📑 Topics on this page (Jump to Topic):
📌 1. Pre-independence Plans
| Plan | Year | Proposed by |
|---|---|---|
| Planned Economy for India | 1934 | M. Visvesvaraya |
| National Planning Committee | 1938 | Congress; chaired by Jawaharlal Nehru |
| Bombay Plan | 1944 | 8 industrialists (J. R. D. Tata, G. D. Birla and others) |
| Gandhian Plan | 1944 | Shriman Narayan |
| People's Plan | 1945 | M. N. Roy |
| Sarvodaya Plan | 1950 | Jayaprakash Narayan |
📌 2. Planning Commission
- Set up on 15 March 1950 by a Union Cabinet resolution — neither constitutional nor statutory.
- Chairman: the Prime Minister; first Deputy Chairman: Gulzarilal Nanda.
- National Development Council (NDC): 6 August 1952; gave final approval to plans.
- The idea of planning came from the USSR; the Planning Commission was wound up in 2014 and NITI Aayog replaced it from 1 January 2015.
📌 3. Five-Year Plans
| Plan | Period | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | 1951-56 | Agriculture, irrigation; Harrod-Domar model; target 2.1%, successful |
| 2nd | 1956-61 | Heavy industry; Mahalanobis model; Bhilai, Rourkela, Durgapur steel plants |
| 3rd | 1961-66 | Self-reliant economy; failed due to the 1962 and 1965 wars and drought |
| Plan holiday | 1966-69 | Three annual plans; Green Revolution began |
| 4th | 1969-74 | Growth with stability, self-reliance; 14 banks nationalised in 1969 |
| 5th | 1974-79 | Garibi Hatao (remove poverty); ended a year early in 1978 |
| Rolling Plan | 1978-80 | Concept of the Janata government |
| 6th | 1980-85 | Poverty removal, employment; IRDP |
| 7th | 1985-90 | Food, work and productivity |
| Annual Plans | 1990-92 | Political instability and balance-of-payments crisis |
| 8th | 1992-97 | First after liberalisation; human resource development |
| 9th | 1997-2002 | Growth with social justice and equality |
| 10th | 2002-07 | 8% growth target; state-wise targets |
| 11th | 2007-12 | Faster and more inclusive growth |
| 12th (last) | 2012-17 | Faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth |
⚠️ Exam Traps:
- 1st Plan = Harrod-Domar; 2nd = Mahalanobis — do not swap them.
- "Garibi Hatao" is linked to the 5th Plan, not the 6th.
- The plan holiday was 1966-69 (after the 3rd Plan); the 1990-92 annual plans are separate.
📌 4. NITI Aayog
- Full name: National Institution for Transforming India; formed on 1 January 2015 (Cabinet resolution).
- Chairperson: the Prime Minister; Vice-Chairperson and CEO are appointed by the PM. CEO: Anurag Jain (since August 2026).
- Governing Council: Chief Ministers of all states and UTs with legislatures, and Lt Governors of other UTs.
- Role: a think tank, cooperative federalism, "bottom-up" approach; it has no power to allocate funds (that lies with the Finance Ministry).
- Key initiatives/indices: Atal Innovation Mission, SDG India Index, Aspirational Districts Programme, Export Preparedness Index.
| Point | Planning Commission | NITI Aayog |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Top-down | Bottom-up |
| Fund allocation | Gave plan funds to states | No, advisory only |
| Role of states | Limited (through NDC) | Direct part in the Governing Council |
💡 Memory Tip: Remember the plans: 1-farming, 2-industry, 3-self-reliance, 4-stability, 5-Garibi Hatao, 11-inclusive, 12-sustainable.
📌 5. Practice MCQs
📝 Practice MCQs (prepared by SF Prep — not PYQs)
Q1. When was the Planning Commission of India set up? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Planning Commission was set up on 15 March 1950 by a Cabinet resolution; 6 August 1952 is the NDC date.
The Planning Commission was set up on 15 March 1950 by a Cabinet resolution; 6 August 1952 is the NDC date.
Q2. Who was the chairman of the Planning Commission? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Prime Minister was the ex-officio chairman; the Deputy Chairman ran day-to-day work.
The Prime Minister was the ex-officio chairman; the Deputy Chairman ran day-to-day work.
Q3. The First Five-Year Plan was based on which model? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The 1st Plan (1951-56) used the Harrod-Domar model and stressed agriculture and irrigation.
The 1st Plan (1951-56) used the Harrod-Domar model and stressed agriculture and irrigation.
Q4. The Second Five-Year Plan focused mainly on: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 2nd Plan, based on the Mahalanobis model, set up the Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur steel plants.
The 2nd Plan, based on the Mahalanobis model, set up the Bhilai, Rourkela and Durgapur steel plants.
Q5. The "plan holiday" period was: Practice
Correct answer: (A)
After the 3rd Plan failed, three annual plans ran in 1966-69.
After the 3rd Plan failed, three annual plans ran in 1966-69.
Q6. What mainly caused the failure of the Third Five-Year Plan? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The wars with China (1962) and Pakistan (1965) and the 1965-66 drought upset the targets.
The wars with China (1962) and Pakistan (1965) and the 1965-66 drought upset the targets.
Q7. The slogan "Garibi Hatao" is linked with which Five-Year Plan? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
The main aim of the 5th Plan (1974-79) was Garibi Hatao.
The main aim of the 5th Plan (1974-79) was Garibi Hatao.
Q8. The "Rolling Plan" was in force during: Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Janata government ended the 5th Plan and adopted the rolling plan in 1978-80.
The Janata government ended the 5th Plan and adopted the rolling plan in 1978-80.
Q9. Which was the first Five-Year Plan after liberalisation? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
After the 1991 reforms the 8th Plan began in 1992.
After the 1991 reforms the 8th Plan began in 1992.
Q10. "Faster and more inclusive growth" was the aim of which plan? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The 11th Plan (2007-12) — faster and more inclusive; the 12th added "sustainable".
The 11th Plan (2007-12) — faster and more inclusive; the 12th added "sustainable".
Q11. Which was India's last Five-Year Plan? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 12th Plan ended on 31 March 2017; no Five-Year Plans followed.
The 12th Plan ended on 31 March 2017; no Five-Year Plans followed.
Q12. Who presented the Bombay Plan (1944)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
Eight industrialists including J. R. D. Tata and G. D. Birla drew up the Bombay Plan.
Eight industrialists including J. R. D. Tata and G. D. Birla drew up the Bombay Plan.
Q13. Who wrote "Planned Economy for India" (1934)? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
Engineer-administrator Visvesvaraya outlined a planned economy for India in 1934.
Engineer-administrator Visvesvaraya outlined a planned economy for India in 1934.
Q14. Who drew up the "People's Plan" (1945)? Practice
Correct answer: (A)
M. N. Roy presented the People's Plan in 1945; the Gandhian Plan was by Shriman Narayan.
M. N. Roy presented the People's Plan in 1945; the Gandhian Plan was by Shriman Narayan.
Q15. When was NITI Aayog formed? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
NITI Aayog was formed on 1 January 2015 by a Cabinet resolution in place of the Planning Commission.
NITI Aayog was formed on 1 January 2015 by a Cabinet resolution in place of the Planning Commission.
Q16. "NITI" in NITI Aayog stands for: Practice
Correct answer: (D)
NITI = National Institution for Transforming India.
NITI = National Institution for Transforming India.
Q17. Who are members of NITI Aayog's Governing Council? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
The Governing Council is a forum of cooperative federalism with the PM, all Chief Ministers and UT administrators.
The Governing Council is a forum of cooperative federalism with the PM, all Chief Ministers and UT administrators.
Q18. What is the main difference between the Planning Commission and NITI Aayog? Practice
Correct answer: (B)
NITI Aayog is an advisory think tank; funds are allocated by the Finance Ministry. Neither body is constitutional.
NITI Aayog is an advisory think tank; funds are allocated by the Finance Ministry. Neither body is constitutional.
Q19. When was the National Development Council (NDC) set up? Practice
Correct answer: (C)
The NDC was set up on 6 August 1952 and gave final approval to the Five-Year Plans.
The NDC was set up on 6 August 1952 and gave final approval to the Five-Year Plans.
Q20. The 1969 nationalisation of 14 major banks took place during which plan? Practice
Correct answer: (D)
The 4th Plan began on 1 April 1969; 14 banks were nationalised on 19 July 1969.
The 4th Plan began on 1 April 1969; 14 banks were nationalised on 19 July 1969.