Laxmikanth MCQs: Niti Aayog | Indian Polity for UPSC CSE PDF Download

Q1: Which of the following statements correctly describe the objectives of NITI Aayog?
Statement 1: NITI Aayog aims to develop a collective vision for national development.
Statement 2: It focuses solely on economic growth without inclusive development.
Statement 3: NITI Aayog works to integrate national security interests into economic strategy.
(a) Only Statement 1
(b) Statement 1 and 3
(c) Statement 2 and 3
(d) All of the above
Ans: (b)

NITI Aayog's objectives include developing a collective vision for national development (Statement 1 is true) and integrating national security interests into economic strategy (Statement 3 is true). It does not focus solely on economic growth but emphasizes inclusive development, making Statement 2 false.

Q2: The Governing Council of NITI Aayog includes:
(a) Only the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers of States
(b) Chief Ministers of all States, Chief Ministers of Union Territories with Legislatures, and Lt. Governors of other Union Territories
(c) Members of the Lok Sabha only
(d) Industrialists and Economists only
Ans: (b)
The Governing Council of NITI Aayog includes the Chief Ministers of all States, Chief Ministers of Union Territories with Legislatures, and Lt. Governors of other Union Territories.

Q3. Match the following pillars of NITI Aayog with their descriptions:

(a) 1-B, 2-C, 3-A
(b) 1-A, 2-B, 3-C
(c) 1-C, 2-A, 3-B
(d) 1-B, 2-A, 3-C
Ans: (a)
The pro-people pillar is about fulfilling societal and individual aspirations, empowering women focuses on all aspects of women's development, and transparency involves the use of technology for government responsiveness.

Q4: The National Development Council (NDC) was established in:
(a) 1950
(b) 1952
(c) 1962
(d) 2014
Ans: (b)

The National Development Council (NDC) was established on August 6, 1952, to promote common economic policies and approve Five-Year Plans.

Q5: Which of the following best describes the concept of 'Cooperative Federalism' as promoted by NITI Aayog?
(a) States compete with each other and the Centre for resources
(b) Collaboration between the central and state governments
(c) Central government holds all the power
(d) States function independently without central intervention
Ans: (b)
Cooperative Federalism emphasizes the collaboration and partnership between the central government and state governments.

Q6: Assertion (A): The Aspirational Districts Programme is an initiative of NITI Aayog. 
Reasoning (R): It aims to rapidly transform districts that have shown relatively lesser progress in key social areas.
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Ans: (a)

The Aspirational Districts Programme, an initiative of NITI Aayog, focuses on transforming districts with lesser progress in key social areas, such as health, education, and infrastructure. The reasoning correctly explains the assertion.

Q7: Which of the following is NOT a full-time organizational component of NITI Aayog?
(a) Vice-Chairperson
(b) Full-time Members
(c) Chief Ministers of States
(d) Chief Executive Officer
Ans: (c)
The Chief Ministers of States are part of the Governing Council, not the full-time organizational structure of NITI Aayog. The full-time organizational framework includes the Vice-Chairperson, Full-time Members, and the Chief Executive Officer.

Q8: What is the main role of the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) under NITI Aayog?
(a) To provide financial assistance to states
(b) To monitor and evaluate program implementation
(c) To develop policies for foreign trade
(d) To handle external affairs of NITI Aayog
Ans: (b)
The DMEO's primary role is to streamline and strengthen the evaluation mechanism in India, focusing on monitoring and evaluating program implementation.

Q9: Which of the following statements is true regarding the erstwhile Planning Commission?
Statement 1: It was a constitutional body.
Statement 2: The Prime Minister served as the chairman.
Statement 3: It included representation from state governments.
(a) Only Statement 2
(b) Statement 1 and 3
(c) Statement 2 and 3
(d) All of the above
Ans: (a)
The erstwhile Planning Commission was not a constitutional body (Statement 1 is false). The Prime Minister served as its chairman (Statement 2 is true). It did not include direct representation from state governments, though the National Development Council (NDC) included such representation (Statement 3 is false).

Q10: Arrange the following in the order of their establishment:
1. NITI Aayog
2. National Development Council
3. Planning Commission
4. Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office
(a) 2, 3, 1, 4
(b) 3, 2, 1, 4
(c) 2, 1, 3, 4
(d) 1, 2, 3, 4
Ans: (b)
The Planning Commission was established in March 1950, followed by the National Development Council in August 1952, NITI Aayog in January 2015, and the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office as part of NITI Aayog in 2015.

Q11: Statement 1: NITI Aayog was established on January 1, 2015, as a successor to the Planning Commission.
Statement 2: The Erstwhile Planning Commission was a constitutional body in India.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (a)
NITI Aayog was established on January 1, 2015, as a successor to the Planning Commission (Statement 1 is true). The erstwhile Planning Commission was not a constitutional body but an executive body created by a government resolution (Statement 2 is false).

Q12: Statement 1: The National Development Council (NDC) is presided over by the President of India.
Statement 2: The NDC was set up in 1952 to approve the 12th Plan (2012-2017).
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (d)
The NDC is presided over by the Prime Minister, not the President (Statement 1 is false). The NDC was established on August 6, 1952, to promote common economic policies and approve Five-Year Plans, not specifically for the 12th Plan (Statement 2 is false).

Q13: Statement 1: The core hubs of NITI Aayog include Team India and Knowledge and Innovation.
Statement 2: The Vice-Chairperson of NITI Aayog holds the rank of a Minister of State.
Statement 3: The Erstwhile Planning Commission had representation from state governments.
(a) Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(b) Statements 2 and 3 are correct.
(c) Statements 1 and 3 are correct.
(d) All Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct.
Ans: (a)
Team India and Knowledge and Innovation are core hubs of NITI Aayog, emphasizing cooperative federalism and innovation (Statement 1 is true). The Vice-Chairperson holds the rank of a Cabinet Minister (Statement 2 is true). The erstwhile Planning Commission did not have representation from state governments, though the NDC did (Statement 3 is false).

Q14: Statement 1: Cooperative Federalism emphasizes competition between the central government and state governments.
Statement 2: NITI Aayog encourages healthy competition among states through transparent rankings.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (b)
Cooperative Federalism emphasizes collaboration, not competition, between the central and state governments (Statement 1 is false). NITI Aayog encourages healthy competition among states through transparent rankings, such as the SDG India Index and Aspirational Districts Programme (Statement 2 is true).

Q15: Statement 1: The National Institute of Labour Economics Research and Development (NILERD) operates independently of NITI Aayog.
Statement 2: The Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office (DMEO) was established in 2010 as an attached office of NITI Aayog.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (d)
NILERD is an attached office under NITI Aayog, not an independent entity (Statement 1 is false). The DMEO was established in 2015, not 2010, as an attached office of NITI Aayog (Statement 2 is false).

Q16: Statement 1: The NITI Aayog Chairperson presides over the Regional Councils.
Statement 2: The National Development Council (NDC) was set up to promote common economic policies in vital spheres.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (c)
The NITI Aayog Chairperson or their nominee chairs the Regional Councils (Statement 1 is true). The NDC was established in 1952 to promote common economic policies and approve Five-Year Plans (Statement 2 is true).

Q17: Statement 1: The Prime Minister serves as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
Statement 2: The Erstwhile Planning Commission was criticized for potentially overshadowing the constitutional authority of ministers.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (c)
The Prime Minister serves as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog (Statement 1 is true). The erstwhile Planning Commission was criticized for potentially acting as a 'Super Cabinet,' overshadowing the constitutional authority of ministers (Statement 2 is true).

Q18: Statement 1: The Chief Ministers of all states are members of the National Development Council.
Statement 2: NITI Aayog aims to enhance cooperative federalism through transparent rankings.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (c)
The Chief Ministers of all states are members of the National Development Council (Statement 1 is true). NITI Aayog promotes cooperative federalism through initiatives like transparent rankings, such as the SDG India Index and Aspirational Districts Programme (Statement 2 is true).

Q19: Statement 1: The Erstwhile Planning Commission had a deputy chairman as the full-time executive head.
Statement 2: NITI Aayog has a Vice-Chairperson appointed by the Prime Minister, holding the rank of a Cabinet Minister.
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (c)
The erstwhile Planning Commission had a deputy chairman as its full-time executive head (Statement 1 is true). NITI Aayog has a Vice-Chairperson, appointed by the Prime Minister, holding the rank of a Cabinet Minister (Statement 2 is true).

Q20: Statement 1: The NITI Aayog Chairperson presides over the Governing Council.
Statement 2: The Erstwhile Planning Commission evolved into a powerful authority, drawing criticism as a 'Super Cabinet' or 'Parallel Cabinet.'
(a) Only Statement 1 is correct.
(b) Only Statement 2 is correct.
(c) Both Statements 1 and 2 are correct.
(d) Neither Statement 1 nor Statement 2 is correct.
Ans: (c)
The NITI Aayog Chairperson (Prime Minister) presides over the Governing Council (Statement 1 is true). The erstwhile Planning Commission was criticized for acting as a 'Super Cabinet' or 'Parallel Cabinet' due to its extensive influence (Statement 2 is true).