On August 6, 1952, the National Development Council was instituted to emphasise and organise the nation’s effort and resources in aid of the Plan, encourage unified economic policies in all required fields, and assure the balanced and speedy development of all parts of the country.

  • The National Development Council has been one of India’s most crucial planning institutions.
  • It represents the national approach to design and serves as a check to ensure that the planning system is national in scope.
  • The affluences of the NDC have gone up and down a lot of times. Its status has been defined by the current political climate and the support given to it by the central government and the effectiveness of state government pressures.
  • Despite the ups and downs it has experienced over the last six decades, its presence in the apex policy framework has always been felt.

Establishment of National development council 

It was established on August 6, 1952, to reinforce and organize the nation’s effort and resources in support of the Planning Commission’s Five Year Plans, to promote unified economic policies in all critical fields, and to assure balanced and speedy development of all parts of the country.

Objectives

It has been positioned up with the following objectives

  1. To reinforce and organise the effort and resources of the nation in aid of the Plan
  2. To endorse common economic policies in all fundamental spheres
  3. To guarantee the balanced and rapid expansion of all parts of the country
  4. To offer social amenities like education, medical care, social services, etc. to the residents of the country 
  5. To advance the living standard of the people 
  6. To boost in per capita income 

 Functions

  • To fix instructions for the formulation of the National Plan, comprising the appraisal of resources for the Plan; 
  • To deem the national Plan as devised by the Planning Commission; 
  • To deem imperative questions of social and economic policy influencing national development;
  • To deem the national Plan as devised by the Planning Commission; 
  • To deem the national Plan as devised by the Planning Commission;
  • To evaluate the Plan’s operation frequently and suggest any steps needed to accomplish the National Plan’s goals and objectives.
  • To propose measures for accomplishment of the aims and objectives set out in the national Plan.

Composition

The National Development Council is chaired by the Prime Minister of India and comprises all Chief Ministers of all the States, Union Ministers, and Administrators of Union Territories and Members of the NITI Aayog. Ministers of State with autonomous charge are also requested to the deliberations of the Council.

The 58th meeting of NDC

Not held so far

The 57th meeting of NDC

Held on 27 December 2012 to confer plan of (2012-2017)

The 56th meeting of NDC                             

The 56th meeting of NDC took place on 22 October 2011 to deem the 12th Plan approach paper. The meeting was chaired by Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India. Dr Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the Dy Chairman of Planning Commission, lifted six key issues for contemplation at the NDC:

  1. Establishing the state level five year plans for the Twelfth Plan period in the early hours and setting targets for expansion and other social indicators.
  2. Mobilisation and allotment of resources for the Plan. Since comprehensive growth depends on the growth of rural and urban infrastructure, stipulation of health services, extension of education and skill development, sufficient provisioning shall be done for these sectors.
  3. Agriculture requires more attention and precedence at State Government levels (e.g. except horticultural products completely from the application of the APMC Act.)
  4. Organisation of energy resources will be a main challenge because rapid expansion will need an important growth in domestic energy supplies and also a much greater focus on energy effectiveness.
  5. Administration of water resources – demand for water in the country is outshining supply, leading to grave water shortages and indefensible drawl of ground water in numerous parts of the country.
  6. Advance accomplishment of Plan schemes on the ground.

CONCLUSION

Since the commencement of NITI Aayog’s Governing Council (which has roughly the same work and roles as NDC), the NDC has had no work allocated to it nor did it have any meetings. During the term of earlier Prime Ministers Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh it was sensed that the Planning Commission has outlasted its life and requires some improvement. In 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi proclaimed Planning Commission’s elimination and constructed NITI Aayog via an executive resolution.