National Development Council (NDC)

The National Development Council (NDC) or the Rashtriya Vikas Parishad is the apex body for decision making and deliberations on development matters in India, presided over by the Prime Minister.

• It was set up on August 6, 1952 to strengthen and mobilize the effort and resources of the nation in support of the Plan, to promote common economic policies in all vital spheres, and to ensure the balanced and rapid development of all parts of the country.
  
• The Council comprises the Prime Minister, the Union Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of all States or their substitutes, representatives of the union territories and the members of the Commissions.
  
• The first meeting chaired by Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru on November 8–9, 1952 . So far 55 meetings had been held. The 55th Meeting of National Development Council was held on 24 July 2010 at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi.
  

Objectives

It has been set up with three objectives:-

• to strengthen and mobilize the effort and resources of the nation in support of the Plan
  
• to promote common economic policies in all vital spheres and
  
• to ensure the balanced and rapid development of all parts of the country.
  

Functions

The functions of the Council are:-

• to prescribe guidelines for the formulation of the National Plan, including the assessment of resources for the Plan;
  
• to consider the National Plan as formulated by the Planning Commission;
  
• to consider important questions of social and economic policy affecting national development; and
  
• to review the working of the Plan from time to time and to recommend such measures as are necessary for achieving the aims and targets set out in the National Plan.
  

Composition

The National Development Council is presided over by the Prime Minister of India and includes all Union Ministers, Chief Ministers of all the States and Administrators of Union Territories and Members of the Planning Commission. Ministers of State with independent charge are also invited to the deliberations of the Council.

Month: Current Affairs - December, 2011