Question

What was the central objective of planning in India?

• A. To follow British culture
• B. To initiate a process of development
• C. To initiate a process of privatisation
• D. To initiate uniqueness

Answer 1

Answer:

B. To initiate a process of development

Objectives of Indian Planning

• The primary goal of economic planning in India, initiated after independence, was to kickstart a development process that was largely stagnant under colonial rule.
• This involved shifting from a predominantly agrarian economy to a more industrialized and diversified one.
• Key objectives included:
  • Achieving rapid economic growth to raise the standard of living for all citizens.
  • Self-sufficiency (self-reliance), particularly in food grains and essential industrial goods, to reduce dependence on foreign imports.
  • Reducing inequalities in income and wealth distribution.
  • Employment generation to tackle the widespread unemployment and underemployment.
  • Industrialization, with a focus on developing heavy industries and infrastructure.
  • Regional balanced development to ensure that the benefits of development reached all parts of the country.

Historical Context

• The First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956) emphasized agricultural development, while subsequent plans progressively focused on industrialization.
• The Planning Commission, established in 1950, was the key institution responsible for formulating and overseeing these plans.
• The objective was to achieve development through a mixed economy model, combining state intervention with private enterprise.