📌 Introduction
India's Five-Year Plans played a crucial role in shaping the country’s economic growth and development. These plans were inspired by the Soviet Union's central planning model and aimed at achieving self-reliance, industrialization, and poverty reduction.
📅 Time Period: 1951 - 2017
🏛 Planning Commission: 1950 - 2015
📊 Replaced by: NITI Aayog (2015)
Each plan was based on a specific economic model, such as the Harrod-Domar Model, Mahalanobis Model, and Gadgil Model. Let’s explore each Five-Year Plan, its objectives, achievements, failures, and economic model.
📊 List of Five-Year Plans in India
🏆 1st Five-Year Plan (1951-1956) – Agriculture & Irrigation Focus
📈 Model Used: Harrod-Domar Model (focused on capital formation and investment)
Objective:
- Focus on agriculture, irrigation, and community development
- Post-Partition refugee rehabilitation
Achievements:
✅ National income increased by 18%
✅ Bhakra Nangal, Damodar Valley, Hirakud dams constructed
Shortcomings:
❌ Slow industrial growth
❌ Dependency on monsoons
🏭 2nd Five-Year Plan (1956-1961) – Industrialization & Public Sector Growth
📈 Model Used: Mahalanobis Model (focused on heavy industries and capital goods)
Objective:
- Establishment of public sector industries
- Development of steel plants and large industries
Achievements:
✅ Establishment of Bhilai, Durgapur, and Rourkela steel plants
✅ Heavy machinery and power plants grew
Shortcomings:
❌ Agriculture was neglected → food shortages
❌ High inflation due to excessive investment in industry
🌾 3rd Five-Year Plan (1961-1966) – Self-Sufficiency & Green Revolution
📈 Model Used: Gadgil Model (emphasis on balanced regional growth)
Objective:
- Self-sufficiency in food grains
- Rapid industrialization
Achievements:
✅ Start of Green Revolution (High-Yield Variety Seeds introduced)
✅ Economic growth at 5.6% (target: 5.6%)
Shortcomings:
❌ 1962 China War & 1965 Indo-Pak War disrupted the economy
❌ Droughts led to food shortages
⚠ Plan Holiday (1966-1969) – Economic Crisis Recovery
📈 Reason: Due to economic instability, no Five-Year Plan was implemented. Instead, Annual Plans were introduced.
Objective:
- Economic stabilization post-war
- Inflation control
Shortcomings:
❌ No long-term planning
❌ Dependence on foreign aid
📈 4th Five-Year Plan (1969-1974) – Growth & Poverty Reduction
📈 Model Used: Ashok Rudra Model (focus on rural development)
Objective:
- Self-reliance and growth of small-scale industries
- Poverty reduction through rural employment programs
Achievements:
✅ Expansion of Green Revolution technology
✅ Establishment of banks in rural areas
Shortcomings:
❌ Political and economic instability
❌ Increase in unemployment
🎯 5th Five-Year Plan (1974-1979) – Garibi Hatao (Poverty Eradication)
📈 Model Used: Rolling Plan Concept
Objective:
- "Garibi Hatao" (Eradicate Poverty)
- Growth in employment and exports
Achievements:
✅ Employment opportunities increased
✅ Poverty reduction strategies launched
Shortcomings:
❌ Discontinued in 1978 due to political reasons
📡 6th Five-Year Plan (1980-1985) – Infrastructure & Modernization
📈 Model Used: Investment Model (focused on IT & technology growth)
Objective:
- Infrastructure development
- Increase in employment & industrial production
Achievements:
✅ Growth in IT & telecom industries
✅ Employment generation
Shortcomings:
❌ Slow growth in the social sector
🔧 7th Five-Year Plan (1985-1990) – Employment & Modernization
📈 Model Used: Liberalization Policy Model
Objective:
- Modernization of technology and industries
- Employment generation
Achievements:
✅ Increase in food production
✅ Rapid growth of private sector industries
Shortcomings:
❌ Political instability
🚀 8th Five-Year Plan (1992-1997) – Economic Reforms & Globalization
📈 Model Used: LPG Model (Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization)
Objective:
- Shift from a socialist economy to a market economy
- Opening up of the economy for foreign investment
Achievements:
✅ Liberalization of industries
✅ Growth of private sector and foreign investment
Shortcomings:
❌ Increase in economic inequality
📅 9th - 12th Five-Year Plans (1997-2017)
- 9th Plan (1997-2002): Sustainable development
- 10th Plan (2002-2007): Target 8% GDP growth
- 11th Plan (2007-2012): Inclusive growth
- 12th Plan (2012-2017): Focus on faster and sustainable development
🔥 End of Five-Year Plans & Transition to NITI Aayog (2015-Present)
In 2015, the Indian government abolished the Planning Commission and introduced NITI Aayog for more flexible and decentralized economic planning.
📌 Key Changes:
✅ 15-Year Vision Document replaced Five-Year Plans
✅ Focus on sustainable and sector-based growth
📖 MPSC Previous Year Questions on Five-Year Plans
📝 Prelims Questions:
1️⃣ Which Five-Year Plan introduced the slogan “Garibi Hatao”? (MPSC 2019)
2️⃣ Under which plan was the Green Revolution introduced? (UPSC 2018)
3️⃣ Which Five-Year Plan focused on heavy industries and capital goods? (UPSC 2020)
📝 Mains Questions:
1️⃣ Explain the impact of LPG reforms introduced in the 8th Five-Year Plan. (MPSC 2022)
2️⃣ Discuss the objectives and failures of the 3rd Five-Year Plan. (MPSC 2021)
🏁 Conclusion
The Five-Year Plans were crucial in shaping India’s economy. Each plan had successes and failures, but they contributed to India's long-term growth and development.
For MPSC aspirants, focus on:
✅ Objectives & Achievements of each plan
✅ Failures & Challenges
✅ MPSC Previous Year Questions
📢 Stay consistent with your preparation, and success will follow! 🚀