Question 1

In which year was the First Five Year Plan of India launched?

Accepted Answer

The First Five Year Plan was launched on 1st April 1951 and ran until 1956. It was based on the Harrod-Domar model and focused on agricultural development and irrigation.

Question 2

Which Five Year Plan is known as the 'Plan of Socialistic Pattern of Society'?

Accepted Answer

The Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961) is known as the 'Plan of Socialistic Pattern of Society'. It was based on the Mahalanobis model and emphasized rapid industrialization and the development of heavy industries.

Question 3

NITI Aayog was established to replace which institution?

Accepted Answer

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on 1st January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. It was created to serve as a think tank and policy advisory body for the Government of India.

Question 4

Which Five Year Plan introduced the concept of 'Inclusive Growth'?

Accepted Answer

The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012) introduced the concept of 'Inclusive Growth' as its central theme. It aimed to ensure that the benefits of economic growth reach all sections of society, particularly the poor and marginalized.

Question 5

In which year was NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) established to replace the Planning Commission?

Accepted Answer

NITI Aayog was formally established on January 1, 2015, by the Government of India to replace the Planning Commission. It was created as a think tank and policy advisory body to formulate long-term and medium-term policies and programs for India's development.

Question 6

In which year was the First Five Year Plan of India launched, and which economist is credited as its chief architect?

Accepted Answer

The First Five Year Plan was launched in 1951 and was based on the Harrod-Domar growth model. PC Mahalanobis was the chief architect and statistician who designed India's Five Year Plans, emphasizing heavy industrialization and self-reliance.

Question 7

Which Five Year Plan introduced the concept of 'Inclusive Growth' as a central theme in India's development strategy?

Accepted Answer

The Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007–2012) explicitly adopted 'Inclusive Growth' as its central theme, focusing on equitable distribution of growth benefits across all sections of society, particularly the poor and marginalized.

Question 8

NITI Aayog was established to replace which planning body, and in which year did this transition occur?

Accepted Answer

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established on 1 January 2015 to replace the Planning Commission, which had existed since 1950. This marked a shift from centralized planning to cooperative federalism.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT a function of NITI Aayog as per its mandate?

Accepted Answer

NITI Aayog's primary functions include policy formulation, research, cooperative federalism, and monitoring. However, it does NOT have the power to directly allocate budgets or control government spending—that remains with the Ministry of Finance and Parliament.

Question 10

The Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012–2017) set a target GDP growth rate of approximately what percentage?

Accepted Answer

The Twelfth Five Year Plan aimed for a GDP growth rate of approximately 8% per annum. This target was set during a period of global economic slowdown and reflected India's development aspirations while accounting for external constraints.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about NITI Aayog is INCORRECT?

Accepted Answer

NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India) was established in 2015 to replace the Planning Commission. It functions as a policy think tank and advisory body, NOT as an executive or budgetary authority like the Planning Commission was.

Question 12

Which Five Year Plan introduced the concept of 'Inclusive Growth' as its primary objective, and in which year was it launched?

Accepted Answer

The 11th Five Year Plan (2007-2012) was the first to explicitly adopt 'Inclusive Growth' as its central theme, aiming to ensure that growth benefits reach all sections of society, particularly the poor and marginalized.

Question 13

The 12th Five Year Plan (2012-2017) targeted an average GDP growth rate of what percentage, and which sector was identified as the primary driver for achieving this target?

Accepted Answer

The 12th Five Year Plan aimed for an average GDP growth rate of 8% per annum. The manufacturing sector, particularly through the 'Make in India' initiative (launched in 2014), was identified as the key driver for achieving this growth target, along with infrastructure development.

Question 14

Under NITI Aayog's governance structure, who serves as the Vice-Chairperson, and what is the primary distinction between NITI Aayog and the erstwhile Planning Commission in terms of advisory role?

Accepted Answer

The Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Government and typically holds the rank of a senior bureaucrat (Cabinet Secretary or equivalent). Unlike the Planning Commission, which was a statutory body with mandatory planning authority, NITI Aayog functions as a think tank and advisory body without binding planning authority, focusing on policy research and implementation support.

Question 15

Which Five Year Plan introduced the concept of 'Sustainable Development' as an explicit planning objective, and what was the primary environmental focus of this plan?

Accepted Answer

The 10th Five Year Plan (2002-2007) was the first to explicitly incorporate 'Sustainable Development' as a core planning objective. The plan emphasized environmental conservation, renewable energy, and balancing economic growth with ecological sustainability, particularly focusing on water resources, forests, and biodiversity.

SSC GD Constable Five Year Plans & NITI Aayog

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Five Year Plans & NITI Aayog — Practice Questions

60-Second Revision — Five Year Plans & NITI Aayog