1. Why Economic Planning?
After Independence, India faced:
- Poverty, low income, unemployment.
- Weak industrial base.
- Low literacy and poor health facilities.
हिंदी: Planning = देश के विकास के लिए संगठित और योजनाबद्ध प्रयास –
किस sector में कितना निवेश हो, किसको priority मिले, यह सब तय करना।
2. Planning Commission (Old Body)
- Set up in 1950.
- Prepared **Five-Year Plans** for the country.
- Chaired by the Prime Minister.
- Aim: balanced and inclusive development.
3. Five-Year Plans (Very Short NDA View)
- First Five-Year Plan: 1951–56 – focus on agriculture, irrigation.
- Second Plan: industrialisation (heavy industries, steel).
- Later plans focused on poverty removal, self-reliance, growth with justice, etc.
- Last full Five-Year Plan: 12th Plan (2012–17).
हिंदी: शुरू में 1951 से लगातार Five-Year Plans चलते रहे।
अब Plan वाला system खत्म हो चुका है – उसकी जगह नया model (NITI Aayog) आया है।
4. NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)
- Set up in 2015, replaced Planning Commission.
- Acts as a **policy think tank** of Government of India.
- Gives strategic and long-term policy recommendations.
- Promotes **cooperative federalism** – Centre + States work together.
हिंदी: NITI Aayog = अब का “think tank” –
सीधा plan बनाकर पैसे बाँटने की बजाय, ideas और policy सुझाव देता है,
ताकि Centre और States मिलकर बेहतर योजनाएँ बनाएं।
5. Differences: Planning Commission vs NITI Aayog
| Planning Commission | NITI Aayog |
|---|---|
| Started 1950 | Started 2015 |
| Fixed Five-Year Plans | Policy think tank, no Five-Year Plans |
| Top-down approach | Cooperative & competitive federalism |
| Control over plan funds | No direct control on funds |
6. Importance of Planning for NDA
- Explains how India tried to remove poverty and build infrastructure.
- Helps understand development programmes and schemes.
- NITI Aayog is often in news – good GK for GAT and SSB.
📘 Practice Questions (NDA Style)
1. The First Five-Year Plan in India started in:
a) 1947 b) 1950 c) 1951 d) 1961
2. The main focus of the First Five-Year Plan was on:
a) Heavy industries
b) Agriculture and irrigation
c) Defence
d) IT sector
3. NITI Aayog was established in:
a) 2000 b) 2005 c) 2010 d) 2015
4. NITI Aayog is mainly a:
a) Judicial body
b) Policy think tank
c) Private company
d) Trade union
5. The 12th Five-Year Plan was for the period:
a) 2007–12 b) 2012–17 c) 1997–2002 d) 1992–97
a) 1947 b) 1950 c) 1951 d) 1961
2. The main focus of the First Five-Year Plan was on:
a) Heavy industries
b) Agriculture and irrigation
c) Defence
d) IT sector
3. NITI Aayog was established in:
a) 2000 b) 2005 c) 2010 d) 2015
4. NITI Aayog is mainly a:
a) Judicial body
b) Policy think tank
c) Private company
d) Trade union
5. The 12th Five-Year Plan was for the period:
a) 2007–12 b) 2012–17 c) 1997–2002 d) 1992–97
Answers:
1 – c) 1951
2 – b) Agriculture and irrigation
3 – d) 2015
4 – b) Policy think tank
5 – b) 2012–17
1 – c) 1951
2 – b) Agriculture and irrigation
3 – d) 2015
4 – b) Policy think tank
5 – b) 2012–17
Quick Recap | सार
Now you should be able to:
- Recall the most important ideas of this topic.
- Solve typical NDA-style questions from this chapter.
- Spot and avoid common traps used in competitive exams.
Self-check: 3–4 random questions उठा कर देखिए – अगर आसानी से हो रहे हैं, तो chapter strong है।
Common Exam Mistakes | आम गलतियाँ
- Concept ठीक से clear न करना और सीधे रटने की कोशिश करना।
- Question पूरी तरह पढ़े बिना answer mark कर देना।
- Figures, dates, या formulas को last step में verify न करना।
NDA में smart strategy यह है कि आसान वाले सवाल पहले, doubtful बाद में – और silly mistakes से बचना सबसे ज़रूरी है।