Question map
With reference to Financial Stability and Development Council', consider the following statements : 1. It is an organ of NITI Aayog. 2. It is headed by the Union Finance Minister. 3. It monitors macroprudential supervision of the economy. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation
The correct answer is option C (statements 2 and 3 only).
The Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) was set up by the Government of India as the apex-level forum in December 2010[2], making statement 1 incorrect – it is **not** an organ of NITI Aayog but an independent body established by the government.
The Chairperson of the FSDC is the Finance Minister of India[3], confirming that statement 2 is correct.
FSDC deals with issues relating to macroprudential supervision of the economy including the functioning of large financial conglomerates[4], which validates statement 3 as correct.
The Council's members include the heads of financial sector Regulators (RBI, SEBI, PFRDA, IRDA), Chairperson of IBBI, Chief Economic Advisor and secretaries from relevant ministries[2], emphasizing its role as an inter-regulatory coordination body focused on financial stability rather than being part of NITI Aayog's structure. Therefore, only statements 2 and 3 are correct.
Sources- [1] https://www.indiabudget.gov.in/budget2016-2017/es2015-16/echapter-vol2.pdf
- [2] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 3: Money and Banking - Part II > 3.4 Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) > p. 133
- [3] https://dea.gov.in/files/annual_reports_documents/Annual_Report_English.pdf
- [4] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 3: Money and Banking - Part II > 3.4 Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) > p. 133
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Institutional Architecture' question. The examiner tests your clarity on the parentage and leadership of major bodies. The trap in Statement 1 (linking FSDC to NITI Aayog) is a standard 'Wrong Parent' swap. If you know the Chairman is the Finance Minister, the link to NITI Aayog (chaired by PM) breaks immediately.
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Statement 1: Is the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) an organ of NITI Aayog?
- Statement 2: Is the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) headed by the Union Finance Minister of India?
- Statement 3: Does the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) monitor macroprudential supervision of the Indian economy?
- Explicitly states FSDC was set up by the Government of India as an apex-level forum.
- Says FSDC is under the chairmanship of the Union Finance Minister, indicating it is part of the finance/government apparatus, not NITI Aayog.
- Identifies the Finance Minister as the Chairperson of the FSDC.
- Lists members as Ministers, heads of financial regulators and Secretaries of relevant Ministries — showing FSDC is a government/regulatory forum, not an organ of NITI Aayog.
- States the FSDC Secretariat is provided by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance.
- Names the Additional Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs as Secretary of the Council, reinforcing that FSDC is anchored in the Finance Ministry.
Describes FSDC as an apex forum set up by the Government (gazette notification), non-statutory, chaired by the Finance Minister with members from financial regulators and finance/IT/Corporate Affairs secretaries.
A student could use this to note the FSDC's origin, leadership and membership and compare them with NITI Aayog's leadership/membership to see if FSDC is organised under NITI or is a separate executive forum.
Explains NITI Aayog's establishment (executive resolution) and that it is a non-constitutional, non-statutory body, created as successor to the Planning Commission.
One can combine this with FSDC's creation method to check whether FSDC was created as part of NITI (same resolution) or separately by a different notification.
Lists that NITI Aayog has explicitly named an attached office and an autonomous body (NI LERD and DMEO), showing NITI's practice of formally listing its subordinate/attached organisations.
A student could look for FSDC in similar lists (or absence from them) to infer whether FSDC is formally an organ/attached body of NITI Aayog.
States NITI Aayog is a policy think-tank, non-statutory, that provides strategic/technical advice to the Central Government (describes its functional character).
Using this, one could ask whether FSDC's described role (financial stability forum with regulator heads) fits within a typical advisory think-tank organ or is a separate inter-regulatory council, suggesting organisational independence.
Summarises NITI Aayog functions and internal structure (verticals/cells for sectoral issues), implying that bodies under NITI are organised as specific verticals, attached offices or autonomous bodies.
A student could check whether FSDC is described as one of NITI's verticals/cells or attached bodies; absence would be evidence against FSDC being an organ of NITI.
- Explicitly states the Chairman of the Council is the finance minister.
- Describes FSDC as the apex forum set up by the Government (context supports that 'finance minister' is the central head).
- Lists membership (heads of regulators and senior officials) consistent with an apex council chaired by a Union minister.
- Explicitly lists 'Macro prudential supervision of the economy' as an FSDC responsibility.
- Mentions oversight of 'large financial conglomerates', which is a macroprudential concern.
- States the RBI's Financial Stability Report reflects assessment of the FSDC sub-committee on risks to financial stability.
- Implying FSDC (via its sub-committee) monitors systemic risks and thus contributes to macroprudential supervision.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Covered in every standard Economy text (Vivek Singh, Singhania, Ramesh Singh) under 'Financial Regulators' or 'Banking'.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Financial Regulatory Bodies & Inter-regulatory Coordination (Post-2008 Crisis Architecture).
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Council Chairmen': GST Council (FM), Inter-State Council (PM), NDC (PM), Zonal Councils (Home Minister). Crucial distinction: FSDC is chaired by FM, but the FSDC Sub-Committee is chaired by the RBI Governor.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Create a 'Body-Chairman-Status' matrix. For every body (FSDC, GSTC, NITI), map: 1. Statutory/Executive? 2. PM vs FM vs HM? 3. Year of formation. The 'NITI Aayog' option was a chronology trap (FSDC came in 2010, NITI in 2015).
References state FSDC is not a statutory body and NITI Aayog is non-constitutional and non-statutory, which is central to judging institutional relationships.
High-yield for UPSC governance questions: distinguishing how bodies are created (executive resolution, statute, or Constitution) determines powers, accountability and hierarchy. Helps answer questions on institutional design, oversight and legal status. Prepare by memorising examples (e.g., FSDC, NITI Aayog) and the implications of each status.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 3: Money and Banking - Part II > 3.4 Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) > p. 133
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 56: NITI Aayog > ESTABLISHMENT > p. 465
Evidence describes FSDC as an apex-level forum set up by the Government, chaired by the finance minister with members from financial regulators — indicating its independent inter-regulatory role rather than being an organ of NITI Aayog.
Useful for GS3 and governance: questions often ask about regulatory architecture, inter-regulatory coordination and institutional roles. Knowing FSDC's purpose and membership helps distinguish it from planning/advisory bodies. Learn by noting mandate, membership and creation mode.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 3: Money and Banking - Part II > 3.4 Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) > p. 133
References describe NITI Aayog as an advisory think-tank with a Governing Council of chief ministers and as non-statutory — relevant to whether other bodies (like FSDC) fall under it.
Frequently tested: differences between Planning Commission and NITI Aayog, their powers and roles in federal governance. Mastering this helps answer questions on cooperative federalism, policy advisory mechanisms and institutional change. Study by comparing functions, composition and examples of attached/autonomous bodies.
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 56: NITI Aayog > FUNCTIONS > p. 468
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 6: Economic Planning in India > NITI AAYOG > p. 143
- Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 56: NITI Aayog > ESTABLISHMENT > p. 465
Reference [1] identifies FSDC's origin (Dec 2010), non‑statutory status, role as apex financial forum, and its member composition.
Understanding the institutional architecture of FSDC is high‑yield for Economy/Governance topics—questions often ask about bodies' statutory status, origin, and membership. It connects to regulation (RBI, SEBI, IRDA, IBBI) and helps answer comparative questions on financial oversight. Study strategy: memorise origin, statutory status, chair and typical members; relate to other financial institutions.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 3: Money and Banking - Part II > 3.4 Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) > p. 133
Reference [1] shows the finance minister chairs FSDC; reference [2] shows the Union Finance Minister chairs the GST Council—indicating a recurring role.
Knowing which central minister chairs key economic councils is frequently tested in prelims and useful in mains answers on governance and fiscal federalism. It links institutional roles across economic governance (e.g., councils vs commissions). Preparation: compile a short table of major councils and their chairpersons (FSDC, GST Council, etc.) and revise regularly.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 3: Money and Banking - Part II > 3.4 Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) > p. 133
- Laxmikanth, M. Indian Polity. 7th ed., McGraw Hill. > Chapter 47: Goods and Services Tax Council > COMPOSITION > p. 434
The statement asks about FSDC's role; reference [1] explicitly names macroprudential supervision as an FSDC function.
High-yield for UPSC questions on financial regulation and stability. Understanding this concept helps answer questions about systemic risk, regulation of conglomerates, and the difference between micro- and macroprudential policies. Prepare by mapping stated institutional responsibilities (like FSDC) to these policy objectives and practising application-style questions on systemic risk management.
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 3: Money and Banking - Part II > 3.4 Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) > p. 133
Reference [2] links the biannual FSR to assessments made by the FSDC sub-committee on financial stability risks.
Useful for questions on monitoring mechanisms and accountability: shows how institutional assessments are produced and disseminated. Master by reviewing the role and frequency of such reports, and how they reflect inter-agency assessments; this enables answering questions on institutional coordination and evidence-based policy.
- Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 7: Money and Banking > MONETARY POLICY REPORT AND FINANCIAL STABILITY REPORT > p. 173
The FSDC Sub-Committee is chaired by the RBI Governor, not the Finance Minister. This is the specific nuance where the next trap lies. Also, the Chairperson of the IBBI (Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board) was added as a member later.
Use 'Chronological Common Sense'. FSDC was set up in 2010 (Raghuram Rajan Committee recommendation era). NITI Aayog was born in 2015. An older body cannot be an 'organ' of a younger body unless explicitly restructured (which wasn't the case). Eliminate Statement 1.
Mains GS-3 (Indian Economy): FSDC is India's institutional response to the Global Financial Crisis (2008) to manage 'Systemic Risk'. It represents the bridge between Fiscal Authority (Govt) and Monetary Authority (RBI) to ensure compliance with global Basel III norms.