Which one of the following statements regarding the objectives of the Second Five-Year Plan is not correct ?
- (a)Development of the basic and heavy industry sector
- (b)Increase in national income to raise living standards
- (c)Expansion of the consumer goods sector
- (d)Expansion of employment opportunities
Correct — C, expansion of the consumer goods sector. This is the statement that is not an objective of the Second Five-Year Plan. Built on the Mahalanobis strategy, the Second Plan (1956-61) put its weight on rapid industrialisation led by basic and heavy (capital-goods) industries, while also aiming to raise national income and living standards and to widen employment. Expanding the consumer-goods sector was not a stated goal — the plan expected small-scale and cottage industries to meet consumer demand and consciously favoured capital goods over consumer goods. So option (c) is the odd one out.
- (a)Development of the basic and heavy industry sector — This was the central objective of the Second Plan under the Mahalanobis model, so it is a correct statement, not the exception the question asks for.
- (b)Increase in national income to raise living standards — Raising national income to lift living standards was a stated objective of the plan, so it is correct and not the exception.
- (d)Expansion of employment opportunities — Widening employment was among the plan's objectives, so this statement is correct and not the exception.
The Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61) was framed on the Mahalanobis model, which argued that building a domestic capital-goods (heavy industry) base was the fastest route to long-run growth and self-reliance. It underpinned the public-sector steel plants and the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956.
In a 'which is not correct' question, three options describe the plan accurately and one is the misfit. The misfit here is consumer-goods expansion — the plan de-emphasised consumer goods, leaving them largely to the small-scale and cottage sector.
- The Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61) was based on the Mahalanobis model, prioritising basic and heavy (capital-goods) industries.
- Public-sector steel plants at Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur were set up during this period.
- It coincided with the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956, which reserved the 'commanding heights' of industry for the state.
- Consumer and wage goods were expected to come largely from small-scale and cottage industries rather than a dedicated large-scale consumer-goods drive.
- Reading 'industrialisation' as including a consumer-goods push — the Second Plan favoured capital and heavy goods and left consumer goods to small industry.
- Confusing the Second Plan's heavy-industry focus with the First Plan's agriculture-and-irrigation priority.
A 'which is not an objective' item — know that the Second Plan's signature was heavy and basic industry under Mahalanobis, so the consumer-goods option is the misfit.
Consider the following statements regarding Indian Planning : 1. The Second Five-Year Plan emphasised on the establishment of heavy industries. 2. The Third Five-Year Plan introduced the concept of import substitution as a strategy for industrialisation. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer(a) 1 only — the Second Plan emphasised heavy industry (Mahalanobis model); import substitution had begun earlier, not with the Third Plan.
Tests the same defining feature of the Second Five-Year Plan — its emphasis on basic and heavy industry under the Mahalanobis strategy.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Second Five-Year Plan of India was based on the growth model developed by:
- (a)Harrod and Domar
- (b)P. C. Mahalanobis
- (c)Amartya Sen
- (d)Vakil and Brahmananda
Answer(b) P. C. Mahalanobis — his model of heavy-industry-led growth shaped the Second Plan.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Which set of public-sector integrated steel plants was established during the Second Five-Year Plan?
- (a)Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur
- (b)Bokaro and Salem
- (c)Visakhapatnam and Bhadravati
- (d)Jamshedpur and Burnpur
Answer(a) Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur — these three public-sector steel plants were set up during the Second Plan.