New Delhi, April 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday declared that NITI Aayog has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of India's policy-making architecture, playing a transformative role in advancing cooperative federalism, accelerating structural reforms, and improving the 'Ease of Living' for ordinary citizens. The announcement came as the government formally reconstituted the apex policy body with a new leadership team.

New Leadership Team Takes Charge

PM Modi extended his congratulations to Ashok Kumar Lahiri, who has been appointed as the new Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, along with five newly inducted full-time members. The reconstituted body now includes Rajiv Gauba, Prof. K. V. Raju, Prof. Gobardhan Das, Prof. Abhay Karandikar, and Dr. M. Srinivas as full-time members.

Posting on social media platform X, the Prime Minister wrote: "Wishing all of them a productive and impactful tenure ahead." He also personally met Lahiri to congratulate him on his appointment, signalling the importance the government attaches to the reconstitution.

Who Is Ashok Kumar Lahiri

Ashok Kumar Lahiri brings an exceptionally distinguished career in economics and public policy to his new role. He previously served as India's 12th Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India — one of the most influential technocratic positions in the country's fiscal establishment.

His academic and institutional footprint is wide: he has held positions at the Delhi School of Economics, the Asian Development Bank, Bandhan Bank, and the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP). On the global stage, he has worked with both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), giving him rare cross-jurisdictional expertise.

An alumnus of Presidency University, Kolkata, Lahiri currently represents the Balurghat constituency in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, though he is not contesting the ongoing state elections.

PM Modi on Lahiri's Role in Viksit Bharat Vision

PM Modi expressed strong confidence in Lahiri's ability to deepen India's reform agenda. "His rich experience in economics and public policy will further strengthen the path of reforms in India and the journey towards becoming a 'Viksit Bharat'. I am confident that his efforts will make our country's policy-making even more dynamic," the Prime Minister stated.

The phrase 'Viksit Bharat' — or Developed India — is the government's flagship long-term vision targeting the transformation of India into a fully developed nation by 2047, the centenary of independence. NITI Aayog is expected to serve as the intellectual and strategic engine behind this mission.

NITI Aayog's Evolving Role in India's Governance

NITI Aayog, established in January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission, was designed to shift India's planning model from a top-down, centrally driven approach to a more collaborative, state-partnership-based framework. Over the past decade, it has published landmark reports on sectors ranging from electric vehicles and health infrastructure to artificial intelligence and agriculture.

The reconstitution comes at a critical juncture — India is navigating global economic headwinds, managing post-pandemic fiscal consolidation, and aggressively positioning itself as a manufacturing and technology hub. The inclusion of technocrats with international exposure like Lahiri suggests the government is doubling down on evidence-based, globally benchmarked policymaking.

Notably, the appointment of Rajiv Gauba, a former Cabinet Secretary and one of India's most senior IAS officers, alongside academic economists and sector specialists, reflects a deliberate blend of administrative muscle and intellectual depth in the new NITI Aayog composition.

What This Means for India's Policy Landscape

The reconstitution signals that the Modi government intends to use NITI Aayog more assertively in the run-up to 2047, particularly in driving state-level reforms through competitive and cooperative federalism. States that align with central reform priorities are increasingly receiving policy support, technical assistance, and visibility through NITI Aayog rankings and indices.

Critics have in the past argued that NITI Aayog lacks the financial teeth of the old Planning Commission, since it cannot directly allocate funds to states. However, its growing influence in shaping sectoral policies — from health and education to infrastructure and digital governance — has made it an increasingly consequential body in India's governance ecosystem.

With a new, high-calibre team now in place, all eyes will be on the body's upcoming strategic documents, including the next iteration of the Viksit Bharat roadmap and India's medium-term economic strategy, expected to be unveiled in the coming months.