PYQ Vault · Paper 1 · Planning & Economic Development

How does NITI Aayog as a ‘policy think tank with shared vision visualize the reorganization of planning in India? Justify your answer.

How the answer moves

The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.

Flow snapshot — how the answer moves
Intro routes

Route 1 2015: NITI Aayog replaces Planning Commission → not a renaming but a re-imagining of planning’s purpose

Route 2 “policy think tank with shared vision” → planning built with states, not handed down

Body flow

change of role (Maira: allocation of money → persuasion of change) → change of method (shared vision of priorities with states/UTs → village plans aggregated upward → flexible, outcome- & evidence-based, data/indices/monitoring) → change of paradigm (Chimhowu: classical top-down → negotiation-based; NITI moves to second) → Mathew: name change → mind change

Counter-view

Balveer Arora: “imperfect clone” → federal bargaining reform incomplete → reorganisation real in design, partial in practice

Conclusion routes

Route 1 reorganisation = shift of role + method: allocator → persuader, command → shared vision

Route 2 paradigm genuinely reorganised, though fully cooperative planning still unfinished

Model answer

Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.

Handwritten model answer — UPSC PSIR 2023, Planning & Economic Development