The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 29th July 2024 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Major Initiatives of NITI Aayog

Major initiatives by NITI Aayog include the Atal Innovation Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Aspirational Districts Programme, Digital India, Make in India, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) localization.

Atal Innovation Mission (AIM)

•  The Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a significant project by NITI Aayog, focusing on fostering creativity and business spirit in India. 
•  AIM's goal is to establish an environment that encourages fresh ideas, particularly in technology-driven areas. 
•  By running initiatives like Atal Tinkering Labs (ATL) and Atal Incubation Centers (AIC), AIM backs startups and inventive ventures. 
•  It assists them through the entire process from coming up with ideas to implementing and expanding them. 

National Nutrition Mission (NNM)

•  The National Nutrition Mission (NNM), also called Poshan Abhiyaan, is a detailed plan introduced to address malnutrition in India. It aims to decrease levels of stunting, wasting, and anemia among young kids, teenage girls, and women. 
•  NNM uses a variety of methods to ensure better service provision. This involves combining different nutrition-related programs and encouraging changes in behavior through community gatherings and digital tools like the Poshan App. 

Aspirational Districts Programme

• Launched by NITI Aayog, the Aspirational Districts Programme focuses on 112 of India's most struggling districts.
• The program aims to enhance socio-economic factors in these districts by concentrating on crucial areas like health, education, agriculture, and infrastructure.
• By using a data-centered and results-driven method, it promotes friendly competition among districts via a ranking system.
• Best practices and innovative concepts are exchanged to boost overall progress.

Digital India

• Digital India is a program that changes things and helps people get online.
• The program makes it easy for people to use government services on the internet.
• The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology leads this program.
• The goal is to teach people about the internet, make online systems better, and improve internet access, especially in villages.
• Important parts of the program are Digital Locker, e-Hospital, and BharatNet.
• These parts help make services more accessible and work better.

Transformative Energy Access

• Transformative Energy Access initiatives by NITI Aayog aim to provide modern, sustainable, and affordable energy solutions to everyone, especially those who usually do not have access to such services.
• These programs want to reduce reliance on old-fashioned fuels, increase the use of renewable energy sources, and encourage saving energy.
• Key projects involve expanding solar power systems, making the electricity grid more dependable, and promoting new and clean energy technologies.

Health Systems for a New India

• NITI Aayog's "Health Systems for a New India" report presents a vision for changing India's healthcare system to make it more inclusive, available, and effective.
• The report focuses on a complete method to health, combining public and private healthcare systems.
• The plan aims to enhance primary healthcare and upgrade health infrastructure.
• It supports the use of digital health technology such as telemedicine to fill gaps in service delivery.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

• NITI Aayog takes the lead in India's work towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Through the SDG India Index, it keeps track and assesses the progress in different states and union territories.
• The index helps find where improvements are needed and makes it easier to plan actions in those areas.
• NITI Aayog works with ministries, states, and others to make sure their plans and projects are in line with the SDGs.
• It aims for a united effort to promote sustainable development.

Ease of Doing Business (EoDB)

• The initiative for making business easier aims to simplify the rules and improve the business environment in India.
• NITI Aayog, along with different departments, focuses on cutting down bureaucracy, making approval processes smoother, and enhancing clarity.
• Efforts involve making procedures digital and reducing the permits needed.
• It also improves infrastructure to attract investments from both within the country and abroad, thus increasing economic growth.

Skill Development and Employment Generation

• NITI Aayog backs efforts like the Skill India Mission to boost skill development and generate job opportunities. It caters to the requirements of a young and swiftly expanding workforce.
• Programs are crafted to match industry needs and encompass vocational training, apprentice schemes, and digital literacy campaigns.
• Collaborations with businesses and educational institutions are aimed at improving job readiness and fostering entrepreneurship.
• This helps in spurring economic diversification and growth.

Agriculture Reforms

• Agricultural changes led by NITI Aayog aim to boost farming output, ensure fair prices, and improve market entry for farmers.
• Efforts involve endorsing contract farming, digital tools for market connections, and updating facilities like cold storage and warehouses.
• These adjustments aim to create a stronger and more effective farming sector.
• They guarantee improved income stability for farmers and contribute to securing food availability in India.
• These objectives are met through programs like the Prime Minister's Agricultural Irrigation Scheme (PMKSY) and the National Agriculture Market (eNAM).

Urban Development and Smart Cities

• NITI Aayog's plan for urban development involves the Smart Cities Mission.
• This effort seeks to support sustainable and inclusive city growth.
• The project concentrates on utilizing technology and data to enhance city infrastructure, service delivery, and resource management.
• Important aspects comprise digital governance, smart transportation systems, and eco-friendly structures.
• The goal is to establish urban environments that are pleasant, sustainable, and economically feasible.

Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan (Self-Reliant India Mission)

•  Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan, also known as the Self-Reliant India Mission, aims to boost India's economy by encouraging self-sufficiency and reducing reliance on imports. 
•  Launched in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the initiative concentrates on improving local production, reinforcing supply chains, and fostering innovations. 
•  It encompasses various sectors such as MSMEs, agriculture, defense, and pharmaceuticals, offering financial aid and implementing policy changes to stimulate growth and resilience. 

Water Management and Conservation

• NITI Aayog stresses on effective water management and conservation by tackling water scarcity and quality concerns.
• Initiatives such as the Composite Water Management Index assess how states manage water resources, promoting best practices.
• Efforts involve encouraging rainwater collection, efficient irrigation methods, and reviving water sources.
• These actions target sustainable water utilization and availability for future generations.

Significance of NITI Aayog

Challenges Faced by NITI Aayog

•  Limited Lawmaking Power: NITI Aayog can't decide on financial matters. It mainly gives advice without the power to enforce policies directly.
•  State Cooperation Dependency: Getting policies to work well often needs help from state governments. Differences in political views and how well things are run in states can make it hard to have consistent policies.
•  Social and Economic Variety: India's mix of social and economic situations makes it hard to create policies that work for all places. Making policies that fit local needs while keeping a national plan is tough.
•  Policy Application Obstacles: Turning policy suggestions into actions and making sure they happen is a big problem. Slow bureaucracy and not wanting to change can slow things down.
•  Data Accuracy and Trustworthiness: Making good policies needs solid data. Mistakes and gaps in how data is collected can lead to decisions without all the needed info.
•  Limited Resources: Not having enough money and people can stop NITI Aayog from doing thorough research, creating new policies, and checking they're done right.
•  Balancing Short-term and Long-term Goals: While dealing with immediate social and economic issues, NITI Aayog also has to think about long-term planning, which can sometimes cause conflicts in priorities.