Plan Coordination Division is one of the Divisions under Transformation and Development Department. Initially, this division maintains vertical relation with the then Planning Commission, the apex body of planning at the centre and horizontal relation with the line departments of the State in respect of formulation, implementation and review as well as maintenance / reporting of records on physical progress and financial achievements.
Now, it serves as the primary coordinator for NITI Aayog at the state level, managing vertical relations with the Centre and horizontal coordination among state development departments to ensure policy alignment. Hence, it acts as the nodal agency for coordinating all NITI Aayog-related initiatives and policies across the state's development sectors
The Plan Coordination Division is also assigned to look after the following major programmes:
Aspirational District Programme (ADP)
The Aspirational District Programme (ADP) was launched in January, 2018 by NITI Aayog, Govt. of India with an aim to quickly and effectively transform 112 most under-developed districts across the country which includes 7 (seven) districts of Assam viz. Baksa, Barpeta, Darrang, Dhubri, Goalpara, Hailakandi and Udalguri. The Transformation & Development Department is the Nodal Department for the State of Assam.
Under Aspirational District Programme, State Govt. provided special financial assistance under SOPD (State Owned Priority Development) to all seven Aspirational Districts of Assam to take up the development activities (For Gap Filling).
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Since 2016, Assam has been at the fore front of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) planning, becoming the first sub-regional government to formally adopt the SDGs. In support of this initiative, the Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (CSDGs) was established. A significant milestone in this journey was the publication of the Assam Agenda 2030, which laid the foundation for the state's pathway towards achieving the SDGs by 2030. This agenda included a comprehensive baseline survey of key indicators across the state and delineated the vision and targets for each department.
To aid in the execution and monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Transformation & Development Department enlisted the services of Ernst & Young LLP, Project Management Unit. This collaboration, established through an agreement on January 19, 2023, marks a significant step in enhancing the State's monitoring and evaluation capabilities.
Assam developed a robust indicator framework at both the state and district levels to facilitate effective monitoring and planning. In 2020, the State Indicator Framework and District Indicator Framework were launched by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam during the SDG North-East Conclave to track progress. Concurrently, on the national stage, NITI Aayog released three editions of the SDG India Index for the years 2018, 2019 and 2020, along with the SDG North-East India Index. Assam’s rank in the SDG India Index 2020 stood at 26 with a score of 57. According to latest data, Assam rose from an Aspirant category with a score of 49 in 2018 to a Front Runner category scoring 65 in 2023-24 — a 16-point gain, including an 8-point jump since 2020-21 alone, as per NITI Aayog’s SDG India Index 2023-24. Assam is an Achiever in Affordable & Clean Energy (SDG 7) driven mainly by state-led solar rooftop initiatives, off-grid solar systems for remote areas and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. Assam is a Front Runner in six SDGs namely No Poverty (SDG 1), Clean Water & Sanitation (SDG 6), Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10), Responsible Consumption & Production (SDG 12), Life on Land (SDG 15) and Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions (SDG 16). The growth is attributed to flagship schemes like Orunodoi 3.0, Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyamita Abhiyaan (MMUA), CMAAA 2.0, expansion of tap water and sanitation coverage, afforestation campaigns and biodiversity conservation.
To address initial data gaps, the SDG Cell developed the State Indicator Framework (SIF) 2022-23, featuring 270 indicators across 16 goals. This holistic framework involved 40 departments and 22 consultation sessions to align local priorities with 2030 targets. Beyond data collection, the initiative included rigorous cleaning, trend analysis, and a comprehensive mapping of state and central schemes to specific SDG targets. By compiling 20 departmental best practices, Assam has created a strategic roadmap that integrates sustainable goals into core policy, ensuring a measurable outcome.
An essential aspect of SDGs is raising awareness among stakeholders about Assam’s progress and initiatives. To fulfill this, the SDG Cell, T&D Department has launched three editions of the e-newsletter called ‘SDG Barta’ (January 2024, January 2025 and November 2025) approved by the Hon’ble CM.
National Conference of Chief Secretaries
The National Conference of Chief Secretaries is being organised annually since the past five years. Recently, the 5th National Conference of Chief Secretaries was held from 26-28 December, 2025 in New Delhi. The National Conferences are chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister and attended by Chief Secretaries of all States/ UTs and selected Senior Most Secretaries from the Central and State governments. The Plan Coordination Division serves as the state’s primary coordinator, managing comprehensive pre-conference preparations across all districts and key departments. Post-conference, it compiles Action Taken Reports (ATRs) and integrates strategic departmental inputs to ensure continuous alignment with national objectives.
Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog, established on January 1, 2015, is chaired by the Prime Minister and comprises the Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories (UTs) with legislatures, alongside the Lieutenant Governors of other UTs.The Governing Council is the premier body tasked with evolving a shared vision of national priorities and strategies, with the active involvement of States, in shaping the development narrative. The Governing Council, which embodies the objectives of cooperative federalism, presents a platform to discuss inter-sectoral, inter-departmental and federal issues to accelerate the implementation of the national development agenda.So far, 10th meetings of the Governing Council have been convened under the Prime Minister's chairmanship. The most recent session, the 10th Governing Council Meeting, took place on May 24, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi.
The Plan Coordination Division acts as the state’s nodal entity, compiling Action Taken Reports(ATRs) and strategic inputs from over key departments for these high-level forums.
Vision document titled ‘Viksit Assam@ 2047’
In alignment with the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India's vision for a "Viksit Bharat" by 2047, marking the centenary of our nation’s independence, Assam is committed to developing its own Vision Document—"Viksit Assam@2047." This strategic document will serve as a comprehensive roadmap for the State's development, ensuring that all initiatives and objectives are closely aligned with the broader national goals.
To ensure state initiatives harmonize with national development standards for infrastructure and quality of life, the North Eastern Development Finance Corporation Ltd. (NEDFi) has been engaged to provide consultancy services for the preparation of the Vision Document—"Viksit