Niti Ayog

87 mn Indian youth are not studying, working or in training: NITI Aayog

An estimated 8.7 crore Indian youth aged 15 to 29 are not studying, working, or receiving training, a recent Niti Aayog report said, highlighting the urgent need for subsidised training programmes to encourage self-employment and align with local demand and emerging sectors. The Aayog, in the report titled 'Reimagining Skilling for Viksit Bharat@2047', said the estimate is based on data from the 78th round of the National Sample Survey conducted in 2021. To ensure the highest impact, the Aayog organised India's workforce landscape and learners into five segments -- schooling; tertiary education; formal and informal work; not in education, employment and training (NEET) youth; and women. "NEET youth are constrained by the absence of income and the sunk cost of prior education. Students often cannot layer paid skilling onto existing financial commitments," it said. The Aayog has defined NEET youth as youth comprising individuals between the ages of 15 and 29 who are not engaged in ..

NITI's state-led emigration roadmap faces questions over law, execution

Experts back stronger state participation in overseas skilling, worker support. Emigration remains a Central topic, requiring clear legal boundaries, institutional capacity, Centre-state coordination

Niti proposes caregiver policy, eyes global shortage as opportunity

The government think tank has recommended a national caregiver policy, a dedicated council and a qualification framework to build a skilled workforce and tap rising domestic and global demand.

PM Modi seeks time-bound goals for Viksit Bharat as global risks rise

PM Modi urged states to set 100-day and long-term targets for Viksit Bharat 2047, stressing energy self-reliance, skilling, AI readiness and better governance

NITI Aayog flags gaps in school education system, calls for reforms

Stronger foundational learning initiatives, better teacher management, and wider use of digital and AI-enabled learning recommended

Ashok Lahiri: Technocrat turned politician who will spearhead NITI Aayog

Veteran economist Ashok Lahiri, with experience across IMF, finance ministry and electoral politics, will take over as vice chairman of NITI Aayog as Suman Bery retires later this month

NITI Aayog gets reset as Lahiri made VC, all members barring Gauba changed

Molecular scientist Gobardhan Das, Science Secy Karandikar, and Aiims Director Srinivas now full-time members

Centre aims to raise ₹1.79 trillion from IPOs of state-run firms by 2030

They are part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second four-year plan for asset monetisation, after the first raised ₹5.3 trillion by 2024/25, below the ‌government's ₹6 trillion target

India must prepare now to tackle future pandemics: Niti Aayog's VK Paul

Niti Aayog member Dr V K Paul on Saturday laid down a road map for IMTECH scientists here, exhorting them to pursue research on priority pathogens that have the potential to cause future pandemics. Dr Paul said, "We prepare for war when we are not at war, and a lot of work for tackling future pandemics should be done now in microbial labs like IMTECH. Governance, surveillance, research and partnership are the cornerstones of future pandemic strategy." Developing countermeasures up to Phase II clinical trial, working in partnership with the industry, creating efficient supply chains and demonstrating capabilities and speed should be the key for India for any pandemic mitigation strategy, he said. CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Chandigarh, on Saturday, celebrated its 42nd foundation day. Several events were organised on the occasion, including the foundation day lecture on "Future Pandemic Preparedness: What we must do now", delivered by Dr Paul, who is leading the

QCOs: Why ensuring their smooth implementation is need of the hour

So far, a total of 187 QCOs covering 769 products have been notified for compulsory certification of BIS by various departments/ ministries of the government

India finalising CCUS Mission roadmap; experts call for LNG contracts

The government is finalising the CCUS Mission roadmap and outlay as experts highlight the importance of long-term LNG supply contracts and domestic gas production for energy security

NITI Aayog backs port hubs and fund for chemicals to curb imports

While India is a major exporter of chemicals, it is also heavily reliant on imports, resulting in a $31 billion trade deficit in the sector in 2023

Data errors should be minimal, need to follow Japanese standards: Niti CEO

BVR Subrahmanyam says India must drive down error rates in welfare delivery to Japanese precision levels to avoid exclusions, fund loss and policy distortion

Aiims Delhi could expand footprint across NCR under new NITI Aayog plan

In order to ease patient load and improve access, NITI Aayog is likely to recommend expanding the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, Delhi across NCR, using existing idle hospital infrastructure

Amid reciprocal tariff row, NITI Aayog backs 'dual-track' India-US trade

In the aftermath of 'reciprocal tariffs' by the US, India should adopt dual-track approach and selectively reduce high tariffs on non-sensitive agricultural commodities imports from Washington, while also strategically offer concessions where domestic supply gaps exist, a NITI Aayog working paper has said. The Aayog in a working paper, titled 'Promoting India-US Agricultural Trade Under the New US Trade Regime', said that India's agricultural sector needs safeguards, to ensure price stability for both producers and consumers, against excessive volatility in international markets. "A dual-track approach is essential now. In the short term, India should consider to selectively reduce high tariffs on non-sensitive imports and negotiate non-tariff safeguards on vulnerable segments such as poultry," the paper said. It noted that sudden announcement of "reciprocal tariffs" and enhanced market access for US exports following re-election of Donald Trump as President of the United States in

NITI report urges adopting Turkiye's model to bridge India's skill gaps

A NITI Aayog report on Monday mentioned Turkiye as one of the nations from which India can adopt global best practices for addressing skill gaps in the country's medium enterprises. The report titled 'Designing a Policy for Medium Enterprises' listed programmes of Turkiye in addition to Canada, Singapore and Australia for encouraging medium enterprises. The report said Turkiye's "KOSGEB provides distance training on entrepreneurship; an effective, easy and flexible entrepreneurship training without time and space constraints by E- Akademi Programme Entrepreneurship Support Programme, with preferential treatment for women, youth and handicapped entrepreneurs." Also, observing that Turkey's e-Academy is an online training platform providing subsidised courses, enhancing accessibility for SMEs across regions, the report said, "online training programs can be offered at a subsidized rate, and free of cost for marginalized groups (as provided in Turkey's e-Academy)." Turkiye is facing

Fintech tools to transform medium enterprises into growth engines: NITI

A report published by NITI Aayog says that the MSME sector contributes 29% to the GDP, adding 40% to the export and employing 60% of the workforce

Opposition slams CM Mamata Banerjee for skipping NITI Aayog meet

The opposition BJP and the Congress flayed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for skipping the Niti Aayog meeting being chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Saturday. It is the first major meeting of the prime minister with the CMs of states and lieutenant governors of Union Territories after Operation Sindoor. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said that it is "unfortunate" for the people of West Bengal that the chief minister chose not to attend the meeting of the think tank, where CMs of several other states are attending. "By not attending the meeting, the people of the state got deprived, as the issues of West Bengal will not get raised there. The state government has missed the chance to raise several pressing issues which are important for West Bengal," Bhattacharya said. This move to go against the Centre will "not benefit" the state, the BJP leader said. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "Had she attended the meeting, the chief ...

Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan not to attend NITI Aayog's Delhi meet

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will not be attending the NITI Aayog's 10th governing council meeting to be held in the national capital on Saturday, according to government sources. The sources said that the CM has designated state Finance Minister K N Balagopal to go in his stead. However, since it is a meeting of CMs, it is not clear whether Balagopal would be able to attend it, the sources said. No reason was given for the CM not attending the meeting. Last year also, Vijayan had not attended a Niti Aayog meeting of CMs in Delhi and had sent Balagopal in his stead. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Saturday chair the 10th governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog, which will focus on states, with a view to make India a developed nation by 2047, according to an official statement. The theme of the meeting is 'Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat@2047'.

NITI Aayog proposes easing eligibility for loan subsidy for MSMEs

Government think tank NITI Aayog has pitched for relaxing eligibility criteria for schemes that offer subsidies for capital and interest on loans at the state level to enhance competitiveness of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the country. The Aayog in a report titled 'Enhancing MSMEs Competitiveness in India' also suggested making skill development initiatives easily accessible, especially for MSMEs that face challenges due to their location or size. "At the state level, lowering eligibility barriers for schemes that offer subsidies for capital and interest on loans will better address the financing needs of MSMEs throughout their lifecycle," the report said. Given their success in providing credit to MSMEs, especially in remote areas, it said non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) need to scale up their operations. The report suggested that a crucial step in this process is for SIDBI to play a significant role by providing funding to help NBFCs improve their ...