RAS question
The National Development Council (NDC) was established in:
Correct answer: (B) 1952.
The National Development Council was established by a Government of India resolution on 6 August 1952.
Explanation
The National Development Council was set up by a Government of India resolution on 6 August 1952. It was created for close cooperation between the Planning Commission and the States, which explains why the Prime Minister, Chief Ministers of all States and members of the Planning Commission formed its core membership. In exam terms, 1952 is the key year because the NDC belonged to the Planning Commission era of development planning, when national plans required coordination between the Union and the States. It was the highest body for developmental-policy decision-making, with the Prime Minister as Chairman and Chief Ministers as members. It was effectively replaced once the Planning Commission gave way to NITI Aayog.
Why the other options are wrong
- (A) 1947 marks independence, but the NDC was not created at independence; it was established on 6 August 1952.
- (C) 1955 is too late because the NDC had already been set up by Government of India resolution in August 1952.
- (D) 1950 does not match the NDC's 1952 year of establishment.
Concept
This tests the institutional framework of Indian planning and Centre-State coordination in the Planning Commission era. It recurs in RAS because development planning bodies, their composition and their chronology are standard Indian Economy and Polity overlap areas.