Five Year Plans
Key Concepts & Formulas
| # | Concept | Quick Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Plan Holiday | 1966-69; three Annual Plans after 3rd plan failure due to wars & drought |
| 2 | Rolling Plan | 1978-80; introduced by Janata govt.; yearly targets inside 5-yr frame |
| 3 | Liberalisation Plan | 8th Plan (1992-97); first plan after 1991 reforms; “human development” focus |
| 4 | Growth Rate Formula | Average annual growth = [(GDPend ÷ GDPstart)^(1/5) – 1] × 100 |
| 5 | NITI Aayog | 1 Jan 2015; replaced Planning Commission; cooperative & competitive federalism |
| 6 | Gadgil Formula | 1969; formula to distribute Central assistance to States based on population (60%), performance (10%), etc. |
10 Practice MCQs
- Which Five-Year Plan was terminated one year early because of the 1962 & 1965 wars?
- A) Second Plan
- B) Third Plan
- C) Fourth Plan
- D) Fifth Plan
Answer: B
Solution: Third Plan (1961-66) was cut short to 1965-66.
Shortcut: “Third—wars—threw it out.”
Tag: Timeline
- The slogan “Garibi Hatao” was first prominently linked with which plan?
- A) Fourth Plan
- B) Fifth Plan
- C) Sixth Plan
- D) Seventh Plan
Answer: B
Solution: Fifth Plan (1974-79) adopted this slogan.
Shortcut: 5 fingers push poverty (Garibi) away.
Tag: Slogan
- Which plan period is known as “Plan Holiday”?
- A) 1951-56
- B) 1966-69
- C) 1974-79
- D) 1980-85
Answer: B
Solution: Three Annual Plans 1966-69.
Shortcut: 6-9… no five (plan) line.
Tag: Timeline
- The highest targeted GDP growth rate (8.5%) was set in which plan?
- A) 10th Plan
- B) 11th Plan
- C) 12th Plan
- D) 8th Plan
Answer: B
Solution: 11th Plan (2007-12) target 8.5% (actual ~8%).
Shortcut: 11 looks like two tall pillars—high target.
Tag: Growth
- Who was the first Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission?
- A) C. D. Deshmukh
- B) V. T. Krishnamachari
- C) Gulzarilal Nanda
- D) P. C. Mahalanobis
Answer: C
Solution: Gulzarilal Nanda (1951).
Shortcut: G-Nanda—Got Number-1 post.
Tag: Person
- The Rolling Plan concept was introduced by which government?
- A) Indira Gandhi
- B) Morarji Desai (Janata Party)
- C) Rajiv Gandhi
- D) V. P. Singh
Answer: B
Solution: Janata govt. 1978-80.
Shortcut: Jana-“roll”-ta.
Tag: Concept
- Which plan first accorded “priority” to Information Technology & telecom?
- A) 7th Plan
- B) 8th Plan
- C) 9th Plan
- D) 10th Plan
Answer: B
Solution: 8th Plan (1992-97) post-liberalisation.
Shortcut: 8 looks like spectacles—IT guys.
Tag: Sector
- NITI Aayog was formed replacing Planning Commission in the year
- A) 2014
- B) 2015
- C) 2016
- D) 2013
Answer: B
Solution: 1-1-2015.
Shortcut: “New Year 15—New body.”
Tag: Timeline
- The Gadgil Formula relates to
- A) Industrial licensing
- B) Central assistance to States
- C) Poverty estimation
- D) Tax devolution
Answer: B
Solution: Distribution of plan assistance among states.
Shortcut: Gad-gil = Give-give (to states).
Tag: Formula
- India’s first Five-Year Plan was largely based on which model?
- A) Harrod-Domar
- B) Mahalanobis
- C) Feldman
- D) Lewis
Answer: A
Solution: Harrod-Domar capital-output ratio.
Shortcut: “First—Harrod.”
Tag: Model
5 Previous Year Questions
- The Planning Commission of India was established in [RRB NTPC 2021]
- A) 1947
- B) 1950
- C) 1951
- D) 1952
Answer: B (15 March 1950)
- Which Five-Year Plan is also called “Mahalanobis Plan”? [RRB Group-D 2019]
- A) First
- B) Second
- C) Third
- D) Fourth
Answer: B
- The strategy of “heavy-industry based growth” was adopted in [RRB NTPC 2016]
- A) 1st Plan
- B) 2nd Plan
- C) 5th Plan
- D) 7th Plan
Answer: B
- Plan Holiday period in India was [RRB NTPC 2021]
- A) 1962-65
- B) 1966-69
- C) 1971-74
- D) 1980-83
Answer: B
- Who was the last Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission? [RRB ALP 2018]
- A) Manmohan Singh
- B) Pranab Mukherjee
- C) Montek Singh Ahluwalia
- D) Arvind Panagariya
Answer: C
Speed Tricks & Shortcuts
| Situation | Shortcut | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Remember Plan start years | Add 5 except 1966-69 break | 1951 → 1956 → 1961 → (gap) → 1969 → 1974… |
| Plans vs slogans | 5→Garibi, 7→Removal of poverty, 8→Employment | 5 fingers remove Garibi |
| Rolling vs Annual | Rolling = yearly inside 5-yr frame (1978-80); Annual = separate each year (1966-69) | Roll = wheel inside frame |
| Highest growth target | 11th Plan (8.5%) | Two 1’s look like tall pillars—high target |
| NITI vs PC | NITI = 2015, cooperative federalism; PC = 1950, command style | NITI = New IT-era body |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
| Mistake | Why Students Make It | Correct Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Confuse Plan Holiday & Rolling Plan | Both deviate from regular 5-yr cycle | Holiday = 1966-69 (no plan), Rolling = 1978-80 (plan every yr) |
| Mix 2nd & 3rd Plan models | Heavy industry in both | 2nd = Mahalanobis model; 3rd = same continued but wars disrupted |
| Think 1991 reforms started in 7th Plan | 7th ended 1990; reforms mid-1991 | 8th Plan (1992-97) is first post-reform |
| Misremember NITI Aayog year | Recall 2014 elections | Formed 1 Jan 2015 (next calendar year) |
| Gadgil vs Finance Commission | Both deal with money | Gadgil = Plan assistance; FC = divisible pool taxes |
Quick Revision Flashcards
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| Plan Holiday years | 1966 – 1969 (three Annual Plans) |
| First Plan model | Harrod-Domar |
| Mahalanobis Plan | Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61) |
| Liberalisation Plan | Eighth Plan (1992-97) |
| Rolling Plan period | 1978-80 (Janata govt.) |
| Target growth 8.5% | 11th Plan (2007-12) |
| NITI Aayog born | 1 Jan 2015 |
| Last Deputy Chairman, PC | Montek Singh Ahluwalia |
| Gadgil Formula use | Devolution of Central plan aid to States |
| “Garibi Hatao” linked plan | Fifth Plan |
BETA
