NITI Aayog — Set 3

Correct Answer: A. North Eastern States

• **North Eastern States** = The NITI Forum for North East was created to identify constraints and streamline development in the North Eastern states. • **Key sectors** — It focuses on infrastructure, tourism, and organic farming, integrating the region's unique needs into national planning. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Indo-Gangetic Plain: covered under regular national planning; Northern Himalayas: not the designated region of this forum; Deccan Plateau: not relevant to this forum.

Correct Answer: D. Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital

• **Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital** = SATH stands for Sustainable Action for Transforming Human Capital, focusing on health and education sectors. • **Mentor states** — The programme selects mentor states to implement deep-rooted structural reforms in partnership with state governments. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: State Alliance for Total Health: incorrect expansion; Space and Technology Hub: incorrect expansion; Science and Training in Horticulture: incorrect expansion.

Correct Answer: C. More than one state or a region

• **More than one state or a region** = Regional Councils under NITI Aayog address specific issues impacting a group of states or a region. • **PM convened** — These councils are convened by the Prime Minister and have a fixed tenure to solve particular regional challenges. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Foreign trade relations: handled by Ministry of Commerce; Individual ministries only: NITI Aayog itself handles single-ministry coordination; Entire nation simultaneously: that is the role of the full Governing Council.

Correct Answer: B. 2022

• **2022** = 'Strategy for New India @ 75' targeted specific developmental milestones by 2022-23, coinciding with the 75th anniversary of independence. • **41 areas** — The document covered 41 different sectors including infrastructure, social inclusion, and governance reforms. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 2030: that is the global SDG target year; 2020: the document had a 2022 horizon not 2020; 2025: not the target year of this document.

Correct Answer: B. School Education Quality Index (SEQI)

• **School Education Quality Index (SEQI)** = SEQI is developed by NITI Aayog to evaluate school education quality in states and UTs. • **Outcomes-focused** — It measures learning outcomes rather than just infrastructure inputs, helping states identify strengths and weaknesses. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Primary Literacy Index: not a NITI Aayog product; School Quality Index: generic term, not the official index name; Education For All Index: UNESCO-related, not NITI Aayog.

Correct Answer: D. Acting as a repository for best practices and knowledge

• **Acting as a repository for best practices and knowledge** = NITI Aayog collects and disseminates global and domestic best practices to states and central ministries. • **Evidence-based policy** — This knowledge hub role supports evidence-based policy making across all government levels. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ignoring international standards: contradicts NITI Aayog's mandate; Enforcing laws on foreign companies: regulatory function of other bodies; Strictly following old colonial methods: opposite of its reform mission.

Correct Answer: D. By ranking states through various indices

• **Ranking states through various indices** = NITI Aayog promotes competitive federalism by ranking states on health, innovation, water management, and other indices. • **Data-driven competition** — These rankings create healthy inter-state competition to attract investment and improve public services. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Merging small states: not NITI Aayog's role; Giving more funds to friendly states: NITI Aayog does not allocate funds; Dissolving non-performing governments: unconstitutional, not NITI Aayog's role.

Correct Answer: C. Alternative and clean fuel

• **Alternative and clean fuel** = The Methanol Economy programme aims to reduce India's oil import bill by converting high-ash coal and biomass into methanol fuel. • **Energy security** — It is part of India's strategy to reduce carbon footprint and achieve long-term energy security. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Information Technology: unrelated sector; Organic farming: a different NITI Aayog focus area; Chemical exports: not the primary objective of this programme.

Correct Answer: A. Institute for Competitiveness

• **Institute for Competitiveness** = The India Innovation Index is developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Institute for Competitiveness. • **State rankings** — It examines the innovation landscape of all Indian states and UTs to identify factors that promote local-level innovation. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: NASSCOM: IT industry body, not the collaborator; World Economic Forum: releases Global Competitiveness Index; World Bank: releases Ease of Doing Business, not this index.

Correct Answer: D. Specialists or experts appointed by the PM

• **Specialists or experts appointed by the PM** = Full-time members are experts in economics, science, or social work appointed by the Prime Minister. • **Minister of State rank** — They hold rank equivalent to Ministers of State and assist the Vice-Chairperson in developing policy frameworks. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: All Chief Ministers: they form the Governing Council; Leaders of major political parties: not part of NITI Aayog's structure; Governors of UTs: Lieutenant Governors are in the Governing Council, not full-time members.