Question

The ex-officio Chairman of National Development Council

• A. Prime Minister
• B. President
• C. Vice President
• D. Speaker

Hint:

- National Development Council (NDC): Established in 1952 as an apex body for development planning. - Ex-officio Chairman: Prime Minister of India. - Composition: Included PM, Union Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of States, Administrators of UTs, Members of NITI Aayog (formerly Planning Commission). - Function: 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 NDC's relevance has diminished with the advent of NITI Aayog.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the National Development Council (NDC).
The National Development Council (NDC) or Rashtriya Vikas Parishad was an apex body for decision making and deliberations on development matters in India, presided over by the Prime Minister.
It was established in August 1952.
Its functions included reviewing the working of the National Plan from time to time, considering important questions of social and economic policy affecting national development, and recommending measures for the achievement of the aims and targets set out in the National Plan.

Step 2: Identify its ex-officio Chairman.
The Prime Minister of India is the ex-officio Chairman of the National Development Council.
Other members typically included all Union Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of all States, representatives of Union Territories, and members of the NITI Aayog (formerly Planning Commission).

Step 3: Evaluate the options.
Option (1) Prime Minister: This is the correct ex-officio Chairman.
Option (2) President: The constitutional head of the state, not the chairman of NDC.
Option (3) Vice President: Ex-officio Chairman of Rajya Sabha, not NDC.
Option (4) Speaker: Presiding officer of Lok Sabha, not chairman of NDC.

Step 4: Confirm the Chairman.
The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the National Development Council.
Note: With the establishment of NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) in 2015, which replaced the Planning Commission, the role and functioning of the NDC have become less prominent, and it has not met for several years.
However, historically and formally, the PM was its head.
This matches option (1).