NITI Aayog — Set 4

Correct Answer: D. Healthy States, Progressive India Report

• **Healthy States, Progressive India Report** = This is the State Health Index released by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and the World Bank. • **Incremental performance** — It ranks states based on both overall health status and year-on-year incremental improvement in health outcomes. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Medical Education Progress Report: not a NITI Aayog publication; National Health Mission Report: a different government report; Ayushman Bharat Index: not the official name of this index.

Correct Answer: D. Providing strategic advice to trigger development

• **Providing strategic advice to trigger development** = Catalytic intervention means providing high-level strategic and technical advice that triggers larger developmental changes. • **No direct fund distribution** — NITI Aayog does not distribute funds but guides governments on using resources effectively to enhance departmental capacity. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Taking over state administration: contrary to cooperative federalism; Giving huge financial grants: that was the Planning Commission's role; Implementing projects directly: NITI Aayog is advisory, not implementation-focused.

Correct Answer: D. Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)

• **Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)** = WEP is NITI Aayog's unified portal to support women in starting and scaling businesses. • **Ecosystem stakeholders** — It brings together incubators, investors, and mentors while providing credit access information for women entrepreneurs. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Women Empowerment Bureau: not a NITI Aayog platform; Mahila Vikas Cell: not a NITI Aayog body; Stree Shakti Mission: not an official NITI Aayog initiative.

Correct Answer: B. Make government data accessible and user-friendly

• **Make government data accessible and user-friendly** = NDAP (National Data and Analytics Platform) was launched to democratize access to public government data. • **Standardized format** — It hosts datasets from various ministries in a standardized format, supporting researchers, policy makers, and the general public. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Store citizen private data: NDAP is for public government data, not private; Manage banking transactions: function of banking platforms; Track criminal activities: function of law enforcement IT systems.

Correct Answer: C. Holistic Development of Islands Program

• **Holistic Development of Islands Program** = NITI Aayog guides the holistic development of identified islands like Andaman and Lakshadweep. • **Balance** — The programme balances economic growth through tourism with environmental conservation of fragile island ecosystems. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Island Connectivity Mission: not the official programme name; Coral Reef Protection Taskforce: not a standalone NITI Aayog initiative; Sagar Vikas Initiative: not the correct name.

Correct Answer: A. Experts nominated by the PM with domain knowledge

• **Experts nominated by the PM with domain knowledge** = Special Invitees in NITI Aayog are domain experts, specialists, and practitioners nominated by the Prime Minister. • **Diverse perspectives** — They are invited to provide specific insights into complex policy matters, ensuring the Aayog benefits from wide professional expertise. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: All State Governors: not in this category; All Members of Parliament: not Special Invitees; Any foreign diplomat: foreigners are not Special Invitees of NITI Aayog.

Correct Answer: D. Export potential and performance

• **Export potential and performance** = The Export Preparedness Index (EPI) ranks states on their export ecosystem, policy framework, and actual export performance. • **Competitiveness** — The EPI identifies bottlenecks and promotes competition among states to help make India a global export hub. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Number of software engineers: not an EPI criterion; Distance from the sea: not a ranking criterion; Total value of imports: EPI measures exports, not imports.

Correct Answer: C. Formulating mechanisms to aggregate plans at higher levels of government

• **Formulating mechanisms to aggregate plans at higher levels of government** = NITI Aayog develops mechanisms to build credible plans at village level and aggregate them progressively upward. • **Decentralization** — This approach ensures planning is rooted in local realities and supports the Panchayati Raj decentralized governance model. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sending central officers to every village: not feasible or NITI Aayog's role; Giving direct cash to Sarpanchs: not its function; Deciding which crops farmers should grow: agricultural extension role of other departments.

Correct Answer: D. Knowledge and Innovation Wing

• **Knowledge and Innovation Wing** = This wing is the core of NITI Aayog's think tank capabilities, managing research and best practice repositories. • **Cutting-edge advice** — It enables the institution to provide cutting-edge strategic advice to both central and state governments. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Executive Wing: not a named wing; Teams India Wing: handles state-centre interface; Regional Wing: not a formally named wing of NITI Aayog.

Correct Answer: A. Zero pollution delivery vehicles

• **Zero pollution delivery vehicles** = The Shoonya campaign promotes zero-pollution electric delivery vehicles for urban logistics. • **EV adoption** — It works with consumers and industry to accelerate EV adoption for last-mile delivery, supporting India's clean air goals. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Zero malnutrition: addressed under health programmes, not Shoonya; Zero corruption: a governance initiative, not Shoonya; Zero illiteracy: an education goal unrelated to Shoonya.