*Discuss the role of NITI Aayog in operationalising the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision at the sub-state level.*

Q. Discuss the role of NITI Aayog in operationalising the Viksit Bharat @2047 vision at the sub-state level. (15 marks, 250 words)

Replacing the Planning Commission in 2015, NITI Aayog functions as India's apex think-tank and cooperative-federalism platform [4]. Its distinctive role is translating the Viksit Bharat @2047 goal into actionable targets cascading down to the state, district and village.

Cascading the vision downward - Framed the Approach Paper for the Viksit Bharat @2047 Vision Document at the 9th Governing Council Meeting (2024), setting the national frame [3]. - Prompted every State to draft a "Viksit Rajya" vision document aligned to national priorities yet "grounded in local realities" (10th GCM, 2025) [2]. - At the 11th GCM (2026), pushed the vision to district, block and village granularity, making sub-state units the unit of planning [1].

Grassroots sectoral levers - One District One Product (ODOP) and MSME clusters to build export strategies around local strengths [1]. - Converting the demographic dividend into a development dividend via state-led skilling; defence manufacturing and FTA-linked investment localisation [1].

Platform, not command - Runs the Governing Council as a "Team India" forum where States are co-architects, not grantees [4]. - Being an executive body, its role is advisory and catalytic; delivery hinges on State fiscal and administrative capacity [4].

By threading a single national vision through State vision documents down to the village, NITI Aayog institutionalises bottom-up cooperative federalism. Strengthening this with outcome-linked monitoring and capacity support to weaker States can make Viksit Bharat @2047 a genuinely shared, sub-nationally owned mission.

(~245 words)

Sources: 1. PM chairs 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog (PIB, 2026) — demographic dividend, ODOP, defence manufacturing, FTA investment, district/block/village granularity 2. PM chairs 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog (PIB, 2025) — "Viksit Rajya" State vision documents grounded in local realities 3. PM to Chair 9th Governing Council Meeting to Propel 'Viksit Bharat@2047' (PIB, 2024) — Approach Paper for the Viksit Bharat @2047 Vision Document 4. NITI Aayog — Governing Council Secretariat & Coordination — 2015 replacement of Planning Commission; cooperative-federalism platform; advisory character