Planning Bodies, Five-Year Plans and Early Plan Proposals

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.The Planning Commission of India was set up in:

   • A.1950✓ Correct Answer
   • B.1947
   • C.1952
   • D.1956

   Explanation: It was set up by a Cabinet resolution in March 1950, with the Prime Minister as chairman.

2. Q2.NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in:

   • A.2010
   • B.2014
   • C.2015✓ Correct Answer
   • D.2017

   Explanation: NITI Aayog came into being on 1 January 2015.

3. Q3.The First Five-Year Plan in India covered the period:

   • A.1947-52
   • B.1951-56✓ Correct Answer
   • C.1956-61
   • D.1961-66

   Explanation: The First Plan began on 1 April 1951 and emphasised agriculture, irrigation and power.

4. Q4.The chairman of the erstwhile Planning Commission was the:

   • A.President
   • B.Finance Minister
   • C.Chief Justice of India
   • D.Prime Minister✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The Prime Minister chaired the Commission, with a Deputy Chairman running it day to day.

5. Q5.The Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61) gave priority to:

   • A.only agriculture
   • B.heavy and basic industries✓ Correct Answer
   • C.only services
   • D.only foreign trade

   Explanation: The Second Plan, based on the Mahalanobis approach, stressed capital goods and heavy industry.

6. Q6.The last Five-Year Plan of India was the:

   • A.Tenth Plan (2002-07)
   • B.Eleventh Plan (2007-12)
   • C.Thirteenth Plan (2017-22)
   • D.Twelfth Plan (2012-17)✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: After the Twelfth Plan ended in March 2017, Five-Year Plans were discontinued.

7. Q7.The First Five-Year Plan was based on which growth model?

   • A.Harrod-Domar model✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Mahalanobis model
   • C.Lewis model
   • D.Rostow model

   Explanation: The First Plan used the Harrod-Domar model, linking growth to saving and investment.

8. Q8.The "Plan Holiday" in India covered the period:

   • A.1951-56
   • B.1975-78
   • C.1966-69✓ Correct Answer
   • D.1990-92

   Explanation: After the Third Plan, three annual plans were followed between 1966 and 1969.

9. Q9.The National Development Council (NDC) was formed in:

   • A.1947
   • B.1950
   • C.1961
   • D.1952✓ Correct Answer

   Explanation: The NDC brings together the Centre and States to approve Five-Year Plans.

10. Q10.The Bombay Plan of 1944 was drawn up by:

    • A.leading Indian industrialists✓ Correct Answer
    • B.the Indian National Congress
    • C.the British government
    • D.Mahatma Gandhi

    Explanation: Industrialists such as J. R. D. Tata and G. D. Birla proposed a state-supported industrial plan.

11. Q11.Rolling Plans, which are revised every year, were introduced in India in:

    • A.1951
    • B.1966
    • C.1978✓ Correct Answer
    • D.1992

    Explanation: The Janata government introduced the Rolling Plan for 1978-83.

12. Q12.The Gadgil formula is used for:

    • A.fixing the minimum support price
    • B.determining the repo rate
    • C.allocating central plan assistance among the States✓ Correct Answer
    • D.setting the poverty line

    Explanation: The formula was adopted in the Fourth Plan to distribute central assistance among States.

13. Q13.The Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-85) laid special stress on:

    • A.defence production
    • B.poverty alleviation✓ Correct Answer
    • C.space research
    • D.tourism

    Explanation: The Sixth Plan launched programmes such as IRDP and NREP for the rural poor.

14. Q14.The Eighth Five-Year Plan (1992-97) was launched after:

    • A.the Emergency of 1975
    • B.the Green Revolution of 1966
    • C.the nationalisation of banks in 1969
    • D.the economic reforms of 1991✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The Plan came after the 1991 liberalisation and stressed human development and employment.

15. Q15.The theme of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan was:

    • A.garibi hatao
    • B.growth with stability
    • C.self-reliance
    • D.faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth✓ Correct Answer

    Explanation: The Twelfth Plan aimed at faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth.

16. Q16.The Ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002) had as its main theme:

    • A.heavy industrialisation
    • B.growth with social justice and equity✓ Correct Answer
    • C.self-reliance in food grains
    • D.removal of poverty only through subsidies

    Explanation: The Ninth Plan aimed at growth with social justice and equity, coinciding with India's fiftieth year of independence.

17. Q17.The 1934 book "Planned Economy for India" was written by:

    • A.P. C. Mahalanobis
    • B.M. Visvesvaraya✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Jawaharlal Nehru
    • D.J. R. D. Tata

    Explanation: Sir M. Visvesvaraya proposed a ten-year plan to double national income.

18. Q18.The "People's Plan" of 1944 was drafted by:

    • A.M. N. Roy✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Sriman Narayan Agarwal
    • C.Jayaprakash Narayan
    • D.Dadabhai Naoroji

    Explanation: M. N. Roy drafted the People's Plan for the Indian Federation of Labour.

19. Q19.The "Gandhian Plan" of 1944 was formulated by:

    • A.Sriman Narayan Agarwal✓ Correct Answer
    • B.M. N. Roy
    • C.Jayaprakash Narayan
    • D.M. Visvesvaraya

    Explanation: It stressed village industries, decentralisation and agriculture.

20. Q20.The "Sarvodaya Plan" of 1950 was put forward by:

    • A.Sriman Narayan Agarwal
    • B.M. N. Roy
    • C.Jayaprakash Narayan✓ Correct Answer
    • D.C. D. Deshmukh

    Explanation: The Sarvodaya Plan was inspired by Gandhian ideas and Vinoba Bhave's Sarvodaya movement.