In the context of the Indian government’s institutional framework, the former Planning Commission of India was classified as which type of body?

Introduction / Context:
Before it was replaced by the NITI Aayog, the Planning Commission of India played a major role in framing Five Year Plans and advising the government on development strategies. Competitive examinations often ask about its legal status, because that determines how it was created and what kind of authority it had. This question focuses on whether the Planning Commission was constitutional, statutory, or non statutory in nature.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question is about the formal classification of the Planning Commission of India.
- The options include constitutional, independent autonomous, statutory, and non statutory advisory bodies.
- Constitutional bodies are created in the Constitution itself; statutory bodies are created by Acts of Parliament; non statutory bodies can be set up by government resolutions or executive orders.
- We assume the status of the Planning Commission before its replacement.

Concept / Approach:
The Planning Commission was established in 1950 by a resolution of the Government of India, not by the Constitution and not by a specific Act of Parliament. It functioned as an advisory body on planning and development, with the Prime Minister as its chairperson. Because it was created by executive action rather than legislation or constitutional provision, it is classified as a non statutory body. It had influence through its role in formulating plans, but it was not a constitutional or independent autonomous authority.

Step by Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that constitutional bodies like the Election Commission or the Comptroller and Auditor General are mentioned explicitly in the Constitution. Step 2: Remember that statutory bodies like the National Human Rights Commission are created by Acts of Parliament. Step 3: The Planning Commission was set up by a Government of India resolution in March 1950, which makes it a non statutory body. Step 4: Option D correctly states that it was a non statutory advisory body created by a government resolution. Step 5: Options A and C mistakenly assign constitutional or statutory status, which the Planning Commission did not have. Step 6: Option B suggests complete independence and full autonomy, which is not accurate because it functioned under the overall authority of the central government.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official historical notes and standard Indian polity textbooks state that the Planning Commission was an extra constitutional body, meaning it was neither mentioned in the Constitution nor directly created by an Act of Parliament. It was established by a simple resolution of the Government of India. This clearly places it in the category of non statutory bodies. Its recommendations were influential but advisory in nature, and it did not have the constitutional protection that some other bodies enjoy. This confirms that option D is the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option A is wrong because the Planning Commission does not appear in the text of the Constitution of India and therefore cannot be a constitutional body.
Option B is wrong because, although it had some functional autonomy, it was not fully independent of the central government and was chaired by the Prime Minister; it was not an autonomous constitutional authority.
Option C is wrong because there is no single Act of Parliament called the Planning Commission Act creating it; it was formed by executive resolution.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the importance of an institution with its legal status. Because the Planning Commission played a major role in national planning, some assume it must be a constitutional or statutory body. Another pitfall is to associate any long standing institution automatically with legislation. Remember that many important bodies can be extra constitutional and non statutory. In examination questions, the key phrase to look for with the Planning Commission is non statutory advisory body created by government resolution.

Final Answer:
A non statutory advisory body created by a government resolution.