This is despite the fact that the commission was set up as a recommending body, through a Cabinet Resolution in 1950.
This, the assessment note said, raised concern, as the makers of the Constitution had created the Finance Commission for the same purpose.
The assessment of the Planning Commission, sent to the prime minister by the director-general of independent evaluation, recommended replacing the Plan panel with a new think tank, staffed by experts with domain knowledge.
This new entity should be tasked with giving recommendations and providing a road map of priorities to the central and state governments, to Parliament and to the private sector, the assessment said, adding though it should report to the prime minister, it should also have a defined relationship with Parliament.
“Since the Planning Commission has defied attempts to reform it and bring it in line with the needs of a modern economy and the trend of empowering states, it is proposed the commission be replaced,” the note read.
It added to apportion funds among ministries, the Department of Planning should be in the finance ministry.
“The Planning Commission’s role as an allocator of resources to states should be taken up by the Finance Commission and the allocation of resources among central ministries should be carried out by the finance ministry.”
The assessment recommended to highlight the new think tank’s role as a driver of new and dynamic thinking, it be called the Reform and Solutions Commission.
It said the entity should carry out three primary functions -- serve as a solutions exchange and repository for ideas that have been successful in different aspects of development in various states, districts and other countries; provide ideas for integrated systems reform; and identify new and emerging challenges and provide solutions to pre-empt those.
Opaqueness in the functioning of the Planning Commission was a matter of concern, the note said, citing the appointment of the commission’s deputy chairman by the prime minister, the lack of parliamentary oversight over the panel’s chief and the
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