In the context of Indian governance, the Prime Minister of India is regarded as the de facto head of which of the following national level bodies: (I) NITI Aayog, (II) National Integration Council, and (III) Indian Board of Wildlife?

Introduction / Context:
This question checks understanding of how key national bodies in India are led and who exercises real decision making authority. In practice, many important councils and commissions are chaired by the Prime Minister, who acts as their de facto head. Here, the focus is on three specific bodies that candidates must distinguish clearly, namely NITI Aayog, the National Integration Council and the Indian Board of Wildlife, also known as the National Board for Wildlife. Knowing which of these are headed by the Prime Minister is useful for examinations on polity, public administration and general studies.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- Body I is NITI Aayog, the National Institution for Transforming India. - Body II is the National Integration Council, which addresses issues of communal harmony and integration. - Body III is the Indian Board of Wildlife, also called the National Board for Wildlife. - The question asks about the de facto head, which in these cases corresponds to the official chairperson.

Concept / Approach:
The approach is to recall the official composition of each body and identify who chairs it. NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission and is chaired by the Prime Minister. The National Integration Council is an advisory body created to promote national unity and is also chaired by the Prime Minister. The National Board for Wildlife is a high level body for wildlife conservation and environmental protection, where the Prime Minister again serves as ex officio chairperson. Once we confirm that all three are chaired by the Prime Minister, we can select the correct combined option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that NITI Aayog is the premier policy think tank of the Union Government and that the Prime Minister is its chairperson. Step 2: Remember that the National Integration Council was constituted to deal with issues of communalism, casteism and regionalism, and its chair is the Prime Minister of India. Step 3: Note that the Indian Board of Wildlife, formally the National Board for Wildlife, has the Prime Minister as its ex officio chairperson, with the Environment Minister as vice chairperson. Step 4: Since the Prime Minister heads all three bodies, the de facto head for I, II and III is the same person, namely the Prime Minister. Step 5: Therefore, among the options, the only correct choice is the one that lists all I, II and III together.

Verification / Alternative check:
As a quick check, one can consult standard polity notes which summarise the positions held by the Prime Minister. These notes usually list that the Prime Minister chairs NITI Aayog, the National Integration Council, the Inter State Council and the National Board for Wildlife. Since all three bodies mentioned in the question appear in that list, it confirms that the Prime Minister is their de facto head. In many exam explanations, the correct answer is therefore given as the option that includes all three institutions together.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Only I: This option wrongly ignores the Prime Minister role in the National Integration Council and National Board for Wildlife, both of which are also chaired by the Prime Minister.
Only II: This option recognises the role in the National Integration Council but incorrectly excludes NITI Aayog and the National Board for Wildlife, where the Prime Minister is also the chairperson.
Both II and III: This option omits NITI Aayog, even though the Prime Minister is the ex officio chairperson there as well, so it does not fully capture the set of bodies headed by the Prime Minister.

Common Pitfalls:
A common error is to confuse bodies chaired by the Prime Minister with those chaired by the President or other ministers. Students sometimes think that NITI Aayog might be headed by a separate technocrat or by the Finance Minister, which is not correct. Others may remember that the National Integration Council involves many chief ministers and thus wrongly assume that it is chaired by the President. There can also be confusion between the Indian Board of Wildlife and other environment related committees where different ministers preside. To avoid these mistakes, it helps to remember one simple rule: several major inter governmental councils and high level planning bodies in India, including NITI Aayog, the National Integration Council and the National Board for Wildlife, are chaired by the Prime Minister.

Final Answer:
The Prime Minister of India serves as the de facto head of all three bodies, so the correct choice is All I, II and III.