Year End Review 2018, NITI Aayog - Part - II

Click here for Part -I

Institutionalise Project Monitoring To Improve Implementation and Efficacy of Government Schemes

• Monitoring Framework 2018-19 - Given the increased focus on outcome-based monitoring, DMEO (Development, Monitoring and Evaluation Office) of NITI Aayog initiated an exercise.
• The aim is to develop well-defined output and outcomes, along with measurable indicators, for all CS and CSS (Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes) outlays.
• The resultant Output Outcome Monitoring Framework 2018-19 is to be monitored through a newly developed web-based interactive dashboard to which Ministries/Departments have access.
• Evaluation of selected programmes is done along with quick assessment studies to identify gaps in scheme implementation.
• Outcome Budget - A dashboard for updating progress of Union Outcome Budget, 2017-18, was developed. 
• Ministries/Departments were given access to this dashboard to upload data.
• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - The Ministry of Statistics     and     programme    Implementation (MoSPI)   has   developed   an   elaborate   list   of National SDG indicators.
• NITI Aayog is entrusted with the task of overseeing the implementation of SDGs in the country.
• A Task Force on SDGs has been constituted by NITI Aayog, involving participation of Central Ministries, State governments and think tanks.
• NITI Aayog has mapped out Central Ministries as well as centrally sponsored/central sector schemes and other government initiatives on the SDGs and associated targets.
• Many States/UTs have also conducted similar mapping of their departments, schemes and initiatives.
• NITI Aayog has held 21 National /Regional Consultations on SDGs with various stakeholders.
• Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog has presented India’s Voluntary National Review Report on the implementation of SDGs at the UN High Level Political Forum.
• NITI Aayog is also developing a comprehensive SDG India Index with indicators for measuring performance of States/UTs on SDGs.
• The Sustainable Development Framework 2018-22 for India was also signed by NITI Aayog CEO and the UN Secretary General.
• Project Appraisal - Being the Project Appraisal Wing of Government of India, NITI Aayog has appraised several public funded and PPP projects, including Central and State sector projects.
• Monitoring of performance of UTs - NITI Aayog has developed the Dashboard, a progress tracker for Union Territories of India (UTs).
• It monitors and tracks the monthly progress of various developmental schemes/ projects/ initiatives of the government.

Partnerships with National and International Organisations and Promote Stakeholder Consultation in Policy Making

• NITI has provided the platform to collaborate with national and international think tanks on wide-ranging areas.
• SAMAVESH - This is an initiative aimed at networking and partnership with knowledge and research institutions using a hub and spoke model, to share knowledge and link policy with practice.
• Champions of Change - Two workshops of young CEOs and entrepreneurs were organised to make policy making responsive to stakeholder consultation.
• Prime Minister along-with his senior Cabinet Ministers directly interacted with young influencers on topics like New India by 2022, Digital India, Doubling Farmers’ Income, etc.
• Judicial system - A Global Conference on Arbitration discussed on the dispute resolution mechanisms in the country.
• Global Arbitration Review (GAR) Awards declared India as the winner in the ‘Jurisdiction that has made great progress’ category.

Knowledge and Innovation Hub

• Of its several mandates, NITI is tasked to

1. maintain a state-of-the-art resource centre
2. be a repository of research on good governance and best practices in sustainable and equitable development
3. help in dissemination of knowledge to stakeholders

• Several initiatives have been taken to develop the repository of knowledge, including -

1. best practices of States across all sectors
2. best practices on skilling for employability
3. best practices addressing challenges of equity, access, quality, relevance and finance
4. Good Practices Resource Book (2015) - to consolidate the innovative work in social security, infrastructure, child protection and local governance

Promote Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

• Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) - This is a flagship initiative under the aegis of NITI Aayog, to promote innovation and entrepreneurship in the country.
• AIM is working at the grassroots level to help students and teachers transform into innovators, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, for developing a ‘New India’ by 2022.
• In the first phase, the programmes have established a network of innovation institutions, at the school and higher education levels -

1. Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs) - students from Class VI onwards work with Robots, 3D printers, internet of things, etc
2. Atal Incubation Centres (AIC) - more than 100 institutions have been selected for setting up incubators in a mix of tier 1, 2 and 3 cities
3. Atal New India Challenges (ANICs) - supports creation of tech products from existing patents and prototypes

• Global Entrepreneurship Summit 2017: Women First: Prosperity for All - NITI hosted the GES 2017 at Hyderabad.
• GES connected top entrepreneurship talent with investors and the start-up ecosystem across the globe.
• As a follow-up to GES it was announced that NITI Aayog would set up a Women Entrepreneurship Cell.
• Women Entrepreneurship Platform - NITI Aayog launched the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), on the occasion of International Women’s Day.
• It is aimed at building an ecosystem to help women realize their entrepreneurial aspirations, scale-up innovative initiatives and chalk-out sustainable, long-term strategies for their businesses.

Catalysing Reforms in Agriculture

In view of the goal of the government to double farmer’s income by 2022, a series of initiatives have been undertaken by NITI Aayog.

• Model Act on Agricultural Land Leasing, 2017 - Formulated by NITI Aayog, the Act's aim is to recognize the rights of the tenant and safeguard interest of landowners.
• Reforms of APMC Act - NITI Aayog launched in 2017, the Model Agricultural Produce and Livestock Marketing Committee (APLMC) Act 2017, which states are being asked to adopt.
• Agricultural Marketing and Farmer Friendly Reforms Index - NITI Aayog developed this index to sensitise States about the need to undertake reforms to induce healthy competition between States.
• This will be in three key areas of agriculture market, land lease and forestry on private land (felling and transit of trees).
• Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana - A roadmap for the scheme was prepared by NITI Aayog.
• Rejuvenating Fertilizer Sector - NITI steered several committees for revival of new plants at Gorakhpur, Sindri, Barauni and Ramagundam, and selection of technology for Talcher plant.
• This is to achieve the aim of India becoming self-sufficient in the production of urea by 2022.
• Pilot project of introduction of Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) in fertilizer was successfully completed in several States.
• Alternative Mechanisms for Implementation of MSP - As per Budget 2018-19, NITI Aayog is tasked with developing alternative mechanisms for MSP implementation.
• NITI Aayog has laid down a mechanism comprising three options:

1. Market Assurance Scheme
2. Price Deficiency Payment Scheme
3. Private Procurement and Stockist Scheme

• Pilots for Price Deficiency Payments are being proposed in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh for cotton and pulses, respectively.

• Doubling farmers’ income - NITI Aayog has constituted a task force to develop a business model to focus on the implementation of the pilot projects in this regard.
• The initiative will promote 10 pilot projects in different agro-climatic regions of India, preferably through social entrepreneurs.
• The key principles are

1. market driven approach
2. encouraging application of S&T in agriculture production
3. minimizing farmer’s risks
4. using of modern business practices for value addition

Promoting Adoption of Frontier Technology

• Promoting Digital India - NITI acted as the key driver of the digital payment movement post-demonetisation, and undertook programmes to promote pan-India digital payment.
• A mass literary movement across Ministries, industry bodies, educational institutions and States was undertaken.
• 100 Digi Dhan Melas were organised over 100 days in 100 cities.
• Undertaking information, education and communication to incentivize States/UTs, five crore Jan Dhan accounts were brought to digital platform.
• The Lucky Grahak Yojana and the Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana were launched to promote digital payments - consumers and merchants won cashback rewards under these.
• NITI also promoted the development of the BHIM App to enable ease of digital payments, especially in remote areas.
• Under the NITI-launched Less-Cash Townships Scheme, based on third party verification, 75 townships were certified where more than 80% of transactions were through digital mode.
• Shared, Connected and Clean Mobility Solutions - NITI has been working on these solutions to be adopted readily in smart cities. It came out with the-

1. ‘India Leaps Ahead: Transformative Mobility Solutions for All’ report
2. policy briefs on ‘India’s Energy Storage Mission: A Make in India Opportunity for Globally Competitive Battery Manufacturing’
3. ‘Valuing Society First: an Assessment of the Potential for a Feebate Policy in India’ report

• Besides, EV Charging Stations were setup at NITI to provide charging services to electric vehicles.
• NITI Aayog has formed six inter-ministerial committees to decide on issues related to strategies to scale up transformative mobility.
• The MOVE: Global Mobility Summit was held in September 2018, which focussed on raising awareness on various aspects of Mobility.
• Adoption of frontier technologies in governance:
• Artificial Intelligence - NITI Aayog has been mandated to develop the National Program on Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• It is also tasked to assess their impact on India’s economy, society and governance.
• In partnership with IBM and ISRO, a pilot project to develop a crop yield prediction model using AI to provide real time advisory to farmers is being implemented in 10 aspirational districts.
• Similar pilot projects in the areas of healthcare and re-skilling in collaboration with various developers are being finalised.
• A National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence was released by NITI, detailing core strategies and recommendations on promoting the use of AI in key areas of governance.
• Blockchain - NITI is preparing a discussion paper on India Chain, which will delineate the conceptual framework and architectural design of India Chain.
• This is a proposal on India specific infrastructural platform leveraging elements of India Stack such as Aadhaar, UPI and eSign.
• Projects under consideration are -

1. pharmaceutical supply chain for identification of spurious drugs
2. fertilizer supply chain eliminating subsidy leakage
3. digitisation of land records

• Roadmap for ‘Make in India’ in Body Armour - A NITI Aayog committee has prepared a roadmap for making body armours in India to meet the requirements of defence, para military and security agencies.
• The major recommendations made include -

1. promotion of indigenous manufacturing of body armours including raw materials
2. creating more testing facilities
3. adopting Indian standards in body armours
4. setting up of Centres of Excellence to pursue R&D in nano-technology materials for lightweight body armours
5. simplification of the procurement process

• Methanol Economy - An apex committee and five task forces are working on a roadmap for implementation of methanol economy.
• Government is contemplating a 'Methanol Economy Fund' to promote indigenously-produced methanol to reduce 10% of India's crude oil imports and thus reducing the fuel bill.
• Initiatives identified include production of methanol from high ash coal and municipal solid waste, storage, transportation and R&D on methanol engines.
• Minister of Shipping has decided to use methanol blended fuel for inland waterways transportation.

Source: PIB