SSC CGL 2025 PYQ — Question 46

Correct Answer

1966-69

Explanation

The period from 1966 to 1969 is officially designated as the 'Plan Holiday' in the history of Indian economic planning. This break occurred because the third Five-Year Plan (1961–1966) failed to meet its targets due to the devastating impact of the Sino-Indian War (1962), the Indo-Pakistani War (1965), and severe droughts that led to a food crisis. Consequently, the government was unable to initiate the fourth Five-Year Plan on schedule.

During this three-year interval, the government shifted focus to implementing annual plans to stabilize the economy. This period was pivotal as it marked the beginning of the Green Revolution in India, which focused on high-yielding variety seeds and improved irrigation to achieve food self-sufficiency.

Important Questions and Answers

Question: What type of plans were implemented during the Plan Holiday?

Answer: The government implemented three consecutive Annual Plans instead of a comprehensive Five-Year Plan due to the lack of sufficient financial resources and the need for immediate economic stabilization.

Question: What was the main reason for the failure of the third Five-Year Plan?

Answer: The third Five-Year Plan was severely impacted by the India-China war of 1962, the India-Pakistan war of 1965, severe droughts, and the resulting economic inflation and food shortages.