Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R) : Assertion (A) : Government has launched the 'National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP)' for period of 2020-30. Reason (R) : The objective of NIP is to provide equitable access to infrastructure for all. Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
- (a)Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
- (b)Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
- (c)(A) is true but (R) is false
- (d)(A) is false but (R) is true
Correct — D, (A) is false but (R) is true. The National Infrastructure Pipeline was rolled out on the basis of a Task Force report (Department of Economic Affairs) unveiled on 31 December 2019 for the FIVE-YEAR period FY2019-20 to 2024-25 — i.e. 2020-2025, NOT 2020-2030. So the Assertion's claim of a '2020-30' period is factually wrong. The Reason, however, is a true statement of NIP's stated aims: it seeks world-class infrastructure and to improve/equalise access to infrastructure for all citizens (alongside raising investment to about Rs 111 lakh crore). Since (A) is false while (R) is independently true, the correct code is (d).
- (a)Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A) — Wrong — the Assertion is not true: NIP covers 2020-2025 (five years), not 2020-2030, so the pair cannot both be true.
- (b)Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A) — Wrong — again this needs (A) to be true, but the stated period (2020-30) is incorrect; NIP's period is 2020-25.
- (c)(A) is true but (R) is false — Wrong — it reverses the truth values: (A) is the false part (period is 2020-25) and (R) — equitable access to infrastructure for all — is a genuine NIP objective, hence true.
The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) is India's first whole-of-government pipeline of infrastructure projects, coordinating investment across sectors such as energy, roads, railways, urban infrastructure and irrigation over FY2020-2025. It was drawn up by a Task Force under the Department of Economic Affairs and projects a total capital outlay of roughly Rs 111 lakh crore, to be shared by the Centre, States and the private sector.
In an Assertion-Reason item, fact-check each statement before judging the link. The trap here is the DURATION: NIP is a five-year (2020-25) plan, so the '2020-30' assertion is false. Because the Reason states a real NIP objective (equitable access to infrastructure for all), it is true, giving the 'A false, R true' code (d).
- NIP announced 31 December 2019 for FY2020-2025 (five years) — not 2020-2030
- Projected investment of about Rs 111 lakh crore across infrastructure sectors
- Prepared by a Task Force under the Department of Economic Affairs (Ministry of Finance)
- Stated objectives include world-class infrastructure and improved, equitable access for all
NIP runs for 2020-25, so the Assertion (2020-30) is false; the Reason (equitable access to infrastructure) is a true objective — answer (d).
- Misreading the period as 2020-30 — NIP is a five-year (2020-25) pipeline
- Confusing NIP (project pipeline) with NMP (monetisation of existing assets)
UPPSC/UPSC ask NIP as an Assertion-Reason, statement or straight recall — usually testing the period (2020-25), the outlay (~Rs 111 lakh crore) or its objectives.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) was formulated for which period?
- (a)2015-2020
- (b)2019-20 to 2024-25
- (c)2020 to 2030
- (d)2022 to 2027
Answer(b) 2019-20 to 2024-25 — a five-year pipeline (commonly cited as 2020-25).
- practice — not a real PYQ
The National Infrastructure Pipeline projects a total investment of approximately
- (a)Rs 50 lakh crore
- (b)Rs 75 lakh crore
- (c)Rs 111 lakh crore
- (d)Rs 200 lakh crore
Answer(c) Rs 111 lakh crore — the outlay estimated by the DEA Task Force.