Prelims 2013 · archive
MediumConsider the following statements:
- 1.The National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission.
- 2.The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.
- 3.The Constitution of India prescribes that Panchayats should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) 2 and 3 only
Statement 1 is wrong because the National Development Council (NDC) was a separate body that the Union government set up in 1952, not a part of the Planning Commission. Statements 2 and 3 are correct. Economic and social planning is Entry 20 of the Concurrent List. Article 243G deals with Panchayats preparing plans for economic development and social justice.
- ✗ 1. The NDC was set up in August 1952 by a Government of India resolution. It was a separate forum of the Prime Minister, Union Ministers, Chief Ministers and Planning Commission members, and it reviewed the Plans. It was not an organ of the Commission.
- ✓ 2. Entry 20 of the Concurrent List (List III, Seventh Schedule) is 'Economic and social planning'. Both Parliament and State legislatures can make laws on it. The Union used this entry to constitute the Planning Commission in 1950 and the NDC in 1952.
- ✓ 3. Article 243G (Part IX, inserted by the 73rd Amendment) lets State laws devolve to Panchayats the 'preparation of plans for economic development and social justice'. It also covers implementing such schemes, including those on matters in the Eleventh Schedule.
Remember · Concurrent List Entry 20 is economic and social planning. Article 243G gives Panchayats planning for economic development and social justice. The NDC (1952) was a separate body created by a Government of India resolution, not part of the Planning Commission.
Sources
- Economic Advisory Council to the PM – Enumeration of Legislative Powers in India ↗ “Entry 20 of the concurrent list relates to economic and social planning. Under this entry, the union government constituted the Planning Commission in 1950 and National Development Council in 1952.”
- Constitution of India, Part IX The Panchayats, Article 243G (State Election Commission, Maharashtra copy) ↗ “the devolution of powers and responsibilities upon Panchayats at the appropriate level; subject to such conditions as may be specified therein, with respect to - a. the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice”
- IGNOU eGyanKosh, Unit 9: Planning Commission and National Development Council ↗ · reference work “The National Development Council was set up in August 1952 on the basis of a resolution of the Government of India.”
Question: UPSC Civil Services (Preliminary) 2013, General Studies paper. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 25 Oct 2026 (how we verify). ·