The first Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog was :

Question

Accepted Answer

The first Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog was Arvind Panagariya, which is correctly identified as Option 3. Here is a detailed explanation supporting this answer:

1. **Justification for Option 3 (Arvind Panagariya):**
   - Arvind Panagariya was appointed as the first Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog when it was established on January 1, 2015. Niti Aayog, which stands for the National Institution for Transforming India, replaced the Planning Commission as the premier policy think tank of the Government of India. Panagariya, an eminent economist and professor at Columbia University, was chosen for his expertise in economic policy and development, which aligned with the objectives of Niti Aayog to foster cooperative federalism and sustainable development.

2. **Explanation for why other options are incorrect:**
   - **Option 1 (Rajiv Kumar):** Rajiv Kumar succeeded Arvind Panagariya as the Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog in September 2017. Therefore, he was not the first Vice Chairman.
   - **Option 2 (Amitabh Kant):** Amitabh Kant has served as the CEO of Niti Aayog, not as the Vice Chairman. His role has been significant in driving various initiatives, but he was not the first Vice Chairman.
   - **Option 4 (Raghuram Rajan):** Raghuram Rajan is a renowned economist who served as the Governor of the Reserve Bank of India. He has not held the position of Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog.

In conclusion, Arvind Panagariya's appointment as the first Vice Chairman of Niti Aayog is well-documented and aligns with the historical timeline of the institution's leadership, making Option 3 the correct answer.