National Development Council of India
The National Development Council is a coordinating body under the control of the central government. The National Development Council was formed on 5th August 1952. It was formed as a consulting firm, which is excluded from the constitution of India. The draft of the first five-year plan recommended the formation of this board in July 1951.
Important Points of NDC
01. The Prime Minister was appointed ex-officio Chairman of the National Development Council.
02. The Council consists of the Prime Minister, the Chief Ministers of the States, the members of the Planning Commission, the Administrators of the Union Territories and the members of the Union Cabinet.
03. The body was formed on the basis of a proposal by the central cabinet to ensure the country’s financial policy and healthy development system. The previous five-year plan was approved by the National Development Council.
04. As an advisory body, its main function is to advise the Central and State Governments and the former Planning Commission.
05. Other main objectives of the National Development Council are:
(a) Rapid development
(b) Establishment of balanced monetary policy
(c) Emphasis on socio-economic issues and
(d) Implementation of necessary policies in the national interest.
06. The Prime Minister usually convenes the National Development Council twice a year. The agenda of the Board is decided in consultation with the Central Government, the State Governments, and the Planning Commission (now the NITI Aayog) (the issues to be discussed are decided by the Prime Minister).
07. K. Santhanam, in his famous book ‘Union-State Relations in India,’ has termed the National Development Council as the Super-Cabinet of the United States of India.
08. A detailed discussion and introduction of the National Development Council are mentioned in the book ‘Indian Administration’ (a famous book written by Maheshwari).
09. The role of the National Development Council is also mentioned in the book ‘Federalism in India‘ (written by Ashok Chandra).
10. Maurice Jones in his book “Indian Govt. And Politics” called the council an advisory body instead of a super cabinet.
11. The chief ministers of all the states could become ex-officio members of the National Development Council. The first president of the National Development Council was Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
12. The power to deliver the inaugural address of the Council is vested to the Prime Minister. The National Development Council originated primarily as an advisory board.
Main functions of National Development Council:
- To make recommendations regarding local autonomy system, management of cooperative societies, and determination of general policies.
- To make recommendations on how to implement the objectives and targets of the National Plan.
- To approve the plans (basically five-year plans).
- To make recommendations on reducing inequality with balanced development in different regions of the state.
- Emphasis on decentralized industrial production.
- To provide necessary advice to the Central and State Governments on the above matters.
≡ At present, the NITI Aayog has a significant impact on all strategies and policies. Since 2015 the policy, NITI Aayog has been led by the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) of India.
A short General Knowledge notes on the National Development Council of India for IAS UPSC or other competitive examinations.