Sectoral Achievements | Economic Survey & Government Reports - UPSC PDF Download

 Page 1


SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
SECTION-VIII
Page 2


SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
SECTION-VIII
SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
INTRODUCTION 
The various Verticals, Divisions and Units 
are the spokes of the wheels that drive NITI 
Aayog.
Each Vertical specializes in a particular 
domain and is mandated to provide 
technical input and expertise on that sector, 
deal with the respective Line Ministry/
Department, and lead in evidence-based 
policymaking.
The Verticals provide the requisite support 
needed to develop NITI Aayog as a 
state-of-the-art resource centre with the 
necessary knowledge and skills, which 
will enable it to act with speed, promote 
research and innovation, provide strategic 
policy vision for the Government, and deal 
with contingent issues.
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Annual Report 2021–22
Page 3


SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
SECTION-VIII
SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
INTRODUCTION 
The various Verticals, Divisions and Units 
are the spokes of the wheels that drive NITI 
Aayog.
Each Vertical specializes in a particular 
domain and is mandated to provide 
technical input and expertise on that sector, 
deal with the respective Line Ministry/
Department, and lead in evidence-based 
policymaking.
The Verticals provide the requisite support 
needed to develop NITI Aayog as a 
state-of-the-art resource centre with the 
necessary knowledge and skills, which 
will enable it to act with speed, promote 
research and innovation, provide strategic 
policy vision for the Government, and deal 
with contingent issues.
113
Annual Report 2021–22
AGRICULTURE
Statement of Intent with Gujarat University
NITI Aayog and Gujarat University signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) in September 2021 in the presence 
of Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. The SoI focuses on technical collaboration between the 
two institutions to strengthen knowledge-sharing and policy development in India. The objective is to 
encourage and promote cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The SoI is expected 
to give a thrust to India’s efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The parties will 
conduct capacity-building programmes on farm sector development, agripreneurship, natural farming, 
climate change, etc. The two institutions will also undertake activities to build awareness around the 
best practices of the agriculture value chain management, marketing methods, conservation of natural 
resources, climate change and other identified areas to improve the generation and uptake of evidence 
in policymaking.
Knowledge-Sharing Workshop on Natural Farming
As part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the Agriculture Vertical organized a national workshop 
on natural farming on 30 November 2021. The Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, 
participated in the event. During the workshop, discussions were held on the need to shift to natural 
farming for improving farmers’ income, human and soil health and ensuring the conservation of 
the environment. The workshop was also broadcast live on YouTube and attended by over 1000 
participants from across the country.
Website on Natural Farming
The Agriculture Vertical launched an exclusive website on natural farming on 30 November 2021. The 
bilingual website has exhaustive information on all aspects of natural farming—from area coverage 
under this practice in India, to its various components, methods and techniques and more. The 
114
Annual Report 2021–22
SECTORAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Page 4


SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
SECTION-VIII
SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
INTRODUCTION 
The various Verticals, Divisions and Units 
are the spokes of the wheels that drive NITI 
Aayog.
Each Vertical specializes in a particular 
domain and is mandated to provide 
technical input and expertise on that sector, 
deal with the respective Line Ministry/
Department, and lead in evidence-based 
policymaking.
The Verticals provide the requisite support 
needed to develop NITI Aayog as a 
state-of-the-art resource centre with the 
necessary knowledge and skills, which 
will enable it to act with speed, promote 
research and innovation, provide strategic 
policy vision for the Government, and deal 
with contingent issues.
113
Annual Report 2021–22
AGRICULTURE
Statement of Intent with Gujarat University
NITI Aayog and Gujarat University signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) in September 2021 in the presence 
of Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. The SoI focuses on technical collaboration between the 
two institutions to strengthen knowledge-sharing and policy development in India. The objective is to 
encourage and promote cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The SoI is expected 
to give a thrust to India’s efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The parties will 
conduct capacity-building programmes on farm sector development, agripreneurship, natural farming, 
climate change, etc. The two institutions will also undertake activities to build awareness around the 
best practices of the agriculture value chain management, marketing methods, conservation of natural 
resources, climate change and other identified areas to improve the generation and uptake of evidence 
in policymaking.
Knowledge-Sharing Workshop on Natural Farming
As part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the Agriculture Vertical organized a national workshop 
on natural farming on 30 November 2021. The Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, 
participated in the event. During the workshop, discussions were held on the need to shift to natural 
farming for improving farmers’ income, human and soil health and ensuring the conservation of 
the environment. The workshop was also broadcast live on YouTube and attended by over 1000 
participants from across the country.
Website on Natural Farming
The Agriculture Vertical launched an exclusive website on natural farming on 30 November 2021. The 
bilingual website has exhaustive information on all aspects of natural farming—from area coverage 
under this practice in India, to its various components, methods and techniques and more. The 
114
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SECTORAL ACHIEVEMENTS
website also details the numerous benefits of natural farming, success stories, research papers, and 
similar international practices. The website can be accessed at https://naturalfarming.niti.gov.in/ and 
seeks to serve as a knowledge repository.
Task Force on Promotion of Organic Fertilizers and Economic 
Viability of Goshalas
A task force on the production and promotion of biofertilizers, with a special focus on improving the 
economic viability of goshalas, was constituted in September 2021, under the Chairmanship of Prof. 
Ramesh Chand, Member (Agriculture), NITI Aayog. The task force will recommend policy interventions 
for the effective utilization of livestock by-products in the production of biofertilizers, among others. The 
technical support to the task force is being provided by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation 
and Farmers’ Welfare; Department of Animal Husbandry; National Centre of Organic Farming; Ministry 
of New and Renewable Energy; and domain experts. So far, one meeting of the task force has been 
held. Suggestions and success stories about effective utilization of livestock by-products were invited 
from State Governments and other stakeholders.
National Workshop on Bamboo Development Mission
NITI Aayog organized a national-level 
workshop on bamboo development on 
30 December 2021. Minister of State 
(Independent Charge) of the Ministry 
of Science and Technology and Earth 
Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated 
the workshop. Through the workshop, 
participants sought to understand all 
components of the bamboo value chain—
plantation, production, processing, 
standardization, and utilization—to 
develop strategies and a roadmap for 
the development of a circular economy 
115
SECTORAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Annual Report 2021–22
Page 5


SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
SECTION-VIII
SECTORAL 
ACHIEVEMENTS
INTRODUCTION 
The various Verticals, Divisions and Units 
are the spokes of the wheels that drive NITI 
Aayog.
Each Vertical specializes in a particular 
domain and is mandated to provide 
technical input and expertise on that sector, 
deal with the respective Line Ministry/
Department, and lead in evidence-based 
policymaking.
The Verticals provide the requisite support 
needed to develop NITI Aayog as a 
state-of-the-art resource centre with the 
necessary knowledge and skills, which 
will enable it to act with speed, promote 
research and innovation, provide strategic 
policy vision for the Government, and deal 
with contingent issues.
113
Annual Report 2021–22
AGRICULTURE
Statement of Intent with Gujarat University
NITI Aayog and Gujarat University signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) in September 2021 in the presence 
of Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog. The SoI focuses on technical collaboration between the 
two institutions to strengthen knowledge-sharing and policy development in India. The objective is to 
encourage and promote cooperation in the field of agriculture and allied sectors. The SoI is expected 
to give a thrust to India’s efforts towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The parties will 
conduct capacity-building programmes on farm sector development, agripreneurship, natural farming, 
climate change, etc. The two institutions will also undertake activities to build awareness around the 
best practices of the agriculture value chain management, marketing methods, conservation of natural 
resources, climate change and other identified areas to improve the generation and uptake of evidence 
in policymaking.
Knowledge-Sharing Workshop on Natural Farming
As part of the ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’, the Agriculture Vertical organized a national workshop 
on natural farming on 30 November 2021. The Hon’ble Governor of Gujarat, Shri Acharya Devvrat, 
participated in the event. During the workshop, discussions were held on the need to shift to natural 
farming for improving farmers’ income, human and soil health and ensuring the conservation of 
the environment. The workshop was also broadcast live on YouTube and attended by over 1000 
participants from across the country.
Website on Natural Farming
The Agriculture Vertical launched an exclusive website on natural farming on 30 November 2021. The 
bilingual website has exhaustive information on all aspects of natural farming—from area coverage 
under this practice in India, to its various components, methods and techniques and more. The 
114
Annual Report 2021–22
SECTORAL ACHIEVEMENTS
website also details the numerous benefits of natural farming, success stories, research papers, and 
similar international practices. The website can be accessed at https://naturalfarming.niti.gov.in/ and 
seeks to serve as a knowledge repository.
Task Force on Promotion of Organic Fertilizers and Economic 
Viability of Goshalas
A task force on the production and promotion of biofertilizers, with a special focus on improving the 
economic viability of goshalas, was constituted in September 2021, under the Chairmanship of Prof. 
Ramesh Chand, Member (Agriculture), NITI Aayog. The task force will recommend policy interventions 
for the effective utilization of livestock by-products in the production of biofertilizers, among others. The 
technical support to the task force is being provided by the Department of Agriculture, Cooperation 
and Farmers’ Welfare; Department of Animal Husbandry; National Centre of Organic Farming; Ministry 
of New and Renewable Energy; and domain experts. So far, one meeting of the task force has been 
held. Suggestions and success stories about effective utilization of livestock by-products were invited 
from State Governments and other stakeholders.
National Workshop on Bamboo Development Mission
NITI Aayog organized a national-level 
workshop on bamboo development on 
30 December 2021. Minister of State 
(Independent Charge) of the Ministry 
of Science and Technology and Earth 
Sciences Dr Jitendra Singh inaugurated 
the workshop. Through the workshop, 
participants sought to understand all 
components of the bamboo value chain—
plantation, production, processing, 
standardization, and utilization—to 
develop strategies and a roadmap for 
the development of a circular economy 
115
SECTORAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Annual Report 2021–22
in the sector. As many as 150 participants—from Central Ministries, State Governments, Krishi Vigyan 
Kendras, industry, academic and research institutions, and NGOs—attended the workshop, both 
online and offline. 
Telemedicine for Livestock Health and Safety
To complement the existing veterinary infrastructure, NITI Aayog has initiated the development of 
telemedicine for livestock health and safety. The Agriculture Vertical has developed a framework and 
formulated guidelines for practising telemedicine for livestock in India. A workable web-based system, 
as an attempt to develop an operational model, titled ‘NITIVeT’, has also been developed (https://
nitimed.herokuapp.com/). Services such as real-time consultation on vaccination, artificial insemination, 
medicine, health education, and livestock insurance will be provided.
Agroforestry for Transforming Land Use and Promoting 
Sustainability and Livelihood
An agroforestry suitability index for wasteland regions of the country was developed in collaboration 
with ISRO and the National Remote Sensing Centre (NSRC), using GIS integration of six variables: 
land use, wasteland, desertification, slope, soil organic carbon, and surface. The generated maps 
delineate the wasteland in the country (District-wise) into four classes: high, moderate, low and very 
low, and unsuitable for agroforestry plantation. A customized android application was developed, in 
collaboration with ISRO, for data collection from the Districts (vedas.sac.gov.in/data-collection). Two 
training sessions on the methodology of ground data collection and updating of the android application 
were organized by the Agriculture Vertical. A meeting with State nodal officers under the Sub-Mission 
of Agroforestry (SMAF) was held to appraise and encourage them to contribute data on local nurseries, 
tree species exempted from transit and felling permits, sustainable agroforestry models and success 
stories that could be linked with the maps.
DATA MANAGEMENT AND ANALYSIS, AND FRONTIER 
TECHNOLOGIES
National Data Analytics Platform
The National Data Analytics Platform (NDAP) is a portal aimed at increasing the access and usability 
of Government data. NDAP is being developed as a user-friendly web platform that will provide easy 
access to public datasets in clean, machine-readable formats. The platform will enable evidence-based 
policymaking, cross-sectoral research, data-driven discourse and innovation. The beta version of the 
platform was launched on 15 August 2021; the public launch is planned for February 2022.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) is a first-of-its-kind unified-access portal that seeks to 
overcome information asymmetry in the women entrepreneurial ecosystem. It is an aggregator platform 
that showcases initiatives promoting women entrepreneurship and supports women with relevant 
domain knowledge, and leverages technology to seamlessly provide information. In its most recent 
phase, WEP Nxt was launched with new features powered by artificial intelligence, natural language 
processing for advanced analytics-driven engagement of women entrepreneurs and partners.
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