Full Plan panel to have six ministers

An official said although the full Planning Commission is headed by the Prime Minister, the inclusion of six Cabinet ministers will lend more weight to decisions taken by the Commission. A heavy weight Commission, the official added, “would certainly be seen as more representative and taken more seriously.”

Although the inclusion of all heavy weight ministers has strengthened and rejuvenated the Commission, it may also result in some practical problems. “The ministers representing different alliance partners may interfere with the planning process. It may become difficult to arrive at a consensus”, added another official.

The immediate job before the new Commission will be to undertake a mid-term review of the Tenth Plan. New Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia has hinted that everything will be looked at anew.