About the Topic: Planning Commission is an important Indian Polity topic covering its objectives, functions, Five-Year Plans and replacement by NITI Aayog. Practice MCQ Questions with answers and explanations.
Who among the following has not been the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission in India?
Correct Answer:
(C) P. Chidambaram
P. Chidambaram was never the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, while Dr. Manmohan Singh (1985-1987), Pranab Mukherjee (1991-1996), Montek Singh Ahluwalia (2004-2014) have served as the Deputy Chairmen of Planning Commission.
Ques: 2
Which one of the following statements in not true?
Correct Answer:
(B) Planning Commission is the highest decision-making body for planning in India.
The National Development Council (NDC) is the apex body for decision making and deliberation on development matters in India. It is presided over by Prime Minister. It is comprised of Prime Minister as the Chairman of the Commission, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Chief Ministers, Cabinet Ministers and the Members of the Planning Commission. The other 3 options are true.
Ques: 3
Given below are two statements, one labelled as assertion (A) and the other labelled as Reason (R):
Assertion (A) : Planning Commission has been defi ned as the economic cabinet, not merely for the Union but the States also.
Reason (R) : It formulates the five-year plans for the balanced utilization of natural resources.
In context of the above statements, which one of the following is correct?
Code :
(A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of
(A).
Correct Answer:
(B) .
Ques: 4
The National Development Council (NDC) –
Discusses the progress of the National Plan.
Suggests the ways to achieve the goals of the National Plan.
Gives guidelines to formulate the National Plan.
Suggests allocation of money in Planning.
Considering the above statements, select the correct answer from the code given below :
Codes :
Correct Answer:
(A) 1, 2, and 3
The National Development Council (NDC) was set up on 6 August, 1952 by an executive order of the Government. Its main functions are:
(a) To prescribe guidelines for the formulation of the National Plan, including the assessment of resources for the plan;
(b) To consider the National Plan as formulated by the Planning Commission;
(c) To consider important questions of social and economic policy affecting National development;
(d) To review the working of the Plan from time to time and to recommend such measures that are necessary for achieving the aims and targets set out in the National Plan. Planning Commission suggests ways for allocation of money to National Plan not the National Development Council.
Ques: 5
Who among the following constitutes the National Development Council?
The Prime Minister
The Chairman, Finance Commission
Ministers of the Union Cabinet
Chief Ministers of the States
Select the correct answer using the code given below?
Correct Answer:
(B) Only 1, 3 and 4
The National Development Council was established in August,1952. It consists of the following members- (1) Prime Minister as its Chairman, (2) Ministers of the Union Cabinet, (3) Chief Ministers of all the states, (4) Chief Minister/Administrators of the Union Territories, (5) Members of the Planning Commission.
Ques: 6
National Development Council is primarily related to –
Correct Answer:
(A) Approval of five-year plans
To ensure the participation of States in the formation of five-year plans, the National Development Council (NDC) was set up on 6 August, 1952 by an executive order of the Government. Prime Minister is the Chairman of the National Development Council and all the Chief Ministers of the States are its member. The Secretary of the Planning Commission is also the Ex-officio Secretary of the National Development Council. NDC finally approves five years plans. NDC acts as a coordinator between the planning commission and State Governments.
Ques: 7
The Planning Commission has been abolished by Prime Minister
Correct Answer:
(A) Narendra Modi
The Planning Commission was set up in March 1950 by the first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to optimize scarce resources in newly-born Nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on August 15, 2014, from the Red Fort to abolish old Planning Commission. In accordance with a key announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Independence Day, the Union Government established NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India), as a replacement for the Planning Commission on January 1, 2015. NITI Aayog will seek to provide a critical directional and strategic input into the developmental process.
Ques: 8
When was the Planning Commission established?
Correct Answer:
(B) 15th March, 1950
After India achieved independence, a formal model of planning was adopted, and accordingly the Planning Commission, reporting directly to the Prime Minister of India, was established on 15 March 1950, with Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru as the chairman.
Ques: 9
Who had suggested a merger of Finance and Planning Commission?
Correct Answer:
(C) M.V. Mathur
The suggestion for merging Planning Commission and Finance Commission was given by M.V. Mathur. Sri M. V. Mathur was one of the members of the 3rd Finance Commission which was formed in 1960.
Ques: 10
Which one of the following is not a Constitutional body?
Correct Answer:
(D)
Planning Commission
The Union Public Service Commission and the Public Service Commissions for States under Article 315 and Finance Commission under Article 280 have been provided in the Constitution of India while Planning Commission has not been mentioned in the Constitution. The Planning Commission is an extra-Constitutional body and was established in 1950 by executive order.
Ques: 11
Which of the following body/bodies does not/do not find mention in the Constitution?
National Development Council
Planning Commission
Zonal Councils
Select the correct answer using the codes given below
Correct Answer:
(D)
All of these
The National Development Council, the Planning Commission, and the Zonal Councils are not mentioned in the Constitution of India. These are extra-Constitutional bodies established by executive order. The National Development Council and the Planning Commission were established in 1952 and 1950 respectively, and the Zonal Councils are statutory bodies constituted under State Reorganisation Act, 1956.
Ques: 12
Who was the First Chairman of Planning Commission of India?
Correct Answer:
(B) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru
The Planning Commission was established on March 15, 1950 by a resolution of the Union Cabinet to make planning effective in India. Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was the first Chairman of the Planning Commission as the Prime Minister used to be the ex-officio Chairman of this Commission.
Ques: 13
The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission is equivalent to-
Correct Answer:
(C) Cabinet Minister
The Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission is equivalent to a Cabinet Minister of Indian Government. Gulzarilal Nanda was the first Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
Ques: 14
Which one of the following is not correct about NITI Aayog?
Correct Answer:
(B) It has a full-time Chairman
NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India Aayog) is a Government of India policy think-tank which came into being on 1 January, 2015 to replace the Planning Commission (Yojna Aayog). Like the Planning Commission, NITI Aayog is an extra-Constitutional body. This Aayog works on the principle of Co-operative federalism. Thus, all the above statements are true except that it has a fulltime Chairman, because the Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog which changes with the completion of the term of his office.
Note: Current Chairperson of Niti Aayog is Shri Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairman of NITI Ayog.
Ques: 15
Who among the following is the CEO of the NITI Aayog?