India's policy thinktank Niti Aayog claims the country is attempting an unprecedented feat: expanding GDP nearly eightfold within a generation while reaching net zero within two generations, balancing rapid industrialization with severe climate pressures.
Niti Aayog's governing council, led by PM Narendra Modi, will meet on June 11 to review state chief secretaries' deliberations and actions taken on reforms. A day later, Modi will chair a meeting of North-East chief ministers. The meeting occurs amidst the West Asia conflict impacting India's economy.
A Niti Aayog report reveals India's R&D spending at 0.6%-0.7% of GDP, far below global benchmarks. It cites funding issues, bureaucratic delays, and manpower shortages, recommending a rise to 2% of GDP and streamlining processes.
The Indian government has appointed academics Joram Aniya and R Balasubramaniam as new members of Niti Aayog. Aniya is the first woman from the Nyishi community to earn a doctorate and the first in Hindi language in Arunachal Pradesh. Balasubramaniam is a physician who taught at Cornell University and holds a master's from Harvard Kennedy School. Former chief economic adviser Ashok Lahiri was named vice chairman last month, with other new members including Gobardhan Das, K V Raju, M Srinivas and Abhay Karandikar.
The Centre has appointed Dr R Balasubramaniam, a scholar-author and public policy expert, and Dr Joram Aniya, an academic from Arunachal Pradesh with over 18 years of experience, as full-time members of NITI Aayog. Aniya is the first woman from the Nyishi community to earn a PhD and the first in Hindi language in the state. The appointments bring the total number of full-time members to seven, alongside a vice-chairman.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appointed Dr. R Balasubramaniam and Dr. Joram Aniya as full-time members of NITI Aayog. The move is part of a broader effort to strengthen India's apex public policy think tank.
M Srinivas, Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, has joined NITI Aayog as a full-time member following the think tank's reconstitution. Ashok Lahiri has been appointed as the new vice-chairman, with four other full-time members also appointed. The cabinet secretariat announced these changes on April 24.
The Indian government has reconstituted Niti Aayog, appointing veteran economist Ashok Lahiri as the new vice-chairman along with four new members including AIIMS Delhi director M Srinivas, science secretary Abhay Karandikar, and IISER Bhopal director Gobardhan Das. This marks the biggest overhaul of the thinktank since its inception in 2015, with Rajiv Gauba remaining the only member from the previous team. The revamp follows CEO BVR Subrahmanyam's departure last month, with school education secretary Sanjay Kumar emerging as the leading candidate to replace him.
Former chief economic adviser Ashok Lahiri is set to become the new vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, replacing Suman Bery. Gobardhan Das, director of IISER Bhopal and a former JNU professor, will be nominated as a member. Both are BJP candidates, with Lahiri an MLA from Balurghat and Das a Dalit who faced attacks from TMC cadres after the 2021 Bengal elections. The appointments coincide with the second round of West Bengal voting and are viewed as an electoral overture.
Ashok Lahiri, former chief economic adviser and BJP MLA from Balurghat, is set to become the new vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, replacing Suman Bery. Gobardhan Das, director of IISER Bhopal and former JNU professor, will be nominated as a member. Both appointments come amid the second round of West Bengal polling on Wednesday and are seen as an overture to voters. Das, a Dalit, had allegedly faced attacks from TMC cadres following the 2021 state elections.
NITI Aayog's report highlights the Middle East conflict's potential impact on India's trade and economy, risking the current account deficit and exchange rate. Instability also slows India-GCC FTA talks, hindering market access. Despite global uncertainty, merchandise trade remains steady, with services showing strong performance.
