State Support Mission

The State Support Mission (SSM) is an ongoing Central Sector Scheme of NITI Aayog, launched in 2022 to operationalize its mandate of strengthening cooperative federalism and advancing the National vision of Viksit Bharat@2047. The Mission was introduced recognizing the pivotal role of States and Union Territories (UTs) in driving the country's long-term socio-economic transformation.

The Mission supports in the establishment of State Institutions for Transformation (SITs) or the reorientation of existing Planning Departments, Planning Boards, or Planning Commissions into multidisciplinary institutions capable of providing strategic policy leadership and promoting evidence-based planning. The Mission facilitates the development of Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems, promotes data-driven governance, enhances technical and institutional capacities, and enables partnerships with Lead Knowledge Institutions.

Objectives:

1. Establish State Institution for Transformation or Strengthen Existing Planning Department/Board.
2. Support States in identifying key growth drivers and enablers, and leverage them to accelerate economic growth.
3. Support States/UTs to leverage expertise of Lead Knowledge Institutions (LKI) to strengthen evidence-based policymaking.
4. Enable States/UTs to strengthen the Monitoring & Evaluation ecosystem and data analytical systems
5. Create a knowledge sharing platform to promote cross-learning among the States.

1. Programme Implementation Unit (PIU)

   The Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) is a multi-disciplinary technical support unit funded under the Mission and housed within the SITs notified by the State/UT Government which Comprises up to nine sectoral experts, including a Team Lead, the PIU works closely with the State/UT Planning Department/Planning Board to provide technical and operational support to the State Implementation Team (SIT). The PIU functions under the supervision of the State/UT Government to facilitate effective planning, implementation, coordination, and monitoring of Mission activities.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation & Data Analytics Unit (M&E)

   The Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Unit is an integral part of the SITs that supports evidence-based policymaking and results-driven governance. The unit enables systematic monitoring of programme implementation, assessment of outcomes, and informed decision-making by providing timely insights for policy refinement, resource prioritization, and mid-course corrections.

3. Lead Knowledge Institution (LKI)

   The Mission recognizes the crucial role of cross-sectoral partnerships to bring expertise and sectoral domain knowledge to support the SIT. These institutions play a critical role in institutional building by enhancing the capacities of Government Departments, creating systems for evidence-based policymaking and promoting innovation in governance practices.

4. Knowledge Products

   NITI Aayog provides a suite of knowledge tools to strengthen planning and governance. These include the NITI for States Portal, a repository of data, policies, and best practices; the Viksit Bharat Strategy Room, a data visualization platform for informed decision-making; and NITI TARA, a portable solution that enables access to knowledge products anytime, anywhere.

5. Workshops, Research & Capacity Building

   The mission facilitates workshops, training programmes, and knowledge-sharing forums to facilitate cross-learning, peer exchange, and collaboration among SITs, State and Central Government officials, and domain experts.

1. NITI For States: Online Portal

   The ‘NITI For States’ Portal (www.nitiforstates.gov.in ) is a digital knowledge repository that hosts best practices, policy documents, datasets, and analytical tools to promote knowledge sharing and cross-learning among States and Union Territories. The platform facilitates the digital transformation of governance by equipping government officials at State, District and also the Block level with robust, contextually relevant, and actionable knowledge and insights, thereby enhancing the quality of their decision-making.

2. Viksit Bharat Strategy Room

   VBSR is a digitally immersive, interactive experience room which enables users to visualize data, trends, best practices and policies, allowing them to make a holistic assessment of any problem statement and enable effective in-person decision-making. It is designed as a replicable model for States, it illustrates how multiple datasets can be brought together to improve planning, inter-departmental coordination and monitoring of development outcomes. The model has been replicated in Bihar through the Gen Next Lab at BIPARD, Gaya, at LBSNAA, Mussoorie and at Viksit Bihar Strategy Room, Patna with several other States also expressing interest in developing similar VBSRs to promote data-driven decision-making and evidence-based policymaking.

3. NITI TARA

   NITI TARA (Toolkit for Analysis, Review and Action) is a compact, portable, internet-enabled, all-in-one device that integrates computing, projection, audio-visual capabilities, and interactivity to support data-driven decision-making at the district and block levels. It is equipped with inbuilt tools such as the Area Development Strategy (ADS) https://niti.pmgatishakti.gov.in/NitiIndia/login and the System for Meeting Recording, Information & Transcription Interface (SMRITI), enabling planning, review, documentation, and evidence-based governance.

Capacity-building workshops are organised to strengthen State capacities in critical sectors, promote innovation-led and evidence-based policymaking, and facilitate knowledge exchange. They provide a platform for collaboration among States/UTs, State Institutions for Transformation (SITs), Lead Knowledge Institutions (LKIs), and other stakeholders to address governance challenges and share best practices.

1. Regional Workshops

   Regional Workshops under the State Support Mission (SSM) provide a platform for NITI Aayog and SITs of States/UTs to share experiences, showcase best practices, discuss implementation challenges, and promote peer learning on institutional strengthening. Three Regional workshops have been conducted so far and one conclave for Lead Knowledge Institutions:

   1. Northern Region:

      Dehradun, Uttarakhand (2 June 2025) – in collaboration with SETU Aayog, attended by over 150 officials from 10 States/UTs.

   2. Southern & Western Region:

      Pune, Maharashtra (25 September 2025) – in collaboration with the Maharashtra Institute of Transformation (MITRA) attended by representatives from 11 States/UTs.

   3. Eastern & North-Eastern Region:

      Agartala, Tripura (3 February 2026) – in collaboration with Tripura Institute for Transformation (TIFT), attended by over 120 officials from the Eastern and North-Eastern States/UTs.

   4. Conclave for Leveraging Knowledge Institutions for Viksit Rajya:

      Roorkee, Uttarakhand (8 October 2025) - in collaboration with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, brought together senior officials from NITI Aayog, policymakers, and academic leaders from IITs, IIMs, and Central Universities, the event focused on fostering partnerships to advance the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

   These workshops have strengthened inter-state collaboration, facilitated knowledge exchange, and accelerated the implementation of the State Support Mission across the country.

2. NITI- State Workshop series

   The NITI–State Workshop Series, launched under the State Support Mission (SSM), serves as a platform for policy dialogue, knowledge exchange, and collaborative problem-solving between NITI Aayog and States/UTs. Covering themes relevant to socio-economic development and emerging national priorities, the workshops promote cross-learning, generate evidence-based policy recommendations, and strengthen State capacities for effective policy implementation. As of July 2026, over 78 NITI–State Workshops have been conducted across diverse sectors.