Question

Which one of the following statements is NOT correct about the first two Five Year Plan ?

• A. The first Five Year Plan was drafted by K.N. Raj and the second Five Year Plan was drafted by P.C. Mahalnobis.
• B. The first Five Year Plan focussed on agriculture and the second Five Year Plan focussed on industries.
• C. The first Five Year Plan emphasized on the active role of the public sector and the second Five Year Plan made huge allocations for large scale projects.
• D. The aim of first Five Year Plan was to raise the industrial production and in the second Five Year Plan, the government imposed substantial tariffs on imports in order to protect both public and private sector industries.

Hint:

- First Five Year Plan (1951-56): K.N. Raj -> Focus on Agriculture & Dams. - Second Five Year Plan (1956-61): P.C. Mahalanobis -> Focus on Heavy Industry & Tariffs.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept: The First Five Year Plan (1951–1956) and the Second Five Year Plan (1956–1961) laid the foundational framework for India's economic path post-independence.

Step 1: Verifying statement (A).
Young economist K.N. Raj was one of the key architects involved in drafting the First Five Year Plan, while PC Mahalanobis drafted the Second Plan (the Mahalanobis Strategy). This statement is correct.

Step 2: Verifying statement (B).
The First FYP prioritized agriculture, irrigation, and dam construction (e.g., Bhakra Nangal Dam) to overcome severe food deficits resulting from Partition. The Second FYP shifted focus heavily towards rapid industrialization and heavy basic industries. This statement is correct.

Step 3: Verifying statement (C).
Both plans stressed the dominant role of the state and public sector, allocating massive financial resources to large-scale infrastructure and industrial projects. This statement is correct.

Step 4: Verifying statement (D) and identifying the error.
Statement (D) claims that the "aim of first Five Year Plan was to raise industrial production". This is incorrect because the primary objective of the First FYP was agricultural development and overcoming food shortages, whereas raising industrial production through import substitution tariffs was the core strategy of the Second Five Year Plan. Hence, statement (D) is incorrect, making Option (D) the right answer.