Parameswaran Iyer takes over as new Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog

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Former drinking water and sanitation secretary Parameswaran Iyer, who led the Centre’s Swachh Bharat Mission, took charge as chief executive officer (CEO) of Niti Aayog on 11 July.

• Important facts

• His appointment to the post was approved by the Cabinet Appointments Committee on June 24.

• Iyer replaces Amitabh Kant, who stepped down on June 30.

• A 1980 batch IAS officer of Kerala cadre, Amitabh Kant was appointed as the CEO of NITI Aayog in 2016 for a tenure of two years.

• Kant has been appointed as the new Sherpa of India for the G20.

• A 1981-batch officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Iyer will serve as the CEO of NITI Aayog for two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.

• Iyer has over 25 years of experience in the water and sanitation sector.

• Iyer led the implementation of the country's flagship Swachh Bharat Mission, which successfully provided 550 million people access to safe sanitation.

• The Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime-minister for a fixed tenure.

• About NITI Aayog

• It is the premier policy think tank of the Government of India, it provides directional and policy inputs.

• It designs strategic and long-term policies.

• It also provides relevant technical advice to the Centre, States, and Union Territories.

• The Governing Council of NITI Aayog is chaired by the Prime Minister and includes the Chief Ministers of all the States and Union Territories and the Lieutenant Governors of other Union Territories. 

• It was constituted on January 1, 2015.

• NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India.

• The Government of India constituted the NITI Aayog to replace the Planning Commission, which was set up in 1950.

• This step was taken to better meet the needs and aspirations of the people.

Kindly see 23 April 2022 post