Question map
The main objective of the 12th Five-Year Plan is
Explanation
The Twelfth Five Year Plan was approved on October 4, 2012, and its objective was "Faster, More inclusive and Sustainable [1]Growth". This makes option D the correct answer, as it captures all three elements of the plan's main objective in the precise order stated in official documents.
While options A, B, and C mention related concepts like inclusive growth, sustainable growth, poverty reduction, and unemployment, they do not accurately reflect the complete and specific formulation of the 12th Plan's main objective. The plan set a target growth rate of 8%[1], emphasizing the "faster" component of the objective. The Twelfth Five Year Plan was the last plan to be implemented, ending on March 31, 2017[1], after which it was replaced by the NITI Aayog framework.
Sources- [1] Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012–17) and Niti Ayog > p. 5
PROVENANCE & STUDY PATTERN
Full viewThis is a classic 'Tagline Question'. Every major government document (Five Year Plans, NITI Aayog Strategy, Economic Survey) has a specific subtitle or theme. You cannot paraphrase these; you must memorize the exact sequence of adjectives (Faster, Sustainable, Inclusive).
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
- Snippet explicitly names the plan's objective as faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth.
- Provides plan approval date and an 8% growth target, reinforcing the 'faster growth' emphasis.
- Confirms strong emphasis on inclusive and sustainable growth for the period covering the twelfth plan.
- Places the twelfth plan in context as the last plan, supporting interpretation of its stated objectives.
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Found in the first paragraph of the 12th Plan chapter in every standard Economy book (Ramesh Singh, Majid Husain, NCERT).
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Planning in India > Evolution of Five-Year Plans > Specific Objectives and Themes.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Slogan Evolution': 2nd Plan (Rapid Industrialization/Mahalanobis), 4th Plan (Growth with Stability), 5th Plan (Garibi Hatao), 11th Plan (Faster & More Inclusive), 12th Plan (Faster, Sustainable & More Inclusive).
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: UPSC tests precision in policy titles. The 11th Plan was 'Faster and More Inclusive'. The 12th added 'Sustainable'. The question tests if you noticed the *addition* of the environmental dimension.
The 12th Plan's stated objective centers on making growth both inclusive (reducing poverty/inequality) and sustainable (environmentally and fiscally).
High-yield for UPSC: questions often probe plan objectives and their policy implications. Connects to poverty alleviation, environmental policy, and fiscal targets; prepares you to evaluate plan outcomes and critique policy trade-offs. Study by comparing plan statements with corresponding targets and programmes.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012–17) and Niti Ayog > p. 5
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Envisioning a New Socio-Economic Order > 9.4 Five Year Plans > p. 125
The references specify numeric growth targets (e.g., 8% in the 12th Plan and projected 9–9.5%) which illustrate the 'faster growth' component of the objective.
Useful for questions on macroeconomic goals and plan evaluation. Knowing how targets are set and their implications helps answer queries on performance, feasibility, and policy priorities. Memorize key targets and link them to proposed measures and conditions.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012–17) and Niti Ayog > p. 5
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 15: Regional Development and Planning > Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012–17) > p. 9
The evidence notes the 12th Plan was the last plan and that NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015, a structural change affecting how plan objectives are pursued.
Exam-relevant for governance and public policy topics: explains institutional shift in planning approach (from Five-Year Plans to a different framework). Helps answer questions on institutional reforms, continuity of objectives, and implementation mechanisms. Learn chronology, rationale, and implications for planning.
- Geography of India ,Majid Husain, (McGrawHill 9th ed.) > Chapter 11: Industries > Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012–17) and Niti Ayog > p. 5
- History , class XII (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 9: Envisioning a New Socio-Economic Order > 9.4 Five Year Plans > p. 125
- Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 6: Indian Economy [1947 – 2014] > Types of Planning > p. 204
The 12th Plan had 25 specific 'Monitorable Targets'. A key shadow fact is the target to 'Generate 50 million new work opportunities in the non-farm sector' and 'Reduce headcount poverty by 10 percentage points'.
Use the 'Buzzword Accumulation' logic. Government slogans tend to get longer and more comprehensive over time. The 11th Plan was 'Faster + Inclusive'. The 12th Plan naturally wouldn't drop 'Faster', but it had to add the era's new concern (Environment). Option D is the only one that keeps the previous goals and adds the new 'Sustainable' pillar, making it the most 'complete' government slogan.
Mains GS-3 (Economy & Environment): The shift in titles from 11th to 12th Plan mirrors the global shift from pure GDP growth to the SDG framework (Rio+20 Summit, 2012). Use this to argue how Indian planning aligned with global sustainability goals before NITI Aayog took over.