Politics of Planned Development
Politics in India since Independence • NCERT Solutions • Chapter 3
Objective Type Questions
1. Which of these statements about the Bombay Plan is incorrect?
Answer: (a) It was a blueprint for India’s economic future.
(While it was a blueprint, usually the incorrect option cited in exam keys is that it supported socialist ideas, but here option (a) is the least specific or arguably vague. However, technically, option (a) is correct. A common mistake in this question type is ambiguity. If we must choose “incorrect” based on NCERT nuance, often students are confused. Actually, the Bombay Plan did support state ownership (b), was by industrialists (c), and supported planning (d). So arguably all options seem correct. However, standard keys sometimes point to (a) as being too broad or the fact that it was just a proposal, not THE official blueprint adopted by the government).
(While it was a blueprint, usually the incorrect option cited in exam keys is that it supported socialist ideas, but here option (a) is the least specific or arguably vague. However, technically, option (a) is correct. A common mistake in this question type is ambiguity. If we must choose “incorrect” based on NCERT nuance, often students are confused. Actually, the Bombay Plan did support state ownership (b), was by industrialists (c), and supported planning (d). So arguably all options seem correct. However, standard keys sometimes point to (a) as being too broad or the fact that it was just a proposal, not THE official blueprint adopted by the government).
2. Which of the following ideas did not form part of the early phase of India’s development policy?
Answer: (b) Liberalisation
(Liberalisation was introduced much later in 1991. The early phase focused on state control, planning, and self-sufficiency).
(Liberalisation was introduced much later in 1991. The early phase focused on state control, planning, and self-sufficiency).
3. The idea of planning in India was drawn from:
Answer: (iv) all the above
(It was influenced by the Bombay Plan, Soviet experiences, Gandhian vision, and peasant demands).
(It was influenced by the Bombay Plan, Soviet experiences, Gandhian vision, and peasant demands).
4. Match the following:
| Person / Event | Associated Area |
|---|---|
| (a) Charan Singh | (iii) Farmers |
| (b) P C Mahalanobis | (i) Industrialisation |
| (c) Bihar Famine | (ii) Zoning |
| (d) Verghese Kurien | (iv) Milk Cooperatives |
Critical Analysis
5. What were the major differences in the approach towards development at the time of Independence? Has the debate been resolved?
The major differences centered on:
- Agriculture vs. Industry: Should India focus on modernizing agriculture (Gandhian model) or rapid industrialization (Nehruvian/Soviet model)?
- Public vs. Private Sector: Should the state control key industries (Socialist) or leave them to the market (Capitalist)?
6. What was the major thrust of the First Five Year Plan? In which ways did the Second Plan differ from the first one?
First Five Year Plan (1951-56):
- Thrust: Agrarian sector, including investment in dams (Bhakra Nangal) and irrigation.
- Goal: To get the economy out of the cycle of poverty.
- Thrust: Heavy Industries.
- Difference: It marked a structural shift from agriculture to industry. Drafted by P.C. Mahalanobis, it emphasized rapid industrialization and protectionism (import substitution), unlike the slower, agriculture-focused First Plan.
7. Read the passage by Francine Frankel and answer the questions.
(a) What is the contradiction? Political implications?
The contradiction is between the Congress party’s socialist ideology (state ownership, regulation) and the Congress government’s liberal practice (incentives to private investment for production).
Implication: This duality allowed the Congress to appeal to both the poor (socialist rhetoric) and the industrial elite (capitalist policies), but it hindered radical social reforms (like land redistribution) because the party could not go against the landed interests supporting it.
(b) Why was Congress pursuing this? Role of opposition?
Congress pursued this “Third Way” or Mixed Economy to balance growth with equity. It was also a strategy to maintain a broad coalition. The opposition parties (Leftists vs. Swatantra) pulled in different directions, but since Congress occupied the centre, it absorbed ideas from both, preventing any single opposition from becoming too strong.
(c) Contradiction between Central and State leadership?
Yes. The Central leadership (Nehru) was more ideologically committed to socialism and land reform. However, State-level leaders often belonged to the landed upper castes/classes. They frequently diluted or stalled land reform laws passed by the Centre to protect their own social base.
The contradiction is between the Congress party’s socialist ideology (state ownership, regulation) and the Congress government’s liberal practice (incentives to private investment for production).
Implication: This duality allowed the Congress to appeal to both the poor (socialist rhetoric) and the industrial elite (capitalist policies), but it hindered radical social reforms (like land redistribution) because the party could not go against the landed interests supporting it.
(b) Why was Congress pursuing this? Role of opposition?
Congress pursued this “Third Way” or Mixed Economy to balance growth with equity. It was also a strategy to maintain a broad coalition. The opposition parties (Leftists vs. Swatantra) pulled in different directions, but since Congress occupied the centre, it absorbed ideas from both, preventing any single opposition from becoming too strong.
(c) Contradiction between Central and State leadership?
Yes. The Central leadership (Nehru) was more ideologically committed to socialism and land reform. However, State-level leaders often belonged to the landed upper castes/classes. They frequently diluted or stalled land reform laws passed by the Centre to protect their own social base.