The Ministry of Planning is a ministry of the Government of India, with the Prime Minister of India serving as its minister. The ministry's functions are carried out through the central agency, NITI Aayog.
On 1 January 2015, a Cabinet resolution was passed to replace the Planning Commission with the newly constituted NITI Aayog. The Government of India announced the formation of NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015. The first meeting of NITI Aayog was chaired by Narendra Modi on 8 February 2015.
NITI Aayog's mandate is to assist both the central and state governments in India's development by promoting cooperative federalism and involving state governments in the economic policy-making process through a bottom-up approach. The Governing Council of NITI Aayog, chaired by the Prime Minister, includes the Chief Ministers of all states and the Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories. In addition, temporary members are selected from leading universities and research institutions. The Council also consists of a Chief Executive Officer, four ex-officio members, and two part-time members. The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog holds a rank equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister.
NITI Aayog primarily provides policy inputs to the highest decision-making bodies. Through its monitoring and evaluation division, it monitors all national and state schemes to provide an annual review to the Prime Minister and Budget of India. It also provides its comments on all major schemes before being approved by the Finance Ministry.
The body's lateral entry is the largest in the country among government bodies with lateral hires account more than half of the core work force. The body's Young Professional program is being emulated by all central ministries and the Army.