Framework of Planning Commission
- The Prime Minister was the Chairman of the Planning Commission, which used to work under the overall guidance of the National Development Council. The Deputy Chairman and the full-time members of the Commission, as a composite body, provided advice and guidance to the subject Divisions for the formulation of Five Year Plans, Annual Plans, State Plans, Monitoring Plan Programmes, Projects and Schemes.
Members of the Planning Commission
- Chairman – Prime Minister; presided over the meetings of the Commission
- Deputy Chairman – de facto executive head (full-time functional head);
- Was responsible for the formulation and submission of the draft Five-Year Plan to the Central cabinet.
- Was appointed by the Central cabinet for a fixed tenure and enjoyed the rank of a cabinet minister.
- Could attend cabinet meetings without the right to vote.
- Part-time members – Some central ministers
- Ex-officio members – Finance Minister and Planning Minister
The National Development Council (1952)
It 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 6 August 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 Planning Commission. It is an extra-constitutional and non-statutory body.
