What was a shared vision of ‘development’ in India at the time of Independence?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → It should focus on both economic growth and social and economic justice.
Option (1) It should prioritize only material progress with emphasis on privatisation. — Incorrect. Development was to mean growth and justice, and the government, not private players, was to lead it.
Option (2) It should focus on both economic growth and social and economic justice. — Correct. Almost everyone agreed that the development of India should mean both economic growth and social and economic justice.
Option (3) It should be left to industrialists to bring market equilibrium. — Incorrect. It was agreed that the matter cannot be left to businessmen, industrialists and farmers; the government should play a key role.
Option (4) The government should focus on exclusive development for the rich, urban population first. — Incorrect. This goes against the shared aim of social and economic justice.
NCERT (2025-26): “Political contestation … After Independence our country had to make a series of major decisions like this. Each of these decisions could not be made independent of other such decisions. All these decisions were bound together by a shared vision or model of economic development. Almost everyone agreed that the development of India should mean both economic growth and social and economic justice. It was also agreed that this matter cannot be left to businessmen, industrialists and farmers themselves, that the government should play a key role in this.” |