How did the Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961) differ from the First in terms of its approach to industrialisation?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 3 i.e. Emphasised the development of heavy industries.
The Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961), based on the Mahalanobis model, strongly emphasized building a base for heavy industries such as steel, power, and machine tools. This was a clear shift from the First Plan (1951–1956), which mainly focused on agriculture, food production, and irrigation to stabilize the economy after independence. By prioritizing heavy industries, the Second Plan aimed at long-term self-reliance and faster industrial growth, marking a major change in India’s development strategy.