NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL

The National Advisory Council (NAC) of India is an advisory body set up to monitor the implementation of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP). It is a brainchild of Congress party president, Sonia Gandhi and informally called as UPA's Planning Commission for social agenda. NAC is also called as Shadow Cabinet. 

NAC was set up by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during UPA-1 on 4 june 2004 with Smt. Sonia Gandhi as its Chairperson. She holds the rank and status of Union Cabinet Minister.

The task of the National Advisory Council (NAC) is to provide inputs in the formulation of policy by the Government and to provide support to the Government in its legislative business. In the discharge of its functions, thus the NAC place a special focus on social policy and the rights of the disadvantaged groups.

The NAC comprises distinguished professionals drawn from diverse fields of development activity like Agriculture, social sector, education etc who serve in their individual capacities.

NAC Chairperson and Members term and salary

The salary, allowances and other terms and conditions of the Chairperson and members shall be such as the Government may by order specify from time to time.The Chairperson of the National Advisory Council shall be entitled to the same salary, pay, allowances and other facilities to which a member of the Union Council of Minister is entitled.

The term of the members of the National Advisory Council shall be for a period of one year with effect from the date of their appointment which may be extended. Members shall draw such salary and allowances and the Central Government may by order determine from time to time.

NAC Focus areas

There are so many focus areas of NAC but some important are below:

• Natural resource management, including revitalization of agriculture;
• Development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes;
• Welfare of minorities;
• Poverty elimination and employment generation;
• Land rights and land reforms;
• Right to education to disadvantaged children;
• Health security and medical insurance;
• Social security and safety net for the disadvantaged groups;
• Urban poverty;
• Development of the northeast;
• Special Component plan for Scheduled Castes and the tribal sub-plan for Scheduled Tribes.

Criticisms

The NAC has been criticized by opposition parties and scholars as not in keeping with India's constitution, and that it would emerge as an alternative, cabinet. However there's an alternative view which states that the NAC could deepen democracy by facilitating greater pre-legislative/pre-policy consultation.

The NAC has been sending off letters to the prime minister, signed by Sonia Gandhi. Given the power equations, he would have to treat the suggestions seriously even if many of them are not implementable. She and the council have access to all the cabinet papers and files. This is a departure from the conventions governing a cabinet system.

It is like a form of parallel power centre which is governing the country without transparency and accountability and even today it diminishing the role of Planning Commission.