PM to Chair 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog

1. At a Glance

11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog, chaired by PM Narendra Modi on 11 June 2026 at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi [S1].
Theme: "Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047" — operationalises the 'Team India' / cooperative federalism vision [S1].
Governing Council is the apex deliberative body of NITI Aayog, embodying cooperative federalism between Centre, States and UTs [S2].
Examinable for Prelims (institutions) and Mains GS-II (federalism, governance) and GS-III (planning, growth).

PM to chair the 11th GC Meeting on 11 June 2026 with all CMs and LGs at Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre [S1].
Rollout of the Inclusive Human Development Framework linked to Viksit Bharat @2047 [S1].

NITI Aayog constituted by Union Cabinet resolution dated 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission (1950) [S2].
Governing Council first constituted Feb 2015; reconstituted 19 Feb 2021 [S2].
10th GC Meeting: 24 May 2025, Bharat Mandapam, theme "Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047" [S3].
11th GC Meeting: 11 June 2026 — shift in theme from state-led ('Viksit Rajya') to citizen-led ('Inclusive Human Development') [S1][S3].

Parent body: NITI Aayog (under Cabinet Secretariat / Govt. of India) [S2].
Enabling instrument: Union Cabinet Resolution, 1 Jan 2015 (no statutory Act) [S2].
Chairperson of NITI Aayog & GC: Prime Minister [S2].
GC Composition: PM (Chair); CMs of all States & UTs with Legislature; LGs of other UTs; Ex-Officio Members; Vice-Chairperson NITI Aayog; Full-time Members; Special Invitees [S2].
11th GC venue: Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi [S1].
Theme 2026: "Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047" [S1].

Administrative / Governance: GC is the principal platform for inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal coordination to drive the national development agenda [S2].
Federalism (Constitutional): NITI Aayog operates outside Part-IV/Schedule-VII; GC is the institutional embodiment of cooperative federalism, replacing the top-down Planning Commission model [S2].
Social / Human Development: 2026 theme expressly targets well-being "regardless of age, region, gender, or socio-economic background" — signals human-capital, not just GDP, metrics [S1].
Economic: 10th GC (2025) already mainstreamed entrepreneurship, skilling, sustainable employment as state-level deliverables for Viksit Bharat [S3].
Ethical / Accountability: GC translates Viksit Bharat into "concrete, measurable outcomes for every citizen" — implies outcome-based federal monitoring [S1].

24 May 2025: 10th GC Meeting at Bharat Mandapam; theme "Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047"; focus on entrepreneurship, skilling, sustainable employment [S3].
10 June 2026 (PIB): Announcement of 11th GC Meeting [S1].
11 June 2026: 11th GC Meeting; rollout of Inclusive Human Development Framework [S1].

11th GC Meeting held on 11 June 2026 [S1].
Venue: Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, New Delhi (not Bharat Mandapam, which hosted the 10th) [S1][S3].
Theme 2026: Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047 [S1].
Theme 2025 (10th GC): Viksit Rajya for Viksit Bharat @2047 [S3].
NITI Aayog created by Cabinet Resolution dated 1 January 2015 (not by Act of Parliament) [S2].
GC first constituted February 2015; reconstituted 19 February 2021 [S2].
Chairperson of GC: Prime Minister [S2].
GC includes CMs of all States and UTs with Legislature plus LGs of UTs without Legislature [S2].
The Vice-Chairperson, full-time Members and CEO of NITI Aayog are also part of the Council [S2][S3].
10th GC held on 24 May 2025 at Bharat Mandapam [S3].

GS-II: "Functions and responsibilities of the Union and the States; issues and challenges pertaining to the federal structure" — NITI Aayog as a forum of cooperative federalism.
GS-III: "Indian Economy — issues relating to planning, mobilization of resources, growth, development and employment."
Question stems: 1. "NITI Aayog's Governing Council has evolved as the principal institutional vehicle of cooperative federalism in India." Examine with reference to recent meetings. 2. Discuss how the theme 'Inclusive Human Development for Viksit Bharat @2047' reframes India's development discourse beyond GDP-centric metrics. 3. Compare NITI Aayog's Governing Council with the erstwhile National Development Council.

NITI Aayog is not a constitutional or statutory body — it is an executive body via Cabinet Resolution [S2].
Do not confuse Governing Council (CMs + PM) with NITI Aayog itself (Vice-Chair, Members, CEO).
2026 theme is "Inclusive Human Development", 2025 theme was "Viksit Rajya" — easy mix-up [S1][S3].
11th GC venue is Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, not Bharat Mandapam [S1].
LGs of UTs with Legislature (Delhi, Puducherry, J&K) are represented via CMs; LGs proper attend for UTs without Legislature [S2].

[S1] PIB — PM to Chair 11th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2271043 — (tier: 1)
[S2] NITI Aayog — Governing Council Secretariat and Coordination — https://www.niti.gov.in/divisions/division/governing-council-secretariat — (tier: 1)
[S3] PIB — PM to Chair 10th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2130818 — (tier: 1)