MINISTER OF STATE FOR PARLIAMENTARY AFFAIRS AND PLANNING
(SHRI RAJEEV SHUKLA)
(a) & (b): The Planning Commission was set up by a Resolution of the Government of India in
March 1950 in pursuance of declared objectives of the Government to promote a rapid rise in
the standard of living of the people by efficient exploitation of the resources of the country,
increasing production and offering opportunities to all for employment in the service of the
community.
The Planning Commission was charged with the responsibility of making an
assessment of resources of the country, augmenting deficient resources, formulating plans for
the most effective and balanced utilization of resources and determining priorities.
This
involves allocating Plan funds to various Ministries / Departments and to the States every year,
based on discussions with them on their Annual Plan proposals for various schemes. It also
includes reviews of policy approaches which are a critical part of Plan formulation.
The
progress made towards Plan objectives is reviewed periodically in Five Year Plans and also at
the time of Mid-Term Appraisal of the Five Year Plans, and corrective measures suggested are
incorporated in the next Five Year Plan.
The impact of all these activities and of the various schemes implemented by the
Central Government and the States is reflected over time. The table given below indicates the
year-wise per capita income and the growth rate.
The average rate of growth in per capita
income measured in terms of Net National Income (NNI) at factor cost at constant prices
(2004-05), is 5.6% per year during 2000-01 to 2012-13. The decline in percentage of persons
below poverty line at all India level, as per the Tendulkar Methodology, is from 37.2% in
2004-05 to 21.9% in 2011-12.
Table Per Capita Net National Income (NNI) at factor cost at 2004-05 Constant Prices (All India)
Year Per Capita NNI Annual Growth (in Rupees) rate (%)
2000-2001 20,362 1.8
2001-02 21,065 3.5
2002-03 21,575 2.4
2003-04 23,005 6.6
2004-05 24,143 4.9
2005-06 26,015 7.8
2006-07 28,067 7.9
2007-08 30,332 8.1
2008-09 31,754 4.7
2009-10 33,901 6.8
2010-11@ 36,342 7.2
2011-12 38,037 4.7
2012-13# 39,168 3.0
Annual Average Growth Rate 5.6
Source: Central Statistics Office (CSO).
# Provisional Estimate; 1st Revised Estimates (RE); @ 2nd RE; 3rd RE
(c) to (e): Planning Commission has been evolving its strategies by way of continuous internal
assessment of its working. It has sought to keep itself abreast with the latest developments and
aligned its policies in such a manner that keeps the interests of the common man in mind.
There
is presently no proposal of the Government to constitute an Expert Group for evaluating the
performance of the Planning Commission and redefining its role. However, the Commission
regularly sets up groups of experts on several aspects of the economy to improve its work on
policy.
The agenda for change in Planning Commission’s role and organization is pro-actively
being pursued by the Planning Commission and is effectively being led by fresh initiatives in
bringing about changes in the process of Planning, communicating with external stakeholders
through an active engagement and implementing the agenda in the 12th Five Year Plan. It is felt
that there is not only an awareness for the need for change in the role of Planning Commission,
but also an effective ownership of the agenda for change by the Commission and its Members.
The 12th Five Year Plan reflects in adequate measure these changes, which has been prepared
on the basis of extensive stakeholders consultations. Besides analysing the current status of
different sectors of the economy, it has recommended policies, processes and schemes to
achieve its objective of faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth, which is a testimony of
the Planning Commission’s resolve to change itself with time and fulfil its role, envisaged in
the Resolution of 1950, referred in answer to part (a) of the question above.
In view of this, it
is felt that setting up another Expert group may not be required at this stage.
