Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today asked the Planning Commission to critically review its role in an open and liberalised economic environment.

Speaking at the meeting of full-time members of the Planning Commission in New Delhi, Dr Singh also stressed on restructuring Centrally Sponsored Schemes to minimise micro-management by the Centre. He said the Integrated Energy Policy and the Water Policy are landmark developments which need to be pursued further.

He said the country's development story is work in progress and a lot of distance is yet to be covered.

The Prime Minister mentioned that in the coalition era, the consensus-building and problem-resolution function of the Planning Commission has been a growing resource for the government.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said that the Prime Minister suggested that mid-term appraisal of the current five-year plan should not be delayed because of general elections.

Our correspondent reports that during the meeting, the Prime Minister took stock of the economy and progress of development works undertaken during the UPA regime. This was his last meeting as Chairman of the Commission.