Recently the Delhi High Court quashed proceedings initiated by the Lokpal against Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh in a case related to alleged irregularities in promotions at the National Productivity Council (NPC).

• Singh contended that the Lokpal’s actions exceeded its statutory powers, as the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 restricts its jurisdiction to cases involving corruption or offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act 2013.

About National Productivity Council (NPC)

• Overview: The NPC was established in 1958 and operates as an autonomous body under the Department for Promotion of Industry & Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
• Organisation Type: NPC is a multipartite, non-profit organization with equal representation from employers’ and workers’ organizations, the Government, as well as technical and professional institutions and other stakeholders.
• Headquarters: The NPC is based in New Delhi.
• NPC is a member of the Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an inter-governmental body based in Tokyo, of which the Government of India is a founding member.
• Governance: The Governing Body (GB) is responsible for regulating the rules and regulations of the National Productivity Council (NPC).
  • The GB consists of 12 members 
    • Chairman, nominated by the Government of India.
    • Director General.
    • 2 Members each represent Government of India, Employers & Chambers of Commerce & Industry and Trade Unions/Workers, 3 Members
      representing technical organizations & institutions/emerging areas/Industry/Agriculture/Academia etc and 1 member representing Local Productivity Organizations.
• Network: NPC has a network of 13 regional offices and five specialized centres across the country, focusing on areas like agriculture, energy, environment, industrial engineering, quality management, and human resource development.
• Objectives:
  • Promote Productivity Culture: The NPC aims to raise awareness about productivity, especially focusing on concepts and techniques that strengthen the microeconomic foundations of economic development, particularly through organizational practices and strategies.
  • Government Think Tank: NPC acts as a think tank for the Government, advising on policy formulations related to industrial growth, technological advancement, and efficient use of resources.
  • Financial Sustainability: NPC aims to generate its own financial resources to ensure self-sustaining operations on a long-term basis.

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• Functions:
  • Productivity Research: Conducting studies on productivity issues and providing actionable insights to industries and government bodies.
  • Training & Development: Offering training programs, workshops, and seminars on productivity enhancement, quality management, and lean manufacturing techniques.
  • Benchmarking: Providing benchmarking services to measure and compare productivity performance across industries.
  • Consultancy Services: Assisting organizations in management improvement, quality control, and resource optimization.
  • National Productivity Awards: Administering the National Productivity Awards to recognize and encourage organizations excelling in productivity improvements.

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