NITI Aayog — Set 6

Correct Answer: A. Think Tank

• **Think Tank** = NITI Aayog acts as the premier policy Think Tank of the Government of India, providing directional and policy inputs. • **Dual role** — It provides both strategic technical advice on key issues and serves as a repository of best practices for central and state governments. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Financial regulator: role of RBI and SEBI; Legal advisor: role of Attorney General and law ministries; Security council: defence and security ministry functions.

Correct Answer: C. NITI Aayog

• **NITI Aayog** = The Aspirational Districts Programme was launched by NITI Aayog in 2018 to transform 112 of India's most backward districts. • **112 districts** — The programme monitors progress in health, education, and basic infrastructure in these lagging districts. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Ministry of Home Affairs: handles law and order; World Bank: international lending body; Reserve Bank of India: monetary authority.

Correct Answer: C. Prime Minister

• **Prime Minister** = The CEO of NITI Aayog is appointed by the Prime Minister for a fixed tenure and holds Secretary rank. • **Administrative head** — The CEO is responsible for the administrative management and daily operations of the institution. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: President: appoints constitutional positions; Supreme Court: judicial body; Parliament: legislative body.

Correct Answer: C. New Delhi

• **New Delhi** = NITI Aayog's headquarters is located in New Delhi at Yojana Bhavan, formerly the Planning Commission's headquarters. • **Yojana Bhavan** — Most policy meetings and administrative work take place at this iconic building in the capital. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Kolkata: not the headquarters city; Mumbai: financial capital, not NITI Aayog's location; Chennai: southern metro, unrelated.

Correct Answer: A. Team India Wing

• **Team India Wing** = The Team India Wing represents state interests at the central level, acting as the interface between states and the Centre. • **Federalism** — It ensures every state has a voice in national policy-making, crucial for maintaining cooperative federalism. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Media Wing: not a formal NITI Aayog wing; Research Wing: focuses on knowledge management; Consultancy Wing: not a named wing.

Correct Answer: B. NITI Aayog

• **NITI Aayog** = Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) is a flagship initiative of NITI Aayog to promote innovation and entrepreneurship. • **Thousands of Atal Tinkering Labs** — AIM has established labs in schools across India and supports startups through Atal Incubation Centres. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: ISRO: space research agency; Ministry of Education: education policy body; CSIR: scientific research agency.

Correct Answer: D. Water resource management

• **Water resource management** = NITI Aayog's Composite Water Management Index (CWMI) ranks states on overall water resource management performance. • **Groundwater and irrigation** — It covers themes like groundwater restoration and irrigation to encourage states toward water security. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Hydroelectric power: not the index's focus; River cleanliness: covered by Namami Gange, not CWMI; Flood control: a related but distinct area.

Correct Answer: B. Centralized Command

• **Centralized Command** = Centralized Command is NOT a pillar of NITI Aayog's governance model, which explicitly favors decentralization. • **Seven pillars** — Pillars include transparency, inclusion, and participation to make governance pro-people and proactive. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Participation: a valid pillar of NITI Aayog; Transparency: a valid pillar; Inclusion: a valid pillar.

Correct Answer: C. The Prime Minister

• **The Prime Minister** = The term and tenure of NITI Aayog's Vice-Chairperson are determined by the Prime Minister. • **Executive flexibility** — Since NITI Aayog is an executive body, there is no fixed constitutional term; the PM can extend or terminate the appointment. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: The Parliament: has no role in NITI Aayog appointments; The Constitution: does not specify NITI Aayog positions; The Cabinet Secretary: administrative head, not the appointing authority.

Correct Answer: D. 1 January 2015

• **1 January 2015** = NITI Aayog was established on 1 January 2015 by an executive resolution of the Government of India, replacing the Planning Commission. • **Cabinet resolution** — It was created through a Union Cabinet resolution, giving it executive body status without constitutional or statutory standing. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: 1 April 2015: financial year start, not establishment date; 15 August 2015: Independence Day 2015, after establishment; 26 January 2015: Republic Day, not the founding date.