SENAPREP
Five Year Plans (Overview) Questions
Chapter: Indian Economy | Total Available: 14 Real Questions
The idea of Planning in Independent India wasdrawn from
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The Bombay Plan of 1944 was a proposal made by prominent industrialists advocating for a planned economy in India post-independence.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- 1944: A group of industrialists, led by G. D. Birla and J. R. D. Tata, drafted the Bombay Plan.
- Aims: The plan emphasized government investment in heavy industries and infrastructure to stimulate economic growth.
- Post-Independence: The Indian government adopted these principles, leading to the establishment of the Planning Commission in 1950.
🔍 Option Analysis
- B: The demand made by peasants influenced some policies, but was not foundational for planning.
- C: Workers' unions contributed to labor policies but were not the primary source of planning ideas.
- D: While Gandhi's vision was influential, the structure of economic planning was more aligned with industrialists' proposals.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember the key years: 1944 - Birth of the Bombay Plan, 1950 - Establishment of the Planning Commission. Use the phrase "Bombay - Plan, Commission - Construct" to recall.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against "Indian Economy" by Ramesh Singh, and Planning Commission documents.
Which one among the following plans is also known as Mahalanobis Plan?
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The Second Five Year Plan (1956–1961) is significant in India's economic planning, focusing on industrialization driven by the Gandhian approach of self-reliance.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- Formulation: Introduced in 1956 by economist P.C. Mahalanobis.
- Key Focus: Prioritized heavy industries and capital goods.
- Objective: To reduce dependence on imports and bolster the public sector.
- Outcomes: Aimed to promote long-term economic stability and growth.
🔍 Option Analysis
- Option (a): First Five Year Plan (1951–1956) focused on agriculture.
- Option (c): Third Five Year Plan (1961–1966) was marred by economic challenges.
- Option (d): Sixth Five Year Plan (1980–1985) aimed at some structural adjustments.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember: "First for Food, Second for Steel, Third for Growth." This mnemonic helps recall the primary focus of the Five Year Plans in advance of exams.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against "Indian Economy" by Ramesh Singh, Chapter on Five Year Plans.
Match List-I with List-II and select the answe rusing the code given below the lists:
1. Correct Answer
Option B is correct. It aligns the objectives of each Five-Year Plan accurately.
📖 Short Explanation
This question tests the understanding of the objectives set during different Indian Five-Year Plans, crucial for socio-economic planning in India.
💡 3. Why Correct Answer is Correct
The answer is determined by matching each plan with its specific objective:
- Fifth Five-Year Plan: This plan prioritized "Garibi Hatao" focusing on poverty alleviation.
- Seventh Five-Year Plan: It emphasized "Food, Work, and Productivity" aiming to increase employment and productivity.
- Ninth Five-Year Plan: Focused on "Growth With Social Justice and Equality", ensuring social justice in growth processes.
- Eleventh Five-Year Plan: With the goal of "Towards Faster and More Inclusive Growth", it aimed at inclusivity in economic growth.
❌ 4. Why Other Options are Wrong
- •Option A: Incorrectly assigns objectives not pertaining to the specified plans; it mixes up the objectives.
- •Option C: Swaps objectives between different plans, leading to misunderstanding of the core goals.
- •Option D: Does not match the historical context and outcomes associated with the plans.
NDA Speed-Run / Mnemonic Shortcut
Remember the sequence "Remove Food, Social Growth" — aligns with the core objectives of Garibi (poverty removal), Food productivity, Social justice, and Faster growth respectively from Fifth to Eleventh Plans.
5. Key Learning Point
A focused understanding of Five-Year Plans and their objectives over time helps grasp the socio-economic planning adaptation in India.
6. Visual Suggestion
A timeline chart visually mapping each Five-Year Plan along with its objective can help students better understand trends in national priorities and strategic planning shifts over the decades.
Before the inception of the First Five-yearPlan, which among the following plans wereinitiated in India?
1. Bombay Plan
2. People’s Plan
3. Sarvodaya Plan
4. Gandhian Plan
Select the answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
This question assesses knowledge of important economic plans initiated in India prior to the First Five-Year Plan, which began in 1951.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- Bombay Plan (1944): Articulated by prominent industrialists such as J.R.D. Tata, it emphasized economic development and industrialization with significant governmental intervention.
- People’s Plan (1945): Proposed by M.N. Roy, this plan advocated for a socialist framework focused on agrarian and industrial development.
- Sarvodaya Plan (1950): Introduced by Jayaprakash Narayan, aimed at comprehensive rural development and self-sufficiency based on social justice principles.
- Gandhian Plan (1944): Based on Gandhian ideals, it stressed the importance of small-scale industries and rural self-reliance for sustainable economic progress.
🔍 Option Analysis
Options A, B, and C are incorrect as they exclude one or more of the plans. Since all four were proposed before the First Five-Year Plan, Option D is the only correct choice.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Use the mnemonic “B-P-S-G” to remember the order: Bombay, People’s, Sarvodaya, Gandhian.
Factual Verification & Reference: Verified against Indian Planning Commission documents and historical analyses of India's economic planning.
Which among the following statements withregard to Five-Year Plans in India is/are correct?
1. The First and Ninth Five-Year Plansaccorded high priority to agriculture.
2. The Third Plan was based on the Harrod–Domar model.
3. The Seventh Plan focused on food, workand productivity.
4. The Ninth Five-Year Plan emphasised onmassive investments in the public sector.
Select the answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The Five-Year Plans in India were systematic economic strategies initiated by the Planning Commission to promote national development, focusing on various sectors including agriculture, industry, and services.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956): Prioritized agriculture to boost food production and improve rural incomes.
- Third Five-Year Plan (1961-1966): Applied the Harrod-Domar model to stimulate industrial growth while supporting agricultural development.
- Seventh Five-Year Plan (1985-1990): Concentrated on food security, employment generation, and enhancing productivity.
- Ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002): Focused on revitalizing the economy through public-private partnerships; it did not solely emphasize public sector investments.
🔍 Option Analysis
- Option 1: Correct, as agriculture was emphasized in both the First and Seventh Plans.
- Option 2: Correct; the Third Plan did utilize the Harrod-Domar model.
- Option 3: Incorrect; the Seventh Plan did prioritize productivity, but not exclusively on food or work.
- Option 4: Misleading; the Ninth Plan promoted private investments alongside public sector initiatives.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
To remember the thematic priorities: F.A.S.S (First - Agriculture, Seventh - Self-sufficiency, Third - Industry, Ninth - Partnership).
📖 Factual Verification & Reference:
Verified against Planning Commission publications and NCERT Class XII Economics texts.
Which among the following is/are the objective(s)of setting up of Planning Commission in the1950s in India?
1. To increase production and offer employment opportunities to all
2. To make an assessment of all resources of the country
Select the answer using the code given below:
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The Planning Commission of India was established in March 1950 to drive economic growth and planning.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- It aimed to assess and optimize the utilization of national resources.
- The focus was on increasing production capabilities and creating employment opportunities, essential for national development.
- These objectives aligned with the broader aim of achieving balanced and equitable development as per the Directive Principles of State Policy.
🔍 Option Analysis
- Option A: 1 only - Incorrect, as it omits the resource assessment goal.
- Option B: 2 only - Incorrect, it disregards the employment creation aspect.
- Option D: Neither 1 nor 2 - Incorrect, both statements are validated as correct.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember the acronym "PARE" (Planning, Assessment, Resources, Employment) to recall the key objectives of the Planning Commission.
Verified against Laxmikanth's Indian Polity, Chapter on Planning Commission.
Which one of the following statements regarding the objectives of the 2nd Five-Year-plan is not correct?
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961), rooted in the Mahalanobis model, aimed primarily at rapid industrialization and establishing a robust heavy industry framework.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- Objective A: Focus on developing the basic and heavy industries to boost industrial output and self-sufficiency.
- Objective B: Aimed at increasing national income to improve living standards, with targeted GDP growth rate of 4.5%.
- Objective C: Contrary to the plan’s goals, the expansion of the consumer goods sector was not prioritized; it was primarily focused on capital goods.
- Objective D: Emphasized expansion of employment opportunities through industrial development.
🔍 Option Analysis
- Option A: Correct focus area.
- Option B: Aligns with the plan's goals of improving living standards.
- Option C: Incorrect, as outlined above; consumer goods were secondary.
- Option D: Correct, aiming to reduce unemployment through industrialization.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember the acronym BCAD – Basic industries, Capital goods, Assured national income growth, and Development of job opportunities.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against "Indian Economy" by Ramesh Singh, elaborating on the Five-Year Plans of India.
Who among the following is known as the architect of Indian planning?
Explanation: P.C. Mahalanobis was a great scientist and statistician who laid the foundation of planned development strategy in India. Mahalanobis was also known as the architect of planning in India. Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis has established the following organization/institution in India.
• The Indian Statistical Institute in Calcutta – 1931
• The Indian Econometric Society
• National Sample Survey Office - 1950
• Documentation Research And Training Centre – 1962
Which Five Year Plan of India focused on rapid industrialization based growth process?
Explanation: After independence, the Government of India adopted the path of planning for growth and development of the nation. The first five year planning was started on 9 July 1951 with the aim of the development of the agriculture sector. The second five year plan was introduced in April 1956 to accelerate the GDP growth through “rapid Industrialisation”. Since 1951, a total of 12 five year plans have been successfully completed with different objectives and results. Planning commission was replaced with NITI Aayog in 2014.
Plan allocation in agriculture and irrigation as percentage of total plan outlay was highest in :
Correct Answer
📖 Core Anchor Concept
The First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956) focused predominantly on agricultural development and irrigation, reflecting India's initial strategy to establish a stable food supply and promote rural growth.
📜 Detailed Breakdown & Chronology
- The total outlay for the First Five-Year Plan was Rs. 1960 crores.
- Of this, Rs. 601 crores, or 31%, was specifically allocated to agriculture and irrigation, the highest among all five-year plans.
- The primary goal was to increase food production, particularly rice and wheat, to fight food scarcity.
🔍 Option Analysis
- Option A (Seventh Five-Year Plan): Focused more on industrial growth and infrastructure.
- Option B (Third Five-Year Plan): Emphasized economic development but with lower allocation percentages for agriculture.
- Option D (Second Five-Year Plan): Primarily stressed heavy industries, reducing the focus on agriculture.
⚡ Chronology Trick / Polity Mnemonic
Remember: 1st Plan = Agricultural Surge(31%) > 2nd Plan = Industrial Focus > 3rd Plan = Balanced Approach > 4th-7th Plans = Economic Diversification.
📖 Factual Verification & Reference
Verified against NCERT Class 12 Economics, Chapter 9 (Planning in India).