PM Narendra Modi convenes CMs meet for suggestions on new planning body

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has convened a meeting of chief ministers in the national capital on Sunday (December 7) to seek their views on the structure and functioning of the revamped Planning Commission, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said in Agartala on Wednesday.

PM Modi in his first Independence Day speech had announced that the Planning Commission would be abolished and replaced with a more relevant institution.

The meeting has been called to obtain opinions about the new body that would be formed after abolishing the existing Planning Commission, Sarkar told IANS.

Sarkar, however, did not elaborate on what his suggestions would be on the new panel.

"I would attend the meeting and submit my opinions," Sarkar added.

A senior official of Tripura's planning and coordination department said that the commission has received many suggestions regarding the name and role of the new body.

"Some of the suggested names of the new body include, National Development Reforms Commission, Sustainable Development Commission, National Development Agency, Social Economic Development Commission or Bharat Pragati Lakshya, Niti Aayog or Policy Commission," the official added.

Planning Minister Rao Inderjit Singh said in the national capital recently that the Planning Commission would continue to function under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister. A new body would replace the commission but till then, the existing entity would continue performing its mandate, Singh had said.