Public Administration || Paper 2 || Plan and Priorities

Planning in India

1.   Multi-level

2.   Multi-stage

3.   Multi-agency

Planning Commission

1.   Commission because it requires Division of Labour.

2.   Union Govt. had a direct control.

3.   With PM as the chairperson.

4.   It also had a Deputy chairperson of cabinet rank, permanent and non-permanent members.

5.   Criticized for the domination of PM, bypassing of cabinet and absence of proper accountability mechanism.

National Development council (NDC)

1.   Came up in 1952, two years after the PC.

2.   As it was felt that participation from States is quintessential

3.   Members of PC and the Chief Ministers and other Ministers from States.

4.   Mandate was Socio-economic developmental issues.

Process of Planning

1.   Approach Paper

2.   Draft Plan

3.   Working Groups

4.   Sectoral Plans

5.   State Plans comprising of all sectoral plans

6.   National Plan comprising of all State plans

7.   Final Plan Document

8.   Public Scrutiny.

Decentralized Planning

1.   In 1962, PC suggested State Planning Boards whereas some states already had State Planning departments.

2.   1^st ARC recommended District Planning cells.

3.   Similar recommendations from the Dattwala Committee and the Hanumatharao Working Group.

Criticism of Planning

1.   Centralized nature

2.   PC as the Agency of the PM.

3.   Political interference

4.   Overshadowed the Finance Commission (Art 280)

5.   Promoted vertical federalism.

6.   No direct accountability.

Need for Planning?

1.   Marginalized Sections need attention

2.   Sustainable development;

3.   Spatial planning;

4.   Balanced regional development;

5.   Strategic vision;

6.   Social infrastructure;

7.   Attracting foreign investments.