Read the following Assertion (A) and Reason (R) carefully and choose the correct option.
Assertion (A): Self-reliance was a major objective of India's early planning era.
Reason (R): India sought to reduce dependence on foreign aid and imports post-independence.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 1 i.e. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
During the early planning era (specifically the first seven Five-Year Plans), Self-reliance (Atmanirbharta) was prioritized to ensure economic sovereignty.
The Assertion (A) is true because the government aimed to build a strong domestic industrial base.
The Reason (R) correctly explains this objective, as post-independence India wanted to avoid "political strings" attached to foreign aid and reduce the heavy drain on foreign exchange caused by importing essential goods like foodgrains and machinery.