Dr Joram Aniya: NITI Aayog Gets First Full-Time Member from Arunachal Pradesh

On 2 May 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the appointment of Dr Joram Aniya as a full-time member of NITI Aayog. She became the first person from Arunachal Pradesh and the first person from the Northeast to hold this position in India’s policy think tank.

NITI Aayog: Structure and Role

NITI Aayog stands for National Institution for Transforming India. It functions as the Government of India’s policy think tank and replaced the Planning Commission in 2015. The Prime Minister serves as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.

Full-Time Members and Composition

Dr Joram Aniya’s appointment, along with Dr R. Balasubramaniam, raised the number of full-time members in NITI Aayog to seven. Full-time members are part of the core policy and advisory structure of the institution.

Dr Joram Aniya’s Academic Profile

Dr Joram Aniya has more than 18 years of experience in teaching, research, and public policy engagement. She is an academician, writer, and folklorist. She was the first woman from the Nyishi community to earn a PhD. She was also the first scholar in Arunachal Pradesh to obtain a doctorate in Hindi language studies.

Important Facts for Exams

• NITI Aayog was established in 2015 after the replacement of the Planning Commission.
• The Prime Minister of India is the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
• Dr Joram Aniya served as Head of the Hindi Department at Dera Natung Government College in Itanagar.
• She also served on the Arunachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission.

Previous Roles and State Context

Before joining NITI Aayog, Dr Joram Aniya served as Head of the Hindi Department at Dera Natung Government College in Itanagar. She also served as a member of the Arunachal Pradesh Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Commission. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu referred to her appointment on 3 May 2026. Arunachal Pradesh is a state in the North-East region of India.