National Development Council

The National Development Council (NDC) was set up on 6 August, 1952 by an executive order of the government with the following three objectives:

a) to strengthen and mobilise the effort and resources of the nation in support of the national development plans;

b) to promote common economic policies in all vital spheres, and

c) to ensure the balanced and rapid development of all parts of the country.


The functions of the NDC are:

a) to review the working of the National Plan from time to time;

b) to consider important questions of social and economic policy affecting national development; and

c) to recommend measures for the achievement of the aims and targets set out in the National Plan.

The NDC initially comprised of the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Ministers of all States and the Members of the Planning Commission.


In the first meeting of the NDC held on 8-9 November 1952, Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru, Prime Minister of India and Chairman of the NDC stated that NDC is essentially a forum for intimate cooperation between the State Governments and the Central Government for all the tasks of national development.

Considering the recommendations of the Administrative Reforms Commission the NDC was reconstituted and its functions redefined by its resolution dated 7 October, 1967.


The reconstituted NDC comprise of the Prime Minister, all Union Cabinet Ministers, Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories and the Members of the Planning Commission. Delhi Administration is represented in the Council by the Lt. Governor and the Chief Executive Councillor, and the remaining Union Territories by their respective Administrators. Other Union Ministers and State Ministers may also be invited to participate in the deliberations of the council.

The revised functions of the NDC are:

a) To prescribe guidelines for the formulation of the National Plan, including the assessment of resources for the plan;

b) to consider the National Plan as formulated by the Planning Commission;

c) to consider important questions of social and economic policy affecting national development;

d) to review the working of the Plan from item to time and to recommend such measures as are necessary for achieving the aims and targets set out in the National Plan, including measures to secure the active participation and co-operation of the people, improve the efficiency of the administrative services, ensure the development of the less advanced regions and sections of the community and through sacrifice borne equally by all citizens, build up resources for national development.

In the reconstituted Council, the Secretary of the Planning Commission act as Secretary to the NDC and the Planning Commission is expected to furnish such administrative or other assistance for the work of the Council as may be needed.

So far 56 meetings of the NDC have been held. The last meeting of the National Development Council was held on 22nd October, 2011 to consider the Approach to the Twelfth Plan.

Setting up of the NDC may be regarded as one of the most significant steps taken for promoting understanding and consultation between the Union and the State Governments on planning and common economic policies.