In biggest overhaul, 4 new members join Niti Aayog under Ashok Lahiri

The government has restructured the Niti Aayog, appointing Ashok Lahiri as its new vice-chairman and appointing four new members, the biggest overhaul of the think tank since its inception in 2015.AIIMS Delhi Director M Srinivas has been appointed as members along with Science and Technology Secretary Abhay Karandikar and Chanakya University Emeritus Professor KV Raju.Gobardhan Das, director of the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Bhopal, has also been appointed as a member, while Rajiv Gauba was the only member from the previous team.The revamp of the Niti Aayog has been under discussion ever since the NDA returned to office in 2024 as the think tank looks tired and the building that once housed the Planning Commission has hardly come up with any new ideas.The changes began last month when BVR Subrahmanyam left Niti Aayog after three years as chief executive. There is active discussion in policy circles about who will be the new chief executive, with School Education Minister Sanjay Kumar seen as the frontrunner.The new team is made up of experts from various economic sectors – from medical disciplines to rural management.‘Appropriate policies need to be put in place to realize the Prime Minister’s vision’Lahiri is Raju’s senior economist and a member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, specializing in agriculture, water conservancy and rural management.Srinvas is the expert on health, while Karandikar will handle science and technology and Das immunology and health. Gauba’s extensive administrative experience will provide critical input into policy development and reform.“Improving the quality of life in remote areas, farming communities and the public at large is crucial for the overall development of the country,” Das said in a post on“PM Modi’s dream is to make the country a ‘Viksit Bharat’ by 2047… To realize this vision, we need to ensure that appropriate policies are in place… I commend West Bengal for its early education policy, which played an important role in my appointment as Niti Aayog vice-chairman… This is a huge mark of respect for West Bengal,” Lahiri said after meeting the Prime Minister.“Niti Aayog has emerged as an important pillar of India’s policy-making architecture, promoting cooperative federalism, deepening reforms and promoting ‘ease of living’. It is a dynamic platform for cross-sectoral innovation and long-term strategic thinking,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a post on X.