UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION

MAINS ANSWER WRITING PRACTICE

LECTURE 25

CSE MAINS

An answer a day paves your way for Mussoorie stay!

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UPSC CIVIL SERVICES EXAMINATION

MAINS ANSWER WRITING PRACTICE

LECTURE 25

CSE MAINS

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Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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IDENTIFICATION OF KEYWORDS

DEMAND OF THE QUESTION

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NITI AAYOG AND PLANNING COMMISSION

BASED ON THE PRINCIPLES FOLLOWED BY EACH

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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UNDERSTANDING KEYWORDS

PRINCIPLES

PLANNING APPROACH GOVERNANCEOBJECTIVES &

FUNCTIONS

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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PRINCIPLE PLANNING COMMISSION NITI AAYOG

Fundamental Role and Objectives

Formulating and implementing the five year plans

Policy Research and ‘Think Tank’

Planning Approach Highly Centralized –(Top Down Approach)

Decentralized Approach with a room for various stake holders

Governance Less TransparentEarned a reputation of parallel

cabinet.

Transparent with focus on e-governance and people’s

participation

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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STRUCTURING THE ANSWER

LACUNAE IN PLANNING COMMISSION AND REASONS BEHIND EMERGENCE OF NITI AAYOG (40-50 words)

PRINCIPLED DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PC AND NA(120-150 words)

CONCLUSION ( around 20 words)

INTRODUCTION

The Planning Commission had served our country well through its various five year plans from 1950 to 2014. However, amidst an internal evaluation by the government it was felt that Planning Commission was witnessing policy

fatigue; moreover it was earning the reputation of a ‘parallel cabinet’ (ARC Report) thereby necessitating structural changes in central planning process.

Amidst these issues, a new institutional framework was needed and hence came National Institution of Transforming (NITI) Aayog with certain principled differences.

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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LACUNAE IN PLANNING COMMISSION

BUFFER LINE

The differences between the principles followed by the erstwhile Planning Commission and NITI Aayog can be explainedprimarily in terms of – Their fundamental role and objective The planning approach followed by the two Governance

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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BODY

While the erstwhile PC acted like an extra-Constitutional body with far-reaching powers in terms of allocation andutilization of finances, NITI Aayog on the other hand (although Non-Constitutional) has a much advisory role and aless executive role. It primarily act as a “think tank”.

While the PC had significant executive powers, the NITI Aayog on the other hand acts like a policy researchinstitution to aid the Government (executive) in matters of formulating efficient policies for creating ‘new India’.

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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FUNDAMENTAL ROLE AND OBJECTIVE

BODY

While the erstwhile Planning Commission had a highly centralized planning approach, the NITI Aayog has a muchdifferent approach.

Acknowledging the increasing autonomy and the role of the states, the NITI Aayog appreciates and allows for ahigher participation by the states as well as other stake holders (civil society).

Moreover, transparency and e-governance being one of the important pillar of the NITI Aayog is in sharp contrastwith the planning approach of erstwhile Planning Commission.

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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PLANNING APPROACH

BODY

Perhaps the most significant difference between the principles followed by the two planning bodies is in terms oftheir Governance.

The contemporary NITI Aayog seeks to nurture an open, transparent, accountable, pro-active and purposeful styleof governance. These principles although present in theory but were largely absent in practice in case of theerstwhile Planning Commission.

The erstwhile Planning Commission was originally established as a ‘staff agency’ but with time it emerged as apowerful and directive authority, thereby lacking in principles of good governance.

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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PRINCIPLES OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

CONCLUSION

With changing circumstances, certain new principles (Sustainable Development, Coo-operative Federalism etc.) gotadded to the objectives of planning, leading to the emergence of NITI Aayog. However, the contributions of thePlanning Commission to the nation’s development must not be forgotten. Also, certain cracks that have started toappear in the functioning of NITI Aayog must be catered to in due time.

Q. How are the principles followed by the NITI Aayog different from those followed by

the erstwhile Planning Commission in India? 250 words (15)

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