Its aim was to assist the Prime Minister in achieving and monitoring missions and goals.
The NAC was set up on 4 June 2004 by prime minister Manmohan Singh, during the tenure of the first UPA government.
The concept of a NAC has been criticized by opposition parties and some scholars as not being in keeping with India's constitution, describing it as an alternative cabinet.
[6][7][8][9] The NAC also finalized draft recommendations for a mandatory pre-legislative consultative process which led some to believe that constituted members of parliament are less important.
The council ceased to exist when the BJP government took office after the 2014 Indian general elections.