Tag: NITI AAYOG

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PM Modi’s push for ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’

PM chairing the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, in New Delhi on May 27, 2023.

PM Narendra Modi said that Niti Aayog can play a critical role in helping states to develop their strategies for the next 25 years and align the same with the ‘National Development Agenda’, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, during the eighth Governing Council meeting of Niti Aayog, stressed that the Centre, states and union territories should work as ‘Team India’, and fulfil the dreams and aspirations of people for a ‘Viksit Bharat@2047’.

He also said that Niti Aayog can play a critical role in helping states to develop their strategies for the next 25 years and align the same with the ‘National Development Agenda’.

The Prime Minister made the remarks while chairing the 8th Governing Council Meeting of Niti Aayog earlier on Saturday at the New Convention Centre, here in Pragati Maidan.

The meeting was attended by Chief Ministers and Lt.Governors representing 19 states and 6 Union Territories.

The government in a statement said that the Prime Minister stressed that the Centre, states and UTs should work as Team India and fulfil the dreams and aspirations of people for a Viksit Bharat@2047.

PM chairing the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, in New Delhi on May 27, 2023.

PM Modi also urged the states and UTs to work with the Niti Aayog so that the country can take a quantum leap towards achieving its vision for the Amrit Kaal.

The Prime Minister mentioned that Niti Aayog is taking multiple initiatives for strengthening cooperative and competitive federalism like the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).

“Both these programmes showcase the power of working together as Centre, states and districts, and the impact of data-driven governance in improving the lives of common citizens at the grassroots level,” it said.

The Prime Minister also stressed the need for states and Centre to promote Shree Anna in the International Year of Millets and also deliberated on the need for working towards water conservation through the Amrit Sarovar programme.

PM chairing the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, in New Delhi on May 27, 2023.

The Prime Minister spoke about the importance of maintaining fiscal discipline at the state level.

He urged the states to proactively use the Gati Shakti Portal not only for infrastructure and logistics but also for local area development and creation of social infrastructure.

Speaking about G20 meetings being held in the country, Modi said that while the G20 has brought glory to India on the world stage, it has provided states the opportunity for global exposure.

The Prime Minister also spoke about the importance of skilling people with a view to meet global requirements, supporting MSMEs, developing the tourism potential of the country, reducing compliance at the state level including decriminalisation of minor offences, and the creation of Ekta Malls.

Talking about ‘Nari Shakti’, he highlighted the significance of women-led development.

PM chairing the 8th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, in New Delhi on May 27, 2023.

He also spoke about ending the menace of TB by 2025.

A statement said that the Chief Minister and Lt. Governors presented various policy level suggestions as they mentioned specific issues pertaining to the states which require Centre-State cooperation.

Some of the key suggestions and best practices highlighted by them included in areas like opting for green strategies, need for zone wise planning, tourism, urban planning, agriculture, quality of workmanship, logistics, among others, the statement said.

The Prime Minister also expressed his gratitude to the Chief Ministers and Lt Governors for participating in the meeting and sharing their views and experiences.

He said the Niti Aayog will study the states’ concerns, challenges, and best practices and subsequently plan the way forward.

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Health India News News

Niti Aayog suggests for extending medical coverage

Niti Aayog suggests for extending medical coverage

At least 30 per cent of the population or 40 crore individuals, called the ‘missing middle’, are devoid of any financial protection for health…reports Asian Lite News

In its report ‘Health Insurance for India’s Missing Middle’, Niti Aayog has said that the expansion of health insurance or assurance coverage is a necessary step, and a pathway in India’s efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“Around 20 per cent of the population — 25 crore individuals are covered through social health insurance, and private voluntary health insurance. The remaining 30 per cent of the population is devoid of health insurance; the actual uncovered population is higher due to the existing coverage gaps in PM-JAY and overlap between schemes,” said the report.

Niti Aayog suggests for extending medical coverage

As per the report, the ‘missing middle’ predominantly constitutes the self-employed in agriculture and non-agriculture informal sector in rural areas, and a broad array of informal occupations, semi-formal, and formal in the urban areas.

In the absence of a low-cost health insurance product, the ‘missing middle’ remains uncovered despite the ability to pay nominal premiums, said the report.

The report further suggests that a comprehensive product designed for this segment, which may be an improvement upon the existing Aarogya Sanjeevani plan and offering the patient cover, can expand the health insurance coverage.

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The Niti Aayog report says that most of the Indian health insurance schemes and products are not designed for the ‘missing middle’.

The private voluntary health insurance is designed for high income groups, which costs at least two to three times the affordable level for the ‘missing middle’. Affordable contributory products such as ESIC, and the government subsidised insurance, including Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojna (PM-JAY) are closed products. They are not available to the general population due to the risk of adverse selection, suggests the Niti Aayog Report.

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Business Economy India News

NITI Aayog finalises privatisation list

People in the know also said that Bank of Maharashtra and Central Bank are the top two candidates that has been favoured for privatisation,…reports Asian Lite News

NITI Aayog has submitted the names of two public sector banks (PSBs) and one public sector general insurer, which can be sold off under the government’s new privatisation policy, to the Core Group of Secretaries on Disinvestment.

Sources said that the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), and the Department of Financial Services (DFS) will examine the names suggested by NITI Aayog and finalise the list of possible candidates in the financial sector for privatisation this year.

People in the know also said that Bank of Maharashtra and Central Bank are the top two candidates that has been favoured for privatisation, though the Indian Overseas Bank has also found favour for the exercise either this year or possibly later.

Further, according to sources, United India Insurance may be chosen candidate for privatisation among the three general insurers, given its relative better solvency ratio. However, financial sector experts also contend that Oriental Insurance, with the least solvency ratio among the three, may be favoured as it does not have overseas operations and inviting a private investor may be easier for it.

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-Top News India News Kerala

Kerala again tops NITI Aayog Index, Bihar worst performer

NITI Aayog Index

NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Dr Rajiv Kumar today launched the report titled, SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020-21: Partnerships in the Decade of Action….reports Asian Lite News

In the third edition of the Niti Aayog’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) India Index 2020-21 released on Thursday, Kerala has retained the top rank with a score of 75 while Bihar has been adjudged as the worst performer with a score of 52.

NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Dr Rajiv Kumar today launched the report titled, SDG India Index and Dashboard 2020-21: Partnerships in the Decade of Action.

As per the Niti Aayog, Kerala retained its rank as the top state with a score of 75. Both Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu took the second spot with a score of 74 while Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam were the worst-performing states in this year’s India index with scores of 52, 56 and 57 respectively.

Chandigarh too maintained its top spot among the UTs with a score of 79.

Mizoram, Haryana, and Uttarakhand are the top gainers in 2020-21 in terms of improvement in score from 2019, with an increase of 12, 10 and 8 points, respectively.

“The country’s overall SDG score improved by 6 points–from 60 in 2019 to 66 in 2020-21. This positive stride towards achieving the targets is largely driven by exemplary country-wide performance in Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy), where the composite Goal scores are 83 and 92, respectively,” said Niti Aayog.

First launched in December 2018, the index has become the primary tool for monitoring progress on the SDGs in the country and has simultaneously fostered competition among the states and union territories by ranking them on the global goals.

“Our effort of monitoring SDGs through the SDG India Index & Dashboard continues to be widely noticed and applauded around the world. It remains a rare data-driven initiative to rank our states and Union Territories by computing a composite index on the SDGs. We are confident that it will remain a matter of aspiration and emulation and help propel monitoring efforts at the international level,” Dr Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog said during the launch.

With one-third of the journey towards achieving the 2030 Agenda behind us, this edition of the index report focuses on the significance of partnerships as its theme.

Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog said, “The report reflects on the partnerships we have built and strengthened during our SDG efforts. The narrative throws light on how collaborative initiatives can result in better outcomes and greater impacts.”

On the theme of partnerships which is central to Goal 17, Dr Vinod Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, said, “It is clear that by working together we can build a more resilient and sustainable future, where no one is left behind.”

“From covering 13 Goals with 62 indicators in its first edition in 2018, the third edition covers 16 Goals on 115 quantitative indicators, with a qualitative assessment on Goal 17, thereby reflecting our continuous efforts towards refining this important tool,” said Sanyukta Samaddar, Adviser (SDGs), NITI Aayog.

The SDG India Index 2020-21, developed in collaboration with the United Nations in India, tracks the progress of all states and UTs on 115 indicators that are aligned to MoSPI’s National Indicator Framework (NIF).

“The SDG India Index 2020-21 is more robust than the previous editions on account of wider coverage of targets and indicators with greater alignment with the NIF. The 115 indicators incorporate 16 out of 17 SDGs, with a qualitative assessment on Goal 17 and cover 70 SDG targets. This is an improvement over the 2018-19 and 2019-20 editions of the index, which had utilised 62 indicators across 39 targets and 13 Goals, and 100 indicators across 54 targets and 16 Goals, respectively,” it said.

The index represents the articulation of the comprehensive nature of the Global Goals under the 2030 Agenda while being attuned to the national priorities.

The modular nature of the index has become a policy tool and a ready reckoner for gauging the progress of states and UTs on the expansive nature of the Goals, including health, education, gender, economic growth, institutions, climate change and environment. (ANI)

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