PM Modi chairs key NITI Aayog meeting with CMs; NEP & crop diversification discussed

Prime Minister Narendra Modi chaired the 7th governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog with Lieutenant Governors and Chief Ministers of various states on Sunday. Republic TV accessed inside visuals of the NITI Aayog meeting where PM Modi can be seen heading the session along with senior officials and Chief Ministers. 

Several important issues, including presentations on the National Education Policy (NEP) were held during the session, which was also the first in-person NITI Aayog council meeting after the COVID-19 pandemic. Drafts and presentations were also made by state authorities on the NEP, its implementation issues, and how it can be made in compliance with the states.

The meeting also had crop diversification on its agenda, including the country's goal to achieve self-sufficiency in edible oil. This assumes significance given that India imports nearly 65% of its edible oil requirements, which places significant dependence on an important part of the country's diet. 

“The agenda of the meeting, interalia, includes crop diversification and achieving self-sufficiency in oilseeds and pulses and agri-communities; implementation of the National Education Policy–school education; implementation of the National Education Policy–higher education; and urban governance,” NITI Aayog said in a statement.

G20 Presidency also on agenda

There was also a presentation by External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on India's impending G20 presidency. India will assume the presidency of the G20 in December 2022. The meeting is said to have laid emphasis on the importance of the Presidency for the federal system and the role that states can play in highlighting their progress on the G20 platform.

Several demands were raised during the meeting by states as well. Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik urged the central government to make the state a special focus and allocate funds for disaster proofing. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann raised key issues for farmers, the biggest being the need to diversify the variety of crops. On the other hand, Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel suggested that the MNREGA scheme expand in rural areas that are located near cities and in cities with a population of not more than 20,000.

The 7th NITI Aayog session was crucial as it comes at a time when India commemorates 75 years of Independence and enters the 'Amrit Kaal' against the backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic and PM Modi's vision to achieve self-reliance and 'Aatma Nirbhar Bharat'. 

Telangana, Bihar CMs skip NITI Aayog meeting

Notably, some elements of politicking were also witnessed in the run-up to the meeting. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Telangana CM KCR had informed that he would not be attending the meeting as a mark of protest against the present trend of the Central government to "discriminate" against the states and "not treat them as equal partners".

Barring Telangana Chief Minister KCR and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, all heads of state are present at the brainstorming session. 

The last meeting of the Governing Council was held in July 2019 and in 2020, the annual meeting was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting is attended by Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories, legislators, Lt Governors of UTs, Ex-Officio Members, Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, Full-Time Members of NITI Aayog, and Union Ministers as Special Invitees. The Prime Minister is the chairperson of the government's apex policy think tank.

(With agency inputs)