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The highest body that approves Five-Year Plans in India is
Explanation
The National Development Council (NDC) is the highest body responsible for the final approval of Five-Year Plans in India [3]. While the Planning Commission was tasked with formulating the plans and supervising national planning [4], its recommendations only became effective after approval by the Union Cabinet and subsequent final endorsement by the NDC [4]. Established on August 6, 1952, the NDC serves as an apex authority to ensure a federal approach to planning, comprising the Prime Minister, Union Cabinet Ministers, and Chief Ministers of all states [3]. The NDC's role was to build national consensus on development policies and monitor plan implementation [5]. Although the Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015 and the NDC has been proposed for abolition, it remains the historical apex body for Five-Year Plan approval [3].
Sources
- [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
- [3] Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 56: NITI Aayog > TNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT l COUNCIL > p. 472
- [2] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > REGIONAL DIMENSIONS OF PLANNING IN INDIA > p. 12
- [4] 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
- [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Development_Council_(India)