Plan allocation in agriculture and irrigation as percentage of total plan outlay was highest in :
- (a)Seventh Five-Year Plan
- (b)Third Five-Year Plan
- (c)First Five-Year Plan
- (d)Second Five-Year Plan
Correct — C, First Five-Year Plan. The First Plan (1951–56) was based on the Harrod–Domar model and gave top priority to agriculture and irrigation (including multipurpose river-valley projects) to recover from Partition and food shortages, so their share of total plan outlay was the highest of the plans listed.
- (a)Seventh Five-Year Plan — The Seventh Plan (1985–90) emphasised food, work and productivity with a large services/industry component; agriculture-plus-irrigation was a much smaller share than in the First Plan.
- (b)Third Five-Year Plan — The Third Plan (1961–66) stressed heavy industry and self-reliance; agriculture's share fell relative to the First Plan.
- (d)Second Five-Year Plan — The Second Plan (1956–61), on the Mahalanobis model, deliberately prioritised heavy/basic industry — agriculture's share was among the lowest.
India's early Five-Year Plans shifted emphasis over time: the First Plan (1951–56) concentrated on agriculture and irrigation, the Second Plan (1956–61) on heavy industry (Mahalanobis strategy), and later plans balanced multiple sectors. Hence agriculture-plus-irrigation as a percentage of total outlay peaked in the First Plan.
Match the plan to its priority: First = agriculture/irrigation, Second = heavy industry. The question asks where agriculture+irrigation had the HIGHEST share, which is the agriculture-led First Plan.
- The First Five-Year Plan (1951–56) prioritised agriculture and irrigation.
- It used the Harrod–Domar growth model.
- The Second Plan (1956–61) shifted to heavy industry (Mahalanobis model).
- Multipurpose projects like Bhakra–Nangal and Damodar Valley began in the First Plan era.
- Confusing the First Plan (agriculture) with the Second (heavy industry).
- Assuming a later plan spent more on agriculture as a share of outlay.
Asked as which plan gave the highest share to agriculture/irrigation, or matching plans to their priority sectors.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Second Five-Year Plan was based on which model?
- (a)Harrod–Domar
- (b)Mahalanobis
- (c)Gadgil
- (d)Wage-goods
Answer(b) Mahalanobis (heavy-industry strategy).
- practice — not a real PYQ
The First Five-Year Plan gave top priority to
- (a)heavy industry
- (b)agriculture and irrigation
- (c)services
- (d)defence
Answer(b) agriculture and irrigation.