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UPSC Prelims 2013 · Polity · Panchayats & Municipalities
Consider the following statements:
- National Development Council is an organ of the Planning Commission.
- The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.
- The Constitution of India prescribes that Panchayats should be assigned the task of preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Show the answer and explanation
Answer: (c) 2 and 3 only
Concurrent List Entry 20 and Art. 243G.
Statement by statement
1. ✗ WRONG The NDC (1952) was a separate executive body chaired by the PM, with all Chief Ministers. It approved the Five-Year Plans; it was not part of the Planning Commission.
2. ✓ CORRECT Entry 20, Concurrent List: “Economic and social planning”.
3. ✓ CORRECT — Art. 243G Art. 243G: States may give Panchayats powers to prepare plans for economic development and social justice.
The idea
Planning bodies were executive: Planning Commission (1950, Cabinet resolution) → NITI Aayog (2015). The NDC has not met since 2014. Constitutional planning roles remain: District Planning Committee (243ZD) and Metropolitan Planning Committee (243ZE).
Why the others are wrong
(a) Keeps only the false statement.
(b) The NDC was never an organ of the Planning Commission.
(d) Statement 1 fails.
The trap
NDC and Planning Commission always appear together in textbooks, so “organ of” sounds right.
🔒 Economic & social planning = Concurrent List (Entry 20) · Panchayat plans = Art. 243G · NDC and Planning Commission = executive, not constitutional.
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