Panel for expert group to evaluate performance of PlanComm

This, it said, was with a view to make itself (the Commission) more relevant and effective for aligning the planning process with economic reforms.

"The Committee reiterate the earlier recommendation that the Government should constitute an expert-group for evaluating the performance of the Planning Commission and redefining its role and objectives at the earliest...," the report of Standing Committee on Finance tabled in Parliament said.

The report of the Committee, headed by senior BJP leader and former Union Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha, observed with "dissatisfaction" the "evasive" reply of the Ministry of Planning regarding evaluating performance of the Plan panel by an expert group.

It further said the Ministry of Planning\Planning Commission "do not seem to be serious in its approach" to evaluate the performance of Planning Commission and redefine its role and objective so as to make itself more relevant and effective for aligning the planning process with economic reforms.

The Committee, in its earlier report, had commented that while planning is very much relevant in India, the Commission has to come to grips with the emerging social realities to reinvent itself. It had said the Government should constitute an expert group immediately for evaluating performance of the panel.