Mysore/Mysuru: The Union Government yesterday appointed Mysuru-based Dr. R. Balasubramaniam as a full-time Member of NITI (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog.

Dr. Balasubramaniam is the Founder of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM) and the Grassroots Research and Advocacy Movement (GRAAM) in Mysuru. Dr. Joram Aniya of Arunachal Pradesh has also been appointed to the post.

The appointments come at a time when the country is stepping up efforts towards the ‘Viksit Bharat’ vision, bringing in experience from grassroots development and regional perspectives to the Centre’s              premier policy think tank. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.

Speaking to Star of Mysore this morning, Dr. Balasubramaniam said, “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this recognition. I am proud to have been chosen to serve the country in this capacity. It also reflects the Prime Minister’s intent to listen to voices from the grassroots and civil society in the nation’s development.”

Meanwhile, Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi congratulated Dr. R. Balasubramaniam and Dr. Joram Aniya on their appointments.

He said, their experience and understanding of key issues would strengthen policy-making and expressed confidence that their contributions would drive innovation and growth across sectors. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wished them a productive and impactful tenure.

Dr. Balasubramaniam’s brief profile

Dr. R. Balasubramaniam is a development scholar, public policy advocate, author and leadership educator with over four decades of grassroots experience. He founded SVYM, which works in the areas of health, education and community empowerment, and GRAAM, a public policy think-and-act tank.

An MBBS Graduate from Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), he has also pursued higher studies in Leadership and Public Policy and holds a Doctorate in Management and Leadership. He has served as faculty at Cornell University and combines field experience with                                           academic insight.

His work includes advising Governments on governance reforms, strengthening democratic institutions and building State capacity. He has authored several books, including ‘I, The Citizen’, ‘Voices from the Grassroots’, ‘Leadership Lessons for Daily Living’ and ‘Power Within: The Leadership Legacy of Narendra Modi.’

He is also a columnist with Star of Mysore and has written extensively in Kannada and English. Dr. Balasubramaniam is currently a Member (HR) at the Capacity Building Commission of the Government of India and Chairperson of the Social Stock Exchange Advisory Committee of SEBI (Securities and Exchange Board of India).