Non-Constitutional Bodies: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Polity)

Explanation

The North Eastern Council (NEC) is not a constitutional body but a statutory organization established under the North Eastern Council Act, 1971, as amended in 2002. Initially, NEC was an Advisory Body for the North Eastern Region (NER). NEC’s composition was revised by the North Eastern Council (Amendment) Act, 2002. After the amendment:

Option 1 is correct: The Governors of the eight North Eastern States are members of the NEC.

Option 2 is correct: The Chief Ministers of the eight North Eastern States are also members of the NEC.

Option 3 is correct: The President nominates three members to the NEC.

Option 4 is incorrect: The Union Home Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of the NEC but is not considered a member under Section 3 of the Act.

Explanation

Statement 1 is correct: QCI was established jointly by the Government of India and Indian industry associations-- ASSOCHAM, CII, and FICCI--to set up a national accreditation structure and drive the National Quality Campaign.

Statement 2 is correct: The Chairman of QCI is appointed by the Prime Minister, based on recommendations from the industry to the government. The Council governing QCI consists of 38 members, equally representing the government, industry, and other stakeholders. The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, serves as the nodal ministry for QCI.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: It is constituted by the President under Article 280 to give its recommendations on the distribution of tax revenues between the Union and the States. It defines the financial relations between the Centre and the States. Therefore, it is not directly associated with "Planning" in the traditional sense.

Statement 2 is correct: Earlier, NDC served as "the highest decision-making authority" in the country on development matters. NDC used to advise the Planning Commission on planning.

Statement 3 is incorrect: The Union Ministry of Rural Development is entrusted with the task of accelerating the socio-economic development of rural India.

Statement 4 is incorrect: The Union Ministry of Urban Development is entrusted with the formulation and administration of the rules and regulations and laws relating to the housing and urban development in India.

Statement 5 is correct: Parliament is the supreme legislative institution of the Republic of India. It is directly responsible to make laws and devise plans and strategies for the welfare of the society. Therefore, it is indirectly associated with planning.

Explanation

Statement 1 is incorrect: National Development Council (NDC) and Planning Commission (PC) have been abolished now. NDC was an advisory body and used to advise the Planning Commission on planning and included all CMs and union ministers etc.

Statement 2 is correct: The Economic and Social Planning is kept in the Concurrent List in the Constitution of India.

Statement 3 is correct: Preparation of plans and implementation of plans for economic development and social justice are one of the major powers and functions that comes under Panchayat Raj Institution.

Explanation

NDC comprises the Prime Minister, all the Union Cabinet Ministers, the Chief Ministers of all States and Union Territories and the Members of the Planning Commission. It does not include the chairman of the Finance Commission.

Explanation

The National Development Council, the Planning Commission and the Zonal Councils do not find its mention in the Constitution. They are the Non-Constitutional Bodies. Few details about the same are as follows:

National Development Council (NDC) was set up on 6 August, 1952 by an executive order of the government. It served as "the highest decision-making authority" in the country on development matters. The National Development Council used to advise the Planning Commission on planning. Currently, there is no existence of NDC and Planning Commission, it has been replaced by NITI AAYOG. The Planning Commission of India was set up by a Resolution of the Government of India in March 1950. The Zonal Councils are the statutory (and not the constitutional) bodies. They are established by an Act of the Parliament, that is, the States Reorganisation Act of 1956. The act divided the country into five zones-Northern, Central, Eastern, Western and Southern and provided a zonal council for each zone.