Smriti Irani dropped from NITI Aayog invitee list; Javedekar replaces her

Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani has been removed from the NITI Aayog as a special invitee less than a month after she has been shunted out of the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry.

According to reports, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar has replaced Smriti Irani in the list of special invitees. Minister of State (Planning) Rao Inderjit Singh has been added as ex-officio member

In an official communique from the Cabinet Secretariat, dated June 7, it was noted that Smriti Irani is no longer part of the list of invitees. The list was made after approval from PM Narendra Modi, reported several news sources, including The Indian Express.

The reported change in the invitee list has come ahead of the NITI Aayog’s governing council meeting on June 17, which is set to be chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who was Irani’s deputy minister under I&B ministry, was given independent charge of the ministry. She was inducted to NITI Aayog when she was the HRD Minister, but Irani was retained as special invitee even after her transfer out of the ministry.