Which one of the following statements is not correct about the First Five Year Plan (1951)?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → Reflected ‘socialist pattern of society’, a goal that was passed at the Congress party session at Avadi.
Option (1) Reflected ‘socialist pattern of society’, a goal that was passed at the Congress party session at Avadi. False. The Avadi resolution declaring the ‘socialist pattern of society’ as the goal was reflected in the Second Plan, not the First.
Option (2) Prioritised agrarian sector, including investment in dams and irrigation. True.
Option (3) Focussed on land reforms as the key to the country’s development. True.
Option (4) K. N. Raj was involved in the drafting of the First Five Year Plan. True. He was a young economist who argued that India should ‘hasten slowly’.
NCERT (2025-26): “The First Five Year Plan … The First Five Year Plan (1951–1956) sought to get the country’s economy out of the cycle of poverty. K.N. Raj, a young economist involved in drafting the plan, argued that India should ‘hasten slowly’ for the first two decades as a fast rate of development might endanger democracy. The First Five Year Plan addressed, mainly, the agrarian sector including investment in dams and irrigation. Agricultural sector was hit hardest by Partition and needed urgent attention. Huge allocations were made for large-scale projects like the Bhakhra Nangal Dam. The Plan identified the pattern of land distribution in the country as the principal obstacle in the way of agricultural growth. It focused on land reforms as the key to the country’s development.… Rapid Industrialisation … Before this plan was finalised, the Congress party at its session held at Avadi near the then Madras city, passed an important resolution. It declared that ‘socialist pattern of society’ was its goal. This was reflected in the Second Plan.…” |