In the given question, a statement of Assertion is followed by a statement of Reason. Mark the correct answer.

Assertion: In India, after the Independence, there was a consensus that development could not be left to private actors, and that there was a need for the government to develop a design or plan for development

Reason: The experience of the Great Depression in Europe, the inter-war reconstruction of Japan and Germany, and most of all the spectacular economic growth against heavy odds in the Soviet Union in the 1930s and 1940s contributed to this consensus.

Both the Assertion and the Reason are correct and the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

During this time, numerous individuals in India were greatly influenced by the Soviet model of development, which embraced a socialist approach. This included leaders from the Communist Party of India, the Socialist Party, and influential figures like Nehru within the Congress party. Consequently, a consensus emerged during the national movement, with the following key points:
Nationalist leaders recognized that the economic objectives of an independent India's government should diverge from the narrow commercial functions of the colonial government.
It was widely acknowledged that the responsibility for poverty alleviation and social and economic redistribution primarily rested on the government's shoulders.

However, there were debates among these leaders. Some emphasized industrialization as the preferred path, while others prioritized agricultural development and specifically addressing rural poverty. Despite these differing viewpoints, there was a shared agreement on one crucial aspect: that development could not be solely entrusted to private entities, and the government had to formulate a comprehensive plan or framework for development.
Factors responsible for the popular support of planning during the 1940s and 1950s:
The Experience of the Great Depression in Europe.
The inter-war reconstruction of Japan and Germany.
The spectacular economic growth in the USSR in the 1930s & 40s.