The Second Five Year Plan (1956-1961), often associated with the Mahalanobis Model, marked a significant shift in India's development strategy. What was the primary focus of this plan?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: D
Explanation
The correct answer is Option 4 i.e. Rapid industrialization with a particular emphasis on the development of basic and heavy industries.
Developed by statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, this plan shifted India's economic trajectory from agriculture (the focus of the First Plan) toward capital goods. The strategy aimed at long-term self-reliance by building massive state-owned infrastructure, leading to the birth of major steel plants in Bhilai, Durgapur, and Rourkela.
Timeline and Evolution
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1951–1956: The First Plan focused on the Harrod-Domar model to improve agriculture and irrigation.
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1956–1961: The Second Plan introduced the "Big Push" for heavy industries and the "Socialistic Pattern of Society."
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Legacy: While it successfully established India’s industrial base, the diversion of funds led to a food shortage by the late 1950s, eventually necessitating the Green Revolution in later decades.