12th Plan to continue for now: FM

The government has replaced the 60-year-old Planning Commission with the NITI Aayog but it will continue with the 12th Five-Year Plan, formulated by the previous United Progressive Alliance government, at least for the "time being".

Briefing reporters after the first governing council meeting of NITI Aayog, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said the issue of whether or not to continue with the five-year plan (2012-13 to 2016-17) was discussed.

He said the states gave their suggestions, following which it was decided to continue with it for now. "A mid-term appraisal of the Plan is on and for the time being, the five-year Plan continues," he said.

The Plan, formulated by the Manmohan Singh government, had targeted eight per cent annual average growth during the five years. With the change in definition of the gross domestic product, new estimates will have to be made. The mid-term appraisal is due in 2015-16.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested the coming summer vacations in schools be used to build and upgrade toilets as part of his 'Swachh Bharat' initiative.