The Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers are vital for students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railways, and State PSC exams. India’s planning journey, from the Planning Commission to the NITI Aayog, highlights how the country adapted its development goals across decades.
Here we provide 50 powerful Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers to help you revise thoroughly. Each question includes detailed explanations to ensure conceptual clarity.
📝 50 Indian Planning System Multiple Choice Questions with Answers
1. Who is considered the architect of the Indian Planning System?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Mahalanobis
C) M. Visvesvaraya
D) B. R. Ambedkar
Answer: C) M. Visvesvaraya
Explanation: M. Visvesvaraya proposed a ten-year plan in 1934, laying the foundation for systematic economic planning.
2. In which year was the Planning Commission established?
A) 1947
B) 1950
C) 1951
D) 1961
Answer: B) 1950
Explanation: The Planning Commission was set up on 15 March 1950 by a Cabinet resolution.
3. Who was the first Chairperson of the Planning Commission?
A) Jawaharlal Nehru
B) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
C) B. R. Ambedkar
D) Sardar Patel
Answer: A) Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation: As the Prime Minister, Nehru was the ex-officio Chairperson of the Planning Commission.
4. The First Five-Year Plan (1951–56) focused mainly on ?
A) Heavy Industries
B) Agriculture and Irrigation
C) Transport and Infrastructure
D) Education
Answer: B) Agriculture and Irrigation
Explanation: The First Plan emphasized food grain production, irrigation, and power projects.
5. Which Five-Year Plan was based on the Mahalanobis model?
A) First Plan
B) Second Plan
C) Third Plan
D) Fourth Plan
Answer: B) Second Plan
Explanation: The Second Plan (1956–61) emphasized industrial growth using the Mahalanobis model.
6. Which was the last Five-Year Plan in India?
A) 10th Plan
B) 11th Plan
C) 12th Plan
D) 13th Plan
Answer: C) 12th Plan
Explanation: The 12th Five-Year Plan (2012–17) was the last, after which the Planning Commission was dissolved.
7. Which body replaced the Planning Commission in 2015?
A) National Policy Council
B) Finance Commission
C) NITI Aayog
D) Economic Advisory Board
Answer: C) NITI Aayog
Explanation: The Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog in January 2015.
8. Who is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog?
A) Finance Minister
B) Prime Minister
C) Home Minister
D) President of India
Answer: B) Prime Minister
Explanation: The Prime Minister is the ex-officio Chairperson of NITI Aayog.
9. Which Five-Year Plan was also called the “Gadgil Plan”?
A) Third Plan
B) Fourth Plan
C) Fifth Plan
D) Sixth Plan
Answer: B) Fourth Plan
Explanation: The Fourth Plan (1969–74) emphasized stability and self-reliance, based on D. R. Gadgil’s approach.
10. Which Five-Year Plan introduced the slogan “Garibi Hatao”?
A) Third Plan
B) Fourth Plan
C) Fifth Plan
D) Sixth Plan
Answer: C) Fifth Plan
Explanation: The Fifth Plan (1974–79) introduced the famous slogan “Garibi Hatao.”
11. Who was the Deputy Chairman of the First Planning Commission?
A) Gulzarilal Nanda
B) V. T. Krishnamachari
C) D. R. Gadgil
D) K. C. Pant
Answer: A) Gulzarilal Nanda
Explanation: He was the first Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
12. Which Five-Year Plan is known as the “People’s Plan”?
A) Second Plan
B) Third Plan
C) Fourth Plan
D) None of these
Answer: D) None of these
Explanation: The People’s Plan (1938) was proposed by M. N. Roy, not part of official Five-Year Plans.
13. Which plan period saw the introduction of Rolling Plans?
A) 1975–80
B) 1978–83
C) 1980–85
D) 1990–95
Answer: B) 1978–83
Explanation: Rolling Plans were introduced by the Janata Government in 1978.
14. The Eighth Five-Year Plan (1992–97) emphasized:
A) Green Revolution
B) Economic Reforms and Liberalization
C) Heavy Industry
D) Irrigation
Answer: B) Economic Reforms and Liberalization
Explanation: The Eighth Plan marked the era of LPG reforms (1991).
15. Which plan failed due to the 1962 Sino-Indian War and 1965 Indo-Pak War?
A) Second Plan
B) Third Plan
C) Fourth Plan
D) Fifth Plan
Answer: B) Third Plan
Explanation: The Third Plan (1961–66) was disrupted by wars and droughts.
16. Who coined the concept of “Inclusive Growth” in Indian plans?
A) Manmohan Singh
B) P. Chidambaram
C) Planning Commission (11th Plan)
D) NITI Aayog
Answer: C) Planning Commission (11th Plan)
Explanation: The 11th Plan (2007–12) focused on “Inclusive Growth.”
17. Which Five-Year Plan is known as the “Plan Holiday” period?
A) Fourth Plan
B) Fifth Plan
C) Between Third and Fourth Plan
D) Between Sixth and Seventh Plan
Answer: C) Between Third and Fourth Plan
Explanation: From 1966–69, there was a “Plan Holiday” with annual plans due to economic crisis.
18. Which Five-Year Plan gave priority to self-reliance?
A) Third Plan
B) Fourth Plan
C) Fifth Plan
D) Seventh Plan
Answer: B) Fourth Plan
Explanation: The Fourth Plan (1969–74) focused on growth with stability and self-reliance.
19. Which plan introduced the “Targeted Public Distribution System” (TPDS)?
A) Seventh Plan
B) Eighth Plan
C) Ninth Plan
D) Tenth Plan
Answer: C) Ninth Plan
Explanation: The Ninth Plan (1997–2002) introduced TPDS for food security.
20. What was the main objective of the First Five-Year Plan?
A) Industrialization
B) Self-reliance
C) Agricultural development
D) Poverty removal
Answer: C) Agricultural development
Explanation: Food security and irrigation were priorities of the First Plan.
21. Which was the main focus of the Second Five-Year Plan?
A) Agriculture
B) Heavy Industries
C) Education
D) Services Sector
Answer: B) Heavy Industries
Explanation: The Second Plan (1956–61) emphasized industrialization, especially the development of heavy industries.
22. Which plan is also known as the “Gadgil Yojana”?
A) Fourth Plan
B) Fifth Plan
C) Sixth Plan
D) Seventh Plan
Answer: A) Fourth Plan
Explanation: The Fourth Plan (1969–74), designed by D. R. Gadgil, focused on growth with stability.
23. The slogan “Growth with Social Justice” was associated with which plan?
A) Eighth Plan
B) Ninth Plan
C) Tenth Plan
D) Eleventh Plan
Answer: B) Ninth Plan
Explanation: The Ninth Plan (1997–2002) aimed at growth with social justice and equity.
24. Which was the growth target of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan?
A) 7%
B) 8%
C) 9%
D) 10%
Answer: C) 9%
Explanation: The Eleventh Plan (2007–12) targeted a growth rate of 9%.
25. Who was the first Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog?
A) Arvind Panagariya
B) Rajiv Kumar
C) Bibek Debroy
D) Raghuram Rajan
Answer: A) Arvind Panagariya
Explanation: Arvind Panagariya was appointed as the first Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog in 2015.
26. Which plan introduced the concept of Minimum Needs Programme (MNP)?
A) Third Plan
B) Fourth Plan
C) Fifth Plan
D) Sixth Plan
Answer: B) Fourth Plan
Explanation: The Fourth Plan (1969–74) introduced the MNP to improve living standards.
27. The slogan “Garibi Hatao” was given during which Five-Year Plan?
A) Fourth Plan
B) Fifth Plan
C) Sixth Plan
D) Seventh Plan
Answer: B) Fifth Plan
Explanation: Indira Gandhi launched the slogan during the Fifth Plan (1974–79).
28. Which plan gave top priority to poverty alleviation?
A) Fifth Plan
B) Sixth Plan
C) Seventh Plan
D) Eighth Plan
Answer: A) Fifth Plan
Explanation: Poverty removal was the main goal of the Fifth Plan.
29. Which Five-Year Plan saw the introduction of Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)?
A) Fourth Plan
B) Fifth Plan
C) Sixth Plan
D) Seventh Plan
Answer: C) Sixth Plan
Explanation: The IRDP was launched during the Sixth Plan (1980–85).
30. The Green Revolution was initiated during which plan?
A) Second Plan
B) Third Plan
C) Fourth Plan
D) Fifth Plan
Answer: B) Third Plan
Explanation: The Green Revolution started during the Third Plan (1961–66), though its full impact was felt later.
31. Who was the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission during the Eleventh Plan?
A) Montek Singh Ahluwalia
B) Rajiv Kumar
C) C. Rangarajan
D) Bibek Debroy
Answer: A) Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Explanation: He served as Deputy Chairman during the Eleventh Plan (2007–12).
32. Which plan was disrupted due to the Emergency period in India?
A) Third Plan
B) Fourth Plan
C) Fifth Plan
D) Sixth Plan
Answer: C) Fifth Plan
Explanation: The Fifth Plan (1974–79) was affected by the Emergency (1975–77).
33. Which plan introduced the concept of “Human Resource Development”?
A) Fifth Plan
B) Sixth Plan
C) Seventh Plan
D) Eighth Plan
Answer: C) Seventh Plan
Explanation: The Seventh Plan (1985–90) stressed education, health, and HRD.
34. Which Five-Year Plan was known for its focus on “Employment Generation”?
A) Eighth Plan
B) Ninth Plan
C) Tenth Plan
D) Eleventh Plan
Answer: A) Eighth Plan
Explanation: The Eighth Plan (1992–97) emphasized employment and economic reforms.
35. The New Economic Policy (NEP) was launched during which plan?
A) Seventh Plan
B) Eighth Plan
C) Ninth Plan
D) Tenth Plan
Answer: B) Eighth Plan
Explanation: The Eighth Plan (1992–97) implemented liberalization, privatization, and globalization reforms.
36. The target growth rate of the Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002–07) was?
A) 7%
B) 8%
C) 9%
D) 10%
Answer: B) 8%
Explanation: The Tenth Plan aimed for 8% growth but achieved around 7.6%.
37. Which plan aimed for “Rapid Poverty Reduction”?
A) Ninth Plan
B) Tenth Plan
C) Eleventh Plan
D) Twelfth Plan
Answer: B) Tenth Plan
Explanation: The Tenth Plan focused on poverty reduction through growth and reforms.
38. Which plan gave importance to “Health, Education, and Women Empowerment”?
A) Ninth Plan
B) Tenth Plan
C) Eleventh Plan
D) Twelfth Plan
Answer: C) Eleventh Plan
Explanation: The Eleventh Plan (2007–12) was based on inclusive growth, emphasizing human development.
39. What was the growth target of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012–17)?
A) 8%
B) 8.2%
C) 8.5%
D) 9%
Answer: C) 8.5%
Explanation: The Twelfth Plan targeted 8.5% growth but achieved about 7%.
40. Who was the last Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission?
A) Montek Singh Ahluwalia
B) Rajiv Kumar
C) Bibek Debroy
D) C. Rangarajan
Answer: A) Montek Singh Ahluwalia
Explanation: He served as the last Deputy Chairman until 2014.
41. Which Five-Year Plan was the first to include environmental concerns?
A) Fourth Plan
B) Fifth Plan
C) Sixth Plan
D) Seventh Plan
Answer: C) Sixth Plan
Explanation: The Sixth Plan (1980–85) included environmental sustainability as a focus.
42. Which plan aimed at “Faster, More Inclusive, and Sustainable Growth”?
A) Ninth Plan
B) Tenth Plan
C) Eleventh Plan
D) Twelfth Plan
Answer: D) Twelfth Plan
Explanation: The Twelfth Plan (2012–17) adopted this theme.
43. The concept of “Indicative Planning” in India started from which plan?
A) Seventh Plan
B) Eighth Plan
C) Ninth Plan
D) Tenth Plan
Answer: B) Eighth Plan
Explanation: The Eighth Plan (1992–97) shifted towards indicative planning.
44. Which plan was launched after a two-year Plan Holiday (1966–69)?
A) Third Plan
B) Fourth Plan
C) Fifth Plan
D) Sixth Plan
Answer: B) Fourth Plan
Explanation: After the Plan Holiday, the Fourth Plan was introduced in 1969.
45. Which plan emphasized “Self-reliance and Poverty Removal”?
A) Third Plan
B) Fourth Plan
C) Fifth Plan
D) Sixth Plan
Answer: C) Fifth Plan
Explanation: The Fifth Plan stressed poverty eradication and self-reliance.
46. The concept of “Rolling Plan” was given by which economist?
A) Gunnar Myrdal
B) Mahalanobis
C) J. C. Kumarappa
D) None of these
Answer: A) Gunnar Myrdal
Explanation: The Rolling Plan was suggested by economist Gunnar Myrdal.
47. Which was the growth rate achieved during the Eleventh Plan?
A) 7%
B) 7.9%
C) 8.2%
D) 9%
Answer: B) 7.9%
Explanation: The Eleventh Plan targeted 9% but achieved 7.9% growth.
48. Which plan was called the “Industrial Plan”?
A) First Plan
B) Second Plan
C) Third Plan
D) Fourth Plan
Answer: B) Second Plan
Explanation: The Second Plan emphasized industrialization.
49. Who is the current Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog (as of 2025)?
A) Arvind Panagariya
B) Rajiv Kumar
C) Suman Bery
D) Bibek Debroy
Answer: C) Suman Bery
Explanation: Suman Bery is the present Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog.
50. Which planning model did India follow in its early years?
A) Socialist model
B) Capitalist model
C) Mixed economy model
D) Liberal model
Answer: C) Mixed economy model
Explanation: India adopted a mixed economy model, combining state and private participation.
🔑 Key Takeaways
These Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers cover all major plans, policies, and institutions.
Students preparing for UPSC, SSC, Banking, and State PSC exams can use them for revision.
From the First Plan (1951–56) to NITI Aayog (2015 onwards), the Indian planning system reflects changing priorities.
🏁 Final Thoughts
The Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers provide a comprehensive way for students to revise key facts and concepts about India’s economic journey. From the Planning Commission to NITI Aayog, the evolution of planning highlights India’s dynamic approach to growth and development.
Practicing these Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers ensures better preparation for UPSC, SSC, Banking, Railway, and other competitive exams. By going through the causes, objectives, and policies behind different plans, students can strengthen their conceptual understanding and improve exam performance.
In summary, the Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers are not just exam tools but also a learning resource to connect historical planning strategies with modern policy frameworks.
Q1. Why are Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers important for students?
A1. These MCQs cover crucial topics about India’s economic planning history, making them essential for competitive exam preparation and academic understanding.
Q2. How many Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers should I practice daily?
A2. Students should aim for at least 15–20 MCQs daily to retain facts and explanations effectively.
Q3. Are the Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers useful for UPSC exams?
A3. Yes, they are extremely useful since questions on planning history and policies are frequently asked in UPSC Prelims and Mains.
Q4. Do the Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers also help in SSC and Banking exams?
A4. Absolutely! Many questions related to planning, NITI Aayog, and economic reforms appear in SSC, Banking, and Railways exams.
Q5. Where can I find more Indian planning system multiple choice questions with answers for practice?
A5. Students can refer to NCERT books, government reports, and dedicated exam-prep websites for more detailed practice sets.
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