Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is 9%.

Key Points

• 12th Five Year Plan (2012 - 2017)
  • 12th Five Year Plan 2012-17 as per the draft document released by the Planning Commission aims at a growth rate of 9%.
  • 12th Five Year Plan of the Government of India (2012–17) was India's last Five Year Plan.
  • With the deteriorating global situation, the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Mr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia has said that achieving an average growth rate of 8 percent in the next five years is not possible.
  • The final growth target has been set at 8% by the endorsement of the plan at the National Development Council (NDC) meeting held in New Delhi.
  • The government intends to reduce poverty by 10 percent during the 12th Five-Year Plan.

Additional Information

• NITI Aayog (National Institution for Transforming India)
  • Planning Commission was replaced by a new institution – NITI AAYYOG on January 1, 2015, with emphasis on the ‘Bottom –Up’ approach to envisage the vision of Maximum Governance, Minimum Government, echoing the spirit of ‘Cooperative Federalism.
  • Chairperson: Prime Minister
  • Vice-Chairperson: To be appointed by Prime-Minister
  • Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all states and Lt. Governors of Union Territories.
  • Regional Council: To address specific regional issues, Comprising Chief Ministers and Lt. Governors Chaired by Prime Minister or his nominee.
  • Adhoc Membership: 2 members in ex-officio capacity from leading Research institutions on a rotational basis.
  • Ex-Officio membership: Maximum four from Union council of ministers to be nominated by Prime minister.
  • Chief Executive Officer: Appointed by Prime-minister for a fixed tenure, in the rank of Secretary to Government of India.
  • Special Invitees: Experts, Specialists with domain knowledge nominated by Prime-minister.

The correct answer is Neither 1 nor 2.

Key Points

• Agriculture is the backbone of the Indian economy.
• Over the years, there has been a continuous decline in the share of the agriculture and allied activities sector to total GDP from around 52% in FY1951 to around 14% in FY2014.
• Agriculture is the main source of employment generation in India.
• It still provides more than 50% employment. In absolute terms, the working population engaged in the agriculture sector increased from 97.2 million to 234.1 million during 1950-2011.
• In India, the farming community uses the mixed crop-livestock farming system — cattle, goats, fowl are the widely held species.
• Livestock production provides increased stability in income, food security, transport, fuel, and nutrition for the family without disrupting other food-producing activities.
• The distribution of livestock in India:
  • Poultry accounts for the largest share with 58 per cent followed by cattle and buffaloes (24 per cent), goats and sheep (16 per cent), pigs (1 per cent).
  • Other animals which include camels, asses, horses, ponies, and mules are in the lowest rung. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
• In the fisheries sector, presently, fish production from inland sources contributes about 64 per cent to the total value of fish production, and the balance of 36 per cent comes from the marine sector (sea and oceans).
• Today total fish production accounts for 0.8 per cent of the total GDP. In India, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are major fish-producing states. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

The correct answer is Dr. Manmohan Singh.

Key Points

• Its duration was from 2007 to 2012, under the leadership of Manmohan Singh. 
• It was prepared by C. Rangarajan.
• Its main theme was “Rapid and more inclusive growth”.
• Assessment
  • India has recorded an average annual economic growth rate of 8%, farm sector grew at an average rate of 3.7% as against the 4% targeted. The industry grew with an annual average growth of 7.2% against the 10% targeted.
• Objectives
  • Rapid and inclusive growth.
  • Empowerment through education and skill development.
  • Reduction of gender inequality.
  • Environmental sustainability.
  • To increase the growth rate in agriculture, industry, and services to 4%,10% and 9% respectively.
  • Provide clean drinking water for all by 2009.

Additional Information

• The Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950. 
• Subsequently, Planning Commis­sion was set up on 15 March 1950 and the plan era started from 1 April 1951 with the launch­ing of the First Five Year Plan (1951-56).
• All Five Year Plans:
   

List of Prime Ministers of India:

The correct answer is Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade.

Key Points

• Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is the nodal department for the formulation of the policy on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
  • It is a central government department under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
  • It controls the maintenance and management of data on inward FDI into India.
  • The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade plays a vital role in the liberalization and rationalization of the FDI policy.

 Additional Information

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3.

Key Points

• Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR)
  • The international agricultural research system, mainly the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) has been a useful ally of the
    national system. Hence statement 1 is correct.
  • However, it has undergone significant change, in terms of funding, organization and research thrusts. 
• Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR)
  • It was established on 16 July 1929 as a registered society under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
  • It is an autonomous organization under the Department of Agricultural Research and Education (DARE), Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Government of India. Hence statement 2 is correct.
  • It is headquartered in New Delhi. With 102 ICAR institutes and 71 agricultural universities spread across the country, this is one of the largest national agricultural systems in the world.
  • It is the apex body for coordinating, guiding and managing research and education in agriculture including horticulture, fisheries and animal sciences in the entire country.
• Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK)
  • KVK is an integral part of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS). The first KVK was established in 1974 at Puducherry. Hence statement 3 is not correct.
  • The mandate of KVK is technology assessment and demonstration for its application and capacity development.
  • It aims at assessment of location-specific technology modules in agriculture and allied enterprises, through technology assessment, refinement and demonstrations.
  • KVKs also produce quality technological products (seed, planting material, bio-agents, livestock) and make them available to farmers.