R. Balasubramaniam and Joram Aniya Appointed Full-Time Members of NITI Aayog

R Balasubramaniam and Joram Aniya are appointed as full time members of NITI Aayog by the Government of India. With this appointment the core team has now expanded to seven members. The appointment was approved by the Honorable Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. The new members will brings the expertise in governance, grassroots development and cultural studies into India’s top policy advisory body.

Who Is Joram Aniya?

Joram Aniya is an accomplished academician and policy expert from the state of Arunachal Pradesh. She brings the unique regional and cultural perspective to national policymaking.

Background and Achievements

She has over 18 years of the experience in teaching, research and public policy. She is currently associated with the Arunachal Pradesh Private Educational Regulatory Commission and she has made significant contributions to the education and governance.

She also had the landmark achievement, as she is the first woman from the Nyishi community to earn a PhD and also the first to complete a PhD in Hindi in Arunachal Pradesh.

Her academic work focuses on the Nyishi literature, culture and indigenous knowledge systems and making her a key figure to preserving and promoting tribal heritage.

Who Is R Balasubramaniam?

R Balasubramaniam is a well known public policy expert, development activist and author and have the decades of experience in governance and social impact.

Professional Journey and Contributions

He is the founder of the,

• Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) – which is focused on health, education and the community development.
• The GRAAM which is a public policy think tank.

He has an impressive academic background, having studied at Harvard University and served as the faculty at institutions like Cornell University and IIT Delhi.

Expertise and Impact

He is also known for,

• To advising governments on the governance reforms and institutional strengthening.
• Also bridging the gap between grassroots realities and policy frameworks.
• And writing extensively on leadership, public policy and Indian philosophy.

He has also authored several books and over 500 newspaper columns and making him as prominent voice in public discourse.

Recent Restructuring of NITI Aayog

These appointments are also part of the a recent restructuring of NITI Aayog. T

he government had earlier appointed,

• Mr. Ashok Kumar Lahiri as Vice-Chairman
• The several experts including scientists, economists and administrators as full-time members.

This showcases the broader strategy to diversify expertise within the institution and strengthen the its policy-making capacity.

About NITI AAYOG

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) is a policy think tank of the Government of India.

It was established on January 1, 2015 and it replace the Planning Commission.

It plays the pivotal role in formulating policies and fostering cooperative federalism by involving states in the economic policymaking process.

Key Functions of NITI Aayog

• Policy Formulation
• Cooperative Federalism
• Monitoring and Evaluation
• Think Tank

NITI Aayog Composition

The Governing Council of NITI Aayog comprises the Prime Minister (Chair-Person), Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories with the legislature, Lt Governors of other UTs, Ex-Officio Members: Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog; Full-Time Members; and Special Invitees.