After announcing his intention to replace the Planning Commission with a new institution, the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has invited ideas from the general public for the new institution.
"We envision the proposed institution as one that caters to the aspirations of 21st century India and strengthens participation of the states.... Let the ideas flow," Modi said in a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. An open forum has been created on the Web site >www.mygov.nic.in for suggestion.
This development is taking place at a time when many possible names and structure of the proposed structure is doing round.
Various media reports said that the name could be National Development and Reforms Commission (NDRC), which will be headed by the Prime Minister and will have 5-8 members. There are also indications that veteran Shiv Sena leader Suresh Prabhu will be Deputy Chairman of the proposed body.
However, Government officials pointed out neither the name of the institution nor the structure has been finalised. It may also be noted that an institution with similar name exists in China.
The Prime Minister, in his speech on August 15, had announced replacing the 64-year-old commission with an institution based on public-private partnership. “Within a short period, we will replace the Planning Commission with a new institution having a new design and structure, a new body, a new soul, a new thinking, a new direction, a new faith towards forging a new direction to lead the country….,” he said.
He also said that that the new institution will be based on creative thinking, public-private partnership, optimum utilisation of resources, utilisation of youth power of the nation, to promote the aspirations of state governments seeking development, to empower the state governments and to empower the federal structure.
The Commission was set up vide a Cabinet resolution dated March 15, 1950 with the Prime Minister as the Chairman. This was based on the erstwhile Soviet Russ Model for planning economic growth.
Interestingly, there is no mention about the Planning Commission in the Constitution unlike the Finance Commission. Still, it used to be the hub of policy making with the Deputy Chairman accorded the rank of a Cabinet Minister. The last Deputy Chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwlaia, was the longest serving one with 10 years at helm. Modi Government did not appoint Deputy Chairman and members.