In the institutional framework of India, who serves as the Chairperson of the National Integration Council?

Introduction / Context:
The National Integration Council (NIC) is an important advisory body in India that addresses issues of communal harmony, casteism, regionalism, and threats to national unity. Knowledge of who chairs such high level councils is frequently tested in exams on Indian polity and governance. This question focuses on identifying the ex officio Chairperson of the National Integration Council.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The body mentioned is the National Integration Council of India.
- The options include top constitutional functionaries such as the President, Vice President, Prime Minister, Chief Justice of India, and Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
- The council is headed by one particular functionary who presides over its meetings and provides overall direction.

Concept / Approach:
The National Integration Council was set up to deliberate on issues affecting national integration and communal harmony. By convention and design, it is chaired by the Prime Minister of India. This reflects the political and administrative responsibility of the elected head of government to lead efforts that promote social cohesion and unity. The President and Vice President are constitutional heads with different roles, while the Chief Justice and Speaker have judicial and legislative functions respectively and do not head this particular council.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the nature of the National Integration Council as a high level advisory and deliberative body dealing with national unity and communal harmony. Step 2: Recall that such councils linked to governance and policy deliberation are often chaired by the head of government rather than the head of state. Step 3: Remember that in India, the head of government is the Prime Minister, who presides over the Union Council of Ministers and many inter governmental and national level councils. Step 4: Check that the President usually acts as the constitutional head and is not typically the chairperson of policy councils like the NIC. Step 5: Conclude that the ex officio Chairperson of the National Integration Council is the Prime Minister of India.

Verification / Alternative check:
One can verify by checking standard Indian polity references or government documents which state that the NIC is chaired by the Prime Minister. Past meetings of the NIC are reported in official press releases that explicitly mention the Prime Minister presiding over the sessions, which confirms this role.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The President of India: Functions as the constitutional head of state and does not usually chair councils like the NIC, which are geared toward policy and coordination under the executive government.
The Vice President of India: Serves primarily as the ex officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha and does not chair the National Integration Council.
The Chief Justice of India: Heads the judiciary and the Supreme Court, maintaining independence from the executive, and therefore does not preside over the NIC.
The Speaker of the Lok Sabha: Presides over the lower House of Parliament and manages legislative proceedings, not the NIC.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that because the council deals with national integration, it must be chaired by the President, who is often seen as the symbol of the nation. Another pitfall is confusing roles in the separation of powers, such as thinking the judiciary or legislature might head such a body. Remembering that most executive councils and committees are chaired by the Prime Minister is a useful rule of thumb.

Final Answer:
The Chairperson of the National Integration Council is the Prime Minister of India.