Question

When was the first Five-Year-Plan implemented ? Which factor was given more emphasis ? How was it different from the Second Five-Year-Plan ?

Hint:

A simple way to remember the difference is: First Plan = Agriculture and Patience; Second Plan = Industry and Speed. This contrast is central to understanding the debates on India's development path.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
This question addresses the initial phase of India's planned economic development after independence. It requires knowledge of the timeline, focus, and comparative strategy of the first two Five-Year Plans.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
When was the first Five-Year-Plan implemented?
The first Five-Year Plan was implemented for the duration from 1951 to 1956.
Which factor was given more emphasis?
The main emphasis of the first Five-Year Plan was on the agricultural sector. The plan focused on addressing the immediate problems of food shortages, refugee rehabilitation, and inflation that the country faced after Partition. A significant portion of the budget was allocated to agriculture, including investments in irrigation and power projects like the Bhakra-Nangal Dam. The plan was based on the Harrod-Domar model and aimed for gradual, steady growth.
How was it different from the Second Five-Year-Plan?
The first and second Five-Year Plans were significantly different in their core strategy and emphasis:
\begin{tabular}{|l|l|} \hline First Five-Year Plan (1951-56) & Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61)
\hline Primary Focus: Agriculture & Primary Focus: Heavy Industries
\hline Strategy: Emphasized patience and a slow, & Strategy: Aimed for rapid structural
steady growth. & transformation through quick industrialization.
\hline Model: Based on the Harrod-Domar & Model: Based on the P.C. Mahalanobis
model with a focus on savings. & model.
\hline Key Investments: Dams and irrigation. & Key Investments: Large-scale steel plants,
& heavy engineering, and public sector enterprises.
\hline \end{tabular}
Step 3: Final Answer:
The first Five-Year Plan was implemented from 1951-1956 with a primary emphasis on agriculture. It differed fundamentally from the Second Plan, which shifted the focus to rapid industrialization and the development of heavy industries.