91. What was the main objective of the First Five-Year Plan in India?
a) Industrial growth
b) Export promotion
c) Agricultural development
d) Privatization of public enterprises
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Answer: c) Agricultural development Explanation:
The First Plan (1951–56) emphasized agriculture and irrigation due to:
Severe food shortages post-independence and Partition
Need to ensure food security before industrialization
Focus areas included:
Community development, minor irrigation projects, and land reforms
Investment in dams (like Bhakra Nangal) and fertilizer use
It followed the Harrod-Domar growth model, emphasizing investment-driven growth
92. Which of the following Five-Year Plans was termed a ‘Plan Holiday’?
a) 1966–69
b) 1978–83
c) 1991–93
d) 1950–53
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Answer: a) 1966–69 Explanation:
The Plan Holiday occurred between the Third and Fourth Plans, due to:
Economic crisis triggered by wars (1962 and 1965) and droughts
Failure of the Third Plan to meet targets
Instead of a formal plan, the period had annual plans
Aimed at economic stabilization before launching the Fourth Plan
93. What was a core theme of the Third Five-Year Plan (1961–66)?
a) Liberalization and foreign investment
b) Green Revolution and self-reliance
c) IT sector development
d) Privatization of state enterprises
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Answer: b) Green Revolution and self-reliance Explanation:
Focused on making India self-sufficient in food production
The Green Revolution was initiated:
Introduction of HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, and irrigation expansion
Boosted food grain output in Punjab, Haryana, and western UP
Also aimed to accelerate industrial growth, but derailed by wars and drought
94. The failure of which Five-Year Plan led to the introduction of Annual Plans in the 1960s?
a) First Plan
b) Second Plan
c) Third Plan
d) Fourth Plan
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Answer: c) Third Plan Explanation:
The Third Plan (1961–66) faced:
India-China war (1962)
India-Pakistan war (1965)
Severe droughts in 1965–66
Growth was disrupted; per capita income fell
Led to abandonment of the Fourth Plan, and Plan Holiday (1966–69)
95. Which Plan emphasized the Minimum Needs Programme (MNP)?
a) Fifth Plan
b) Sixth Plan
c) Seventh Plan
d) Fourth Plan
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Answer: b) Sixth Plan Explanation:
Minimum Needs Programme (MNP) launched to address basic human needs, including:
Elementary education, safe drinking water, rural roads, health services
Objective: Ensure equity in access to basic services, especially in rural areas
Part of the Sixth Plan (1980–85) that marked a shift from growth to social justice
96. Who prepared the draft for the Bombay Plan (1944)?
a) B.R. Ambedkar and Jawaharlal Nehru
b) A group of Indian industrialists
c) Planning Commission of India
d) Reserve Bank of India officials
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Answer: b) A group of Indian industrialists Explanation:
Prepared by Tata, Birla, Kasturbhai Lalbhai, and other industrialists
Proposed state-led industrialization and public sector investment
Surprising because capitalists were advocating socialism-inspired policies—they wanted public investment to build infrastructure before private capital could flourish
97. What does the Gadgil Formula deal with?
a) Distribution of taxes among states
b) Interstate river water disputes
c) Allocation of central plan assistance to states
d) Division of labor laws between centre and states
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Answer: c) Allocation of central plan assistance to states Explanation:
Developed by D.R. Gadgil, used since the Fourth Plan
Criteria included:
Population (60%)
Per capita income (10%)
Tax effort, fiscal management, and special problems (rest)
Ensured equity and objectivity in distributing funds
98. Which Five-Year Plan emphasized the concept of “inclusive growth”?
a) Ninth Plan
b) Tenth Plan
c) Eleventh Plan
d) Twelfth Plan
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Answer: c) Eleventh Plan Explanation:
Eleventh Plan (2007–12): Theme was “Faster and More Inclusive Growth”
Aimed to:
Reduce poverty, inequality, and regional imbalances
Improve education, healthcare, and infrastructure
First time the phrase “inclusive growth” was used explicitly in planning documents
99. Which institution replaced the Planning Commission in 2015?
a) Central Statistical Office
b) NITI Aayog
c) Economic Advisory Council
d) National Development Council
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Answer: b) NITI Aayog Explanation:
Replaced Planning Commission in January 2015
Stands for National Institution for Transforming India
Key features:
Bottom-up approach, cooperative federalism
Advisory body, not a fund-granting authority
Seeks to be a think tank with emphasis on real-time data and innovation
100. What was the target growth rate of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012–17)?
a) 7%
b) 8%
c) 8.2%
d) 9%
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Answer: c) 8.2% Explanation:
Twelfth Plan aimed for 8.2% average annual growth
Only achieved about 6.7%, due to:
Global slowdown, policy bottlenecks, and low private investment
Focus was on “Faster, Sustainable, and More Inclusive Growth“
Final Five-Year Plan before India moved to NITI Aayog-led planning
