NITI Aayog Governing Council
Topic: Federalism and Centre-State Relations · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The NITI Aayog Governing Council is NITI Aayog's top body. Its members are:
- the Prime Minister;
- the Chief Ministers of all states and of Union territories that have legislatures;
- the Lieutenant Governors of the other Union territories.
It was created by an executive resolution, meaning a government order, not by the Constitution or a law. It is meant to be a platform for cooperative federalism, where the Union and states work as partners.
Example
The Council first met on 8 February 2015, and its 10th meeting was held on 24 May 2025. In 2024, some opposition Chief Ministers boycotted its meeting. Critics cite this when they ask whether cooperation is real or only talk.
Don't confuse with
- Inter-State Council: it rests on Art. 263 and was set up by Presidential Order in 1990. The Prime Minister chairs it too, but it is a constitutional advisory body, while the Governing Council comes from an executive resolution.