Officials of the NITI Aayog have been told to get all “all op-eds/ articles” approved before sending them to any media outlet for “external publication”, according to a report in the Indian Express.

This was conveyed through a written communication on May 12 as well as a recent meeting attended by NITI Vice Chairman Suman Bery, CEO Parameswaran Iyer, other members and officials, sources told the paper.

“The undersigned is directed to convey for strict compliance that all op-eds/articles written by officers/officials of NITI Aayog, in which they identify themselves as an officer/official/employee of NITI Aayog, that are sent for external publication in newspapers/magazines/news sites etc. must be duly approved by the respective adviser…articles by senior advisers/ advisers/vertical heads should be approved by the CEO,” the panel said in a communication.

“All op-eds/articles have to be sent for publication only through the communications vertical… the communications vertical will take the final call on whether the op-ed/ article meets the minimum acceptable quality standards for external publication,” it said.

However, the panel’s official spokesperson told the Indian Express that the think tank “has issued general advisories from time to time, encouraging due diligence while publishing articles. It is unfortunate that the Indian Express seems to be misinterpreting routine advisories. NITI Aayog has consistently encouraged its employees to think and express themselves creatively, keeping in mind government conduct rules.”

The spokesperson did not specify the dates on which such advisories were issued.