Q30. Who chaired the Planning Commission ex officio?
[MPPSC Prelims 2013]
(A) President
(B) Prime Minister
(C) Finance Minister
(D) Finance Secretary
Answer: (B) Prime Minister
Explanation: The Prime Minister chaired the erstwhile Planning Commission ex officio. A deputy chairperson helped oversee its work, while specialist members worked on sectoral plans. The organisation was established by Cabinet resolution and never held constitutional status.
Q29. Which Five-Year Plan recorded the highest per-capita growth among the specified plans?
[Chhattisgarh PCS Prelims 2013]
(A) Eleventh
(B) Tenth
(C) Eighth
(D) Fifth
Answer: (A) Eleventh
Explanation: Among the plans compared in the examination, the Eleventh registered the highest per-capita growth. The answer pertains to the specified historical periods, not a forecast. Rising per-capita output reflects aggregate growth after accounting for population increases.
Q28. Which sector received the largest allocation in the Twelfth Five-Year Plan?
[UPPSC Mains 2013]
(A) Energy
(B) Transport
(C) Social services
(D) Rural development
Answer: (C) Social services
Explanation: In the Twelfth Plan’s sectoral allocation, social services received the largest share among the listed sectors. This area covers important spending on human development and welfare. Its prominence reflected the plan’s emphasis on more inclusive development outcomes.
Q27. Who drafted the 1950 Sarvodaya Plan?
[MPPSC Prelims 2013]
(A) M. N. Roy
(B) Jayaprakash Narayan
(C) Morarji Desai
(D) Shriman Narayan Agarwal
Answer: (B) Jayaprakash Narayan
Explanation: Jayaprakash Narayan outlined the Sarvodaya Plan in 1950, drawing on Gandhian principles, community development and a more egalitarian economy. It differs from the Gandhian Plan attributed to Shriman Narayan Agarwal in 1944.
Q26. How does National Rural Livelihoods Mission chiefly improve rural poor households’ prospects:
(1) create numerous factories;
(2) strengthen self-help groups and skills;
(3) freely supply all listed farm inputs?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2012]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 1 and 3 only
(D) All three
Answer: (B) 2 only
Explanation: National Rural Livelihoods Mission strengthens institutions of the rural poor, especially self-help groups, while facilitating skills, financial inclusion and sustainable livelihoods. It does not centrally operate by establishing many government factories or universally distributing free agricultural inputs.
Q25. Janani Suraksha Yojana seeks to
(1) encourage institutional deliveries;
(2) help eligible mothers meet delivery costs;
(3) compensate earnings lost during pregnancy.
Which are correct?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2012]
(A) 1 and 2 only
(B) 2 only
(C) 3 only
(D) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (A) 1 and 2 only
Explanation: Janani Suraksha Yojana promotes institutional childbirth through monetary support and outreach. It aims to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths. Compensation for general wage loss is not the defining benefit covered by the two correct statements in this question.
Q24. Which employees can be included in Employees’ State Insurance coverage:
(1) hotels and restaurants;
(2) motor transport;
(3) newspapers;
(4) private medical institutions?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2012]
(A) 1, 2 and 3 only
(B) 4 only
(C) 1, 3 and 4 only
(D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: (D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Explanation: The Employees’ State Insurance framework may extend to employees in each listed category, subject to applicable coverage rules and wage conditions. It provides medical and specified social-insurance benefits and is not confined solely to traditional factory employment.
Q23. Which features describe a rolling plan:
(I) the current year’s budgetary plan;
(II) a medium-term plan for several years;
(III) annual revision as needs change; and
(IV) a longer-term perspective plan?
[BPSC 53rd–55th Prelims 2011]
(A) I and II only
(B) I and III only
(C) II and III only
(D) I, II, III and IV
Answer: (D) I, II, III and IV
Explanation: Rolling planning links an operational annual plan with a continually revised medium-term programme and a longer perspective. Its key feature is that changing economic circumstances can prompt yearly revisions. All four elements described in the question belong to this flexible structure.
Q22. Which item was NOT a direct component of inclusive growth in the Eleventh Five-Year Plan?
[UPSC CSE Prelims 2010]
(A) Reducing poverty
(B) Widening employment opportunities
(C) Strengthening capital markets
(D) Reducing gender disparities
Answer: (C) Strengthening capital markets
Explanation: The Eleventh Plan’s inclusive-growth objectives explicitly emphasised reducing poverty, expanding employment and narrowing social inequalities including gender gaps. Strengthening capital markets was not presented as one of those direct inclusion targets, making it the exception.
Q21. Which area received the largest combined Centre, state and Union Territory expenditure under the Eleventh Five-Year Plan?
[UPPSC PCS Prelims 2010]
(A) Transport
(B) Energy
(C) Agriculture and rural development
(D) Social sector
Answer: (D) Social sector
Explanation: Combined public expenditure under the Eleventh Plan placed the largest share in social services. Spending on education, health and other welfare-oriented areas was aligned with the plan’s objective of faster and more inclusive development.
