Five-Year Plans in India are finally approved by the—

In India, the Five-Year Plans were formulated by the Planning Commission but required final approval from the National Development Council (NDC) [c1][t2]. Established on August 6, 1952, the NDC was created to ensure cooperation between the Centre and the States, making the plans nationally acceptable [c1][t3]. While the Planning Commission acted as an advisory body whose recommendations became effective upon Union Cabinet approval, the NDC served as the highest body for the final sanction of these national programs [c4][t7]. The NDC is headed by the Prime Minister and includes Union Cabinet Ministers and Chief Ministers of all states [t2]. The last such approval occurred during the 57th meeting of the NDC in 2012 for the 12th Five-Year Plan [c2]. Although the Planning Commission has been replaced by NITI Aayog, the historical authority for final approval of Five-Year Plans remains the NDC [c2][t4].

Sources

1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 38: Developments under Nehru’s Leadership (1947-64) > Concept of Planning for Economic Development > p. 645
2. [2] https://ebooks.inflibnet.ac.in/mgmtp12/chapter/five-year-plans-in-india/
3. [3] Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Politics of Planned Development > Planning Commission > p. 48
4. [4] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 56: NITI Aayog > TNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT l COUNCIL > p. 472
5. [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planning_Commission_(India)