NITI Ayog CEO to be part-time member of Telecom Commission

The Centre has approved nomination of Chief Executive Officer of the NITI Aayog as part-time member of the Telecom Commission in place of Secretary of the erstwhile Planning Commission.

"The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to nomination of Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog, as part-time member of the Telecom Commission in place of Secretary, Planning Commission, which is non-existent now," a press statement read.

According to the statement, the participation of the NITI Aayog CEO in the meetings of the Telecom Commission will lend value to the deliberations of the Commission because the NITI Aayog has been mandated to serve as a think-tank of the government.

The Telecom Commission was set up by central government through a resolution dated April 11, 1989, with administrative and financial powers to promote rapid development of all aspects of telecommunication.

Before the supersession of the Planning Commission by the NITI Aayog, the Telecom Commission was composed of a chairman, four full-time members and four part-time members, including the Secretary of the Planning Commission.

After the replacement, only three part-time members were left with the Telecom Commission.

The move to introduce the NITI Aayog CEO as the part-time member is aimed at lending value to deliberations of the Telecom Commission, it added.