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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has demanded the scrapping of the NITI Aayog and the reinstatement of the Planning Commission in a sharp critique of the current planning framework . Speaking at a press conference in Delhi today, Banerjee asserted that the Planning Commission’s structure and approach were more beneficial to the states compared to the existing NITI Aayog.
“Under the Planning Commission, states had a more equitable share in the planning process, and their development needs were addressed more effectively,” Banerjee said. She criticized NITI Aayog’s role in the current federal structure, arguing that it had undermined the autonomy of state governments and led to a centralization of power.
The Planning Commission, established in 1950, was responsible for formulating India’s Five-Year Plans and coordinating economic development. It was replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015, which was designed to act as a policy think tank and promote cooperative federalism. Banerjee contended that NITI Aayog has failed to deliver on these promises, leaving states with diminished say in developmental policies and financial allocations.
In her address, Banerjee outlined several issues she believes have emerged under NITI Aayog, including the reduction of central assistance to states and the perceived lack of transparency in policy formulation. She called on the central government to reconsider its approach and restore the Planning Commission’s framework, which she argued was more inclusive and effective in addressing regional disparities.
The call for reinstating the Planning Commission marks a significant shift in the discourse on federal planning and development. It remains to be seen how the central government will respond to Banerjee’s demands and whether this will ignite a broader debate on the future of India’s planning institutions.