New Delhi, Jan 21 (IANS): Bibek Debroy, an eminent economist, Wednesday joined the newly-created NITI Aayog as member, an official statement said here.

A research professor at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, Debroy has also worked as director of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies, consultant to the union finance ministry in various capacities, and chairman of the high powered committee on restructuring railways.

The National Institution for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog has been established by the government to function as both a think-tank and a policy forum replacing the Planning Commission.

Noted economist Arvind Panagariya Jan 13 took charge as the first vice chairman of NITI Aayog. Sindhushree Khullar is the chief executive officer of the Aayog.

Besides Debroy, other full-time member is scientist V.K. Saraswat, who has served as director general of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and as chief scientific advisor to the defence minister.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh will be ex-officio members of the Aayog.

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot and Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani are to be special invitees to the Aayog.