni, head of Emirates Red Crescent’s (ERC) Dubai branch, said.
Personnel are working on the ground in the areas covered by the campaign, which include refugee camps in Palestinian region, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, Al Zarouni said.
The Supreme Head of Indian Malankara Orthodox Church and Catholicose of All The East Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II has instructed all church members in the UAE to actively participate in the ‘UAE Compassion’ campaign.
The campaign aims at helping millions of refugees in Levant region struggling against freezing winter in flimsy tents with inadequate facilities, Gulf News reported.
The campaign is being directed by President of UAE Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and reiterated by Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Extensive arrangements are in place to collect and distribute winter clothes, blankets and food supplies to the refugees in association with UAE Red Crescent Society, under the leadership of Vicars of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al Ain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah parishes, the report said.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who came to India in AD 52.
The Indian Malankara Orthodox Church is a regular participant in the charity drives spearheaded in the world.
Meanwhile, over Dh 13 million (USD 3.5 million) was donated by Dubai citizens yesterday, bringing the total donations to around Dh 190 million (USD 51.72 million)
Donation are expected to reach Dh 200 million (USD 54.45 million), Mohammad Abdullah Al Haj Al Zarouni, head of Emirates Red Crescent’s (ERC) Dubai branch, said.
Personnel are working on the ground in the areas covered by the campaign, which include refugee camps in Palestinian region, Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq, Al Zarouni said.
Union Government formed NITI Aayog to replace Planning Commission
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Union Government on 1 January 2015 set up the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. NITI Aayog that replaced the 65 year old Planning Commission will be headed by Prime Minister. It will have a governing council comprising Chief Ministers of all the states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
Apart from this, the NITI Aayog will also have a Vice-Chairperson and a Chief Executive Officer (fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India), who will be appointed by the Prime Minister.
The NITI Aayog’s functions have been described as the Bharatiya approach to development. The Aayog has been tasked with a role of formulating policies and direction for the government and serving as a think-tank, it will provide a national agenda for Prime Minister and Chief Ministers. It will also provide relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of policy, like economic matters of national and international importance.
Functions that will be undertaken by the NITI Aayog
• It will develop mechanisms for formulation of credible plans to the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government
• Special attention will be given to the sections of the society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress
• It will also create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and partners
• It will offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda
• It will also monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes, and focus on technology upgradation and capacity building.
Other members of the NITI Aayog will be
Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister
• Members - Full-time
• 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.
• Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Secretariat as deemed necessary
Difference between the NITI Aayog and Planning Commission
Under the Planning Commission centre-to-state one-way flow of policy existed, whereas, the NITI Aayog has planned a genuine and continuing partnership of states. Now, state governments can play an active role in achieving national objectives, as they have been empowered to provide with strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of policymaking.
Background
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has been created in accordance to the announcement made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2014. On the Independence Day, he announced that the government will replace the Planning Commission which was established on 15 March 1950 through a Cabinet Resolution. Further to revamp the Planning Commission, the Prime Minister met with Chief Ministers and Governors of various States on 7 December 2014 and discussed their opinions on the same to separate the process of governance from the strategy of governance.
Union Government on 1 January 2015 set up the National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog. NITI Aayog that replaced the 65 year old Planning Commission will be headed by Prime Minister. It will have a governing council comprising Chief Ministers of all the states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
Apart from this, the NITI Aayog will also have a Vice-Chairperson and a Chief Executive Officer (fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India), who will be appointed by the Prime Minister.
Apart from this, the NITI Aayog will also have a Vice-Chairperson and a Chief Executive Officer (fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to the Government of India), who will be appointed by the Prime Minister.
The NITI Aayog’s functions have been described as the Bharatiya approach to development. The Aayog has been tasked with a role of formulating policies and direction for the government and serving as a think-tank, it will provide a national agenda for Prime Minister and Chief Ministers. It will also provide relevant strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of key elements of policy, like economic matters of national and international importance.
Functions that will be undertaken by the NITI Aayog
• It will develop mechanisms for formulation of credible plans to the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government
• Special attention will be given to the sections of the society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress
• It will also create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and partners
• It will offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda
• It will also monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes, and focus on technology upgradation and capacity building.
Other members of the NITI Aayog will be
Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister
• Members - Full-time
• 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.
• Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Secretariat as deemed necessary
• It will develop mechanisms for formulation of credible plans to the village level and aggregate these progressively at higher levels of government
• Special attention will be given to the sections of the society that may be at risk of not benefitting adequately from economic progress
• It will also create a knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurial support system through a collaborative community of national and international experts, practitioners and partners
• It will offer a platform for resolution of inter-sectoral and inter-departmental issues in order to accelerate the implementation of the development agenda
• It will also monitor and evaluate the implementation of programmes, and focus on technology upgradation and capacity building.
Other members of the NITI Aayog will be
Experts, specialists and practitioners with relevant domain knowledge as special invitees nominated by the Prime Minister
• Members - Full-time
• 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.
• Ex Officio members: Maximum of 4 members of the Union Council of Ministers to be nominated by the Prime Minister.
• Secretariat as deemed necessary
Difference between the NITI Aayog and Planning Commission
Under the Planning Commission centre-to-state one-way flow of policy existed, whereas, the NITI Aayog has planned a genuine and continuing partnership of states. Now, state governments can play an active role in achieving national objectives, as they have been empowered to provide with strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of policymaking.
Background
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has been created in accordance to the announcement made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2014. On the Independence Day, he announced that the government will replace the Planning Commission which was established on 15 March 1950 through a Cabinet Resolution. Further to revamp the Planning Commission, the Prime Minister met with Chief Ministers and Governors of various States on 7 December 2014 and discussed their opinions on the same to separate the process of governance from the strategy of governance.
Under the Planning Commission centre-to-state one-way flow of policy existed, whereas, the NITI Aayog has planned a genuine and continuing partnership of states. Now, state governments can play an active role in achieving national objectives, as they have been empowered to provide with strategic and technical advice across the spectrum of policymaking.
Background
National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has been created in accordance to the announcement made by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 15 August 2014. On the Independence Day, he announced that the government will replace the Planning Commission which was established on 15 March 1950 through a Cabinet Resolution. Further to revamp the Planning Commission, the Prime Minister met with Chief Ministers and Governors of various States on 7 December 2014 and discussed their opinions on the same to separate the process of governance from the strategy of governance.
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