Government clarifies Niti Aayog's status, elevates Vice Chairman's rank & pay to that of a Cabinet Minister

NEW DELHI: The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has finally cleared the air over the status of the vice chairman of Niti Aayog and his member colleagues.

According to sources, in an order issued this week, the government elevated Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya’s rank and pay scale to that of a Cabinet Minister. The PMO also equated the rank and pay of his two colleagues –economist Bibek Debroy and scientist V K Saraswat – with that of a minister of state (MoS).

The position of the Aayog and its members on the establishment's power map had been unclear ever since the PMO order dated April 14 which seemed to downgrade the vice-chairman to cabinet secretary for pay and allowances but equated him with cabinet ministers in the warrant of precedence.

Similarly, Debroy and Saraswat were entitled to the salary of a Secretary in the union government even though their rank was equal to that of a Minister of State.

Historically, the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission had a cabinet rank and its full-time members had the rank of minister of state. But with the PMO's drawing a distinction in its April order, Panagariya wasn’t invited to Cabinet meetings unlike his predecessor Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The latest decision has now clarified the line of hierarchy within the Aayog as well as the government. According to sources, the new status should also entitle the vice chairman to participate in all the Cabinet meetings as a special invitee. ET could not confirm this officially with the PMO.

Panagariya, Debroy and Saraswat were not reachable for comment.