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NITI Aayog

NITI Aayog Unveils 2023–24 Edition of North Eastern Region District SDG Index

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NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (MoDoNER) and technical partner UNDP, has released the second edition of the North Eastern Region (NER) District Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Index for 2023–24. This comprehensive report evaluates the progress of 121 districts across all eight northeastern states in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. This updated index builds on the foundation set by the inaugural edition published in August 2021. It offers a data-centric approach to monitoring district-level performance across economic, social, and environmental dimensions. The tool is intended to guide policymakers in implementing targeted, evidence-based interventions to drive sustainable growth. The report was officially launched by NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman Bery, CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam, MoDoNER Secretary Chanchal Kumar, and UNDP India Resident Representative Dr. Angela Lusigi. Among the districts, Hnahthial in Mizoram ranked highest with a composite score of 81.43, while Longding in Arunachal Pradesh came in at the bottom with a score of 58.71. Notably, all districts in Mizoram, Sikkim, and Tripura qualified as “Front Runners” (with scores ranging from 65 to 99). No districts fell into the “Achiever” category (a perfect score of 100) or the “Aspirant” category (scores below 50). Sikkim stood out for its uniformity in development, with only a 5.5-point variation between its highest and lowest scoring districts—indicating balanced growth. Tripura also demonstrated stable intra-state performance. During the launch event, Vice Chairman Bery emphasized the strategic importance of achieving the SDGs by 2030 as a stepping stone toward India’s long-term vision of Viksit Bharat @2047. CEO Subrahmanyam referred to the Northeast as the “Ashta Lakshmi” of India, underlining its developmental significance. MoDoNER Secretary Chanchal Kumar noted the index’s usefulness in identifying developmental shortfalls and guiding targeted action, while UNDP’s Dr. Lusigi underscored the urgency of converting data insights into tangible outcomes. The NER District SDG Index 2023–24 serves as a vital policy instrument for promoting inclusive, region-specific development. It empowers administrators and stakeholders to make informed decisions, allocate resources strategically, and accelerate sustainable progress in India’s northeastern frontier. Source: DD News

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Niti Aayog Plans Overhaul of AIIMS Delhi to Expand Reach and Ease Patient Load

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The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, could soon undergo a major transformation, as Niti Aayog is reportedly drafting a comprehensive revamp plan for the country’s premier medical institution. The proposal envisions expanding AIIMS’ clinical services beyond its central campus to various locations across the National Capital Region (NCR), according to a senior government official. The initiative aims to alleviate the overwhelming pressure on the existing infrastructure and allow doctors to dedicate more time to research. The proposal seeks to reserve the main AIIMS campus for critical care and trauma patients, which would also help reduce the long wait times for vital medical procedures. Currently, AIIMS Delhi handles an average of 7,200 patients daily at its Out-Patient Department (OPD) and 400-500 cases at the casualty ward. To address this high patient load, the VK Paul-led committee under Niti Aayog is examining internal systems and exploring ways to decentralise services without compromising the institute’s renowned quality of care. The committee is preparing a detailed blueprint that includes phased reforms—short-term, medium-term, and long-term—complete with implementation timelines. The report is expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Health in the latter half of 2025. One of the strategies under consideration is to utilise underused infrastructure in other government and possibly private hospitals to host AIIMS OPD services. This would allow for more efficient distribution of patient care and help manage the caseload more effectively. “All factors are being reviewed to ensure that service quality remains uncompromised,” said the official. “A final decision will be based on the recommendations of the expert panel.” A medical practitioner involved in the stakeholder consultations emphasized the need for both patient load reduction and administrative reforms to elevate the institution to global standards. However, they cautioned that success will depend on strict oversight. “The idea of decentralising OPDs will only work if there’s a robust monitoring mechanism to ensure the same level of care is provided as at AIIMS,” the practitioner noted, requesting anonymity. If implemented, the overhaul could significantly reshape the future of healthcare delivery in Delhi and set a precedent for other government-run medical institutions across the country. Source: ET Health

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NDAP: Revolutionizing Data Access as NITI Aayog Marks a Decade of Progress

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As NITI Aayog celebrates a decade of spearheading India’s development agenda, its National Data and Analytics Platform (NDAP) shines as a cornerstone of innovation in governance and policymaking. Designed to democratize data access and enhance decision-making, NDAP exemplifies NITI Aayog’s commitment to fostering transparency and evidence-based policymaking. Launched as a pioneering web-based platform, NDAP aggregates datasets from across India’s statistical ecosystem. The platform simplifies data discovery and analysis, offering a user-friendly interface for searching, merging, visualizing, and downloading datasets. As of January 2025, NDAP hosts 5,148 datasets spanning 31 sectors and 53 ministries, setting new benchmarks for accessibility and usability in public data. Key Features of NDAP Accessibility and Interoperability: NDAP standardizes datasets into machine-readable formats, promoting seamless cross-sectoral analysis. Its unified framework, based on the Ministry of Panchayati Raj Local Government Directory Code, enables users to integrate datasets from diverse sources effortlessly. High-Quality Datasets: Each dataset undergoes stringent quality checks through an in-house 5-star rating framework, ensuring reliability and usability for researchers, policymakers, and analysts. Interactive Tools: From bar charts to heat maps, NDAP provides customizable visualization tools, empowering users to derive meaningful insights tailored to their needs. Advanced Analysis: The Merge Tool allows users to combine up to three datasets, facilitating complex, multi-dimensional policy analysis. NDAP’s transformative impact bridges the gap between data availability and actionable insights, empowering stakeholders across sectors to address real-world challenges with data-backed decisions. As NITI Aayog marks 10 years of excellence, NDAP stands as a testament to its vision of leveraging data for transparent, inclusive governance. Explore the NDAP portal to witness its role in shaping India’s data-driven future. Source: egov.eletsonline.com Photo Credit: egov.eletsonline.com

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Centre Considers Lowering GST to 12% for Health Insurance Premiums, Aiming to Expand Coverage

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The Centre is contemplating a reduction in the Goods and Services Tax (GST) rate on health insurance premiums from the current 18% to 12%, particularly for premiums up to Rs 30,000. This move aims to make health insurance more affordable and accessible, potentially widening coverage across the population. Currently, with the prevailing market rates, a health insurance premium of up to Rs 30,000 could secure coverage of approximately Rs 10 lakh per annum for a family of four members. The proposed reduction in the GST tax rate could result in decreased premium rates or the introduction of additional health coverage options tailored to the needs of individuals and families. An official stated that this proposal, among others, is pending and may be discussed in the GST Council following the general elections. The initiative aligns with the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, chaired by BJP MP Jayant Sinha, which emphasized the need to rationalize the GST rate on insurance products, especially health and term insurance. The committee suggested lowering GST rates on health insurance products, particularly for retail policies targeting senior citizens and microinsurance policies, along with term policies. Since the implementation of GST, individuals purchasing health insurance policies have been subject to an 18% GST rate, marking a 3% increase compared to the previous Service Tax rate of 15%, including applicable cess. Furthermore, the report underscores the importance of extending health coverage to vulnerable populations, as highlighted by the Niti Aayog’s recommendation to extend the Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PMJAY) scheme to the ‘missing middle’ on a paid basis. PMJAY currently provides free health coverage of up to Rs 5 lakh per year to 107 million economically disadvantaged households, constituting 40% of the population. The potential reduction in GST on health insurance premiums reflects a broader effort to enhance healthcare accessibility and affordability, aiming to mitigate financial risks associated with medical expenses and promote comprehensive health coverage across India’s diverse population.

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Plum Report Reveals Healthcare Crisis in Corporate India: High Costs, Employee Burden, and Calls for Comprehensive Solutions

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The insurtech company Plum has released a comprehensive health report that includes alarming statistics about the state of healthcare in India’s corporate sector. The study, titled “Health Report of Corporate India 2023,” reveals a startling truth: India has one of the highest rates of medical inflation in Asia, with rates rising to a startling 14%. The financial burden on employees is apparent, as 71 percent of them personally pay for their medical expenses, a burden made worse by the rising cost of healthcare. According to a Niti Aayog report, just 15% of India’s growing workforce—which is expected to increase from 522 million in 2022 to an estimated 569 million by 2030—receives health insurance support from their employers. Remarkably, more than 90 million people are disproportionately affected because healthcare costs account for more than ten percent of their overall spending. Moreover, only 12% of businesses provide telehealth support, indicating a sizable gap in full-scope healthcare benefits. The survey also reveals alarming health behaviors among workers, with approximately 59% forgoing yearly physicals and an astounding 90% ignoring routine medical check-ups to keep an eye on their well-being. These numbers raise concerns about the possible long-term effects on people’s general health and well-being. The importance of prioritizing employee health was emphasized by Saurabh Arora, co-founder and CTO of Plum, who stated, “An average person spends 90,000 hours working. That’s almost a third of their life. Employee health should be a top priority for organisations, not only from a humanitarian perspective but also as a strategic investment in their workforce. Hence, just health insurance is not enough – companies should adopt comprehensive healthcare benefits that accommodate insurance, primary, and preventive care.” The well-being of the labor force in India depends on resolving these healthcare issues as the country’s workforce grows.

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NITI Aayog’s Special Campaign 2.0: Clearing Pending Matters and Boosting Cleanliness

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NITI Aayog has launched Special Campaign 2.0 to address pending matters and promote cleanliness. This initiative, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of a clean India, began in October 2021 and has continued into 2022 and 2023. Special Campaign 2.0, which runs from November 2022 to August 2023, aims to ensure the prompt resolution of public grievances, references from Members of Parliament, state governments, inter-ministerial consultations, and parliamentary assurances by ministries and departments. The campaign is led by NITI Aayog, along with its associated offices, including the Development Monitoring & Evaluation Office (DMEO) and Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) in NITI Bhawan, as well as the National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development (NILERD) in Narela, New Delhi. It focuses on addressing public grievances, parliamentary assurances, PMO references, and emphasizes record management, cleanliness both indoors and outdoors, and the disposal of office scrap to create more space within NITI Aayog. During this campaign, significant progress has been made in resolving public grievances, parliamentary assurances, and PMO references. Additionally, a substantial number of files have been reviewed and cleared, freeing up valuable space, and generating revenue through the disposal of office scrap. Over 75% of the designated physical files have been reviewed, and approximately 95% of public grievances and appeals have been addressed. Moreover, redundant scrap materials and obsolete items have been identified for disposal.

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NITI Aayog names Parameswaran Iyer as its next CEO

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To succeed Amitabh Kant, whose term as head of the NITI Aayog ends on June 30, the government has appointed Parameswaran Iyer as the organization’s new CEO. The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet announced on Friday that Iyer had been appointed on the same terms and conditions as applicable to Shri Amitabh Kant for a two-year tenure or until further orders, whichever comes first. Iyer, an IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, oversaw the government’s Swachh Bharat Mission from 2016 to 2020. He joined the Indian Administrative Service in 1981 and voluntarily retired in 2009 to work on the World Bank’s water and sanitation projects. Iyer was appointed by the government to head the drinking and sanitation department and to oversee the Swachh Bharat Mission after he returned to India in 2016. Iyer worked for the World Bank in Vietnam, China, Egypt, Lebanon, and Washington before to joining the Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation in 2016. Iyer left the role in 2020 and went back to the US to rejoin the World Bank. On February 17, 2016, Kant was chosen to serve a two-year term as the NITI Aayog’s CEO. He has since received three term extensions. Kant is credited for compiling a long list of public sector organisations for asset monetisation and disinvestment. He played a key role in creating the national monetisation pipeline and the production related incentive programme, which laid out the government’s road plan for the following six years. Kant oversaw several important initiatives during his long tenure at NITI Aayog, including the government’s aim to promote electric mobility, the aspirational district programme, the ease of doing business programme, the Start-up India programme, and the island development programme. He was currently working across six sectors on the circular economy.

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