The 12 Five-Year Plans

Context: The Planning Commission was set up in March 1950 under the chairmanship of Jawaharlal Nehru. From 1951 to 2017, India followed the Soviet model of Five-Year Plans (FYP).

Although replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015, the specific models and objectives of these plans are still "Hot Topics" for CGL and UPSC.

Phase 1: The Foundation (1951 - 1961)

1st Plan SUCCESS

1951 - 1956

Model: Harrod-Domar

Focus: Agriculture & Irrigation.
Reason: India was facing acute food shortage and influx of refugees.
Achievement: IITs set up; Dam projects like Bhakra Nangal started.

2nd Plan MODERATE

1956 - 1961

Model: P.C. Mahalanobis

Focus: Rapid Industrialization (Heavy Industries).
Achievement: Steel plants at Durgapur, Bhilai, and Rourkela established.
Note: Shifted focus from Agriculture to Industry.

Phase 2: The Troubled Years (1961 - 1980)

3rd Plan FAILED

1961 - 1966

Model: Gadgil Yojana

Goal: Self-reliance.
Why it Failed: 1. China War (1962)
2. Pakistan War (1965)
3. Severe Drought (1965-66).

🛑 PLAN HOLIDAY (1966 - 1969)
Due to the failure of the 3rd Plan, three Annual Plans were made.
*Green Revolution started during this break.*

4th Plan

1969 - 1974

Focus: Growth with Stability.
Events: 14 Banks Nationalized (1969), Indo-Pak War (1971), Smiling Buddha (Nuclear Test 1974).

5th Plan

1974 - 1978

Slogan: "Garibi Hatao" (Poverty Alleviation).
Twist: Terminated 1 year early (in 1978) by the newly elected Morarji Desai (Janta Govt).

🔄 ROLLING PLAN (1978 - 1980)
Introduced by the Janta Party Government (Concept by Gunnar Myrdal).

Phase 3: Modernization & Reform (1980 - 2017)

6th Plan

1980 - 1985

Marked the beginning of economic liberalization. NABARD was established (1982). Focus on Modernization.

7th Plan

1985 - 1990

Focus on "Food, Work, and Productivity". Jawahar Rozgar Yojana launched.

8th Plan (The Turnaround)

1992 - 1997

Model: Rao-Manmohan

Launched after the 1991 Economic Crisis. Full adoption of LPG Reforms (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization).

9th - 12th Plans

1997 - 2017

9th: Growth with Social Justice.
10th: Double per capita income.
11th: Faster & Inclusive Growth.
12th: Faster, Sustainable & More Inclusive Growth.

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Revision Flashcards

Harrod-Domar Model

Which Plan was based on this?

1st Five Year Plan

(1951-56). Focus was on Agriculture and Irrigation.

"Garibi Hatao"

Slogan of which plan?

5th Five Year Plan

This plan was terminated one year early (4 years only) by the Janta Government.

Plan Holiday

When did it happen?

1966 - 1969

Due to the failure of the 3rd Plan (Wars & Drought), the government took a break and ran Annual Plans.

Mahalanobis Model

Which Plan?

2nd Five Year Plan

Focus shifted to Heavy Industries (Steel Plants).

Exam-Style MCQs

Q1. Who is the final authority to approve the Five-Year Plans in India? (Old System)

A) Planning Commission

B) National Development Council (NDC)

Correct! The NDC was the final approval body.

C) Finance Ministry

Q2. Which Five-Year Plan achieved a growth rate higher than its target (The most successful)?

A) 3rd Plan

B) 8th Plan

Correct! Despite the crisis, the 8th Plan (LPG Reforms) achieved 6.8% growth against a target of 5.6%.

C) 9th Plan

Q3. The concept of "Rolling Plan" was introduced by which Government?

A) Congress

B) Janta Party

Correct! Introduced in 1978 after terminating the 5th Plan.

C) BJP

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