Within the institutional framework of NITI Aayog, who serves as the Chairperson (Chairman) of NITI Aayog under the present constitutional arrangement?

Introduction / Context:

This question relates to NITI Aayog, which replaced the Planning Commission as the main policy think tank of the Government of India. NITI Aayog plays an important role in cooperative federalism and strategic policy formulation. Knowing who heads NITI Aayog is a basic fact that often appears in current affairs and polity questions.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The body in question is NITI Aayog, an institution that replaced the earlier Planning Commission.
• The term Chairman or Chairperson is used, which refers to the head of this body.
• The options list several high level positions in the Union Government, including the Prime Minister and various ministers.
• You are expected to recall the official structure of NITI Aayog as announced by the government.

Concept / Approach:

NITI Aayog has been constituted so that the Prime Minister of India serves as its Chairperson. In addition, there is a Vice Chairman and a Governing Council that includes Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors. The idea is that the highest political executive at the Union level should head the institution that coordinates national development policy and state cooperation. Therefore, the correct answer is the Prime Minister, not any cabinet minister or official.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Official descriptions of NITI Aayog on government websites clearly mention that the Prime Minister is the Chairperson. They also list the Vice Chairman, full time members and ex officio members who are Union Ministers. Cross checking this structure in multiple reliable sources confirms the central role of the Prime Minister as the head of NITI Aayog.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

The Minister of Industry may be associated with industrial policy but does not serve as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.

The Finance Minister is a key member of the Union Cabinet and may be an ex officio member of NITI Aayog, but is not the designated Chairperson.

The Commerce Minister has specific responsibility for trade and commerce, and similarly does not head NITI Aayog.

The Vice Chairman of NITI Aayog, although important in day to day functioning and policy input, is not the Chairperson. The Vice Chairman works under the overall leadership of the Prime Minister as Chairperson.

Common Pitfalls:

Students sometimes confuse the roles of Vice Chairman and Chairperson, especially because the Vice Chairman appears frequently in news articles and interviews. Another source of confusion is the older structure of the Planning Commission, where a Deputy Chairman was very prominent. To avoid mistakes, remember that in the NITI Aayog framework the Prime Minister is the Chairperson and there is a Vice Chairman who plays a senior but subordinate role.

Final Answer:

The Chairperson of NITI Aayog is the Prime Minister of India.