The supreme governing body of the Institute is the General Council (GC). The Vice Chairman, NITI Aayog, functions as the President of the General Council. A Member of NITI Aayog is the Vice President of the GC. The GC besides the Chief Executive Officer, NITI Aayog and Director-General, NILERD consists of representatives from various Ministries/Departments of the Central Government, autonomous institutions, user organizations, NILERD Faculty, etc. The GC normally meets once a year and approves the work programme, annual report and annual accounts of the Institute. It also appoints the auditors of the Institute.