The question asks for the total number of Five Year Plans implemented in India between 1951 and 2017. To answer this, we need to recall the history and duration of India's Five Year Plans, including any plan holidays or breaks.
B) Twelve — India implemented 12 Five Year Plans from 1951 to 2017. The Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012-2017) was the last one.
The question asks about the economic growth model that primarily influenced India's First Five Year Plan (1951-56). We need to identify the correct model and understand its core principles in the context of India's early planning.
A) The Harrod-Domar Model — The First Five Year Plan (1951-56) was indeed based primarily on the Harrod-Domar model. This model stressed the importance of capital accumulation for economic growth, linking investment to the growth rate of national income. The plan aimed to increase savings and invest in key sectors like agriculture and infrastructure to achieve a higher growth rate.
The question asks about the primary focus of India's First Five Year Plan, considering the immediate post-Partition challenges. Understanding the historical context of India's independence and partition is crucial to identify the most pressing issues the newly formed nation faced.
Correct Option: D) Agriculture, including irrigation and power projects. The First Five Year Plan (1951-1956) was primarily focused on addressing the severe food shortages and the rehabilitation of refugees following the Partition. Therefore, agriculture, along with crucial supporting infrastructure like irrigation and power projects, received the highest priority to ensure food security and rural development.
The question asks to identify a major multi-purpose river valley project, involving irrigation and hydroelectric power, that was initiated during India's First Five Year Plan. This requires knowledge of the timeline of major infrastructure projects in India's post-independence era, specifically those launched during the First Five Year Plan (1951-1956).
D) Bhakra Nangal Dam — The Bhakra Nangal Dam project was one of the earliest and most significant multi-purpose river valley projects undertaken in India. Its construction began even before the First Five Year Plan (in 1948), but it was heavily prioritized and received substantial funding and attention during the First Five Year Plan (1951-1956) for its completion and operationalization. It perfectly fits the description of a major multi-purpose project for irrigation and hydroelectric power initiated during that period.
The question asks about the general perception of India's First Five Year Plan among economists and planners. To answer this, we need to recall the key objectives, strategies, and outcomes of this plan.
Correct Option: A) A successful plan, as it exceeded its targeted growth rate
This option accurately reflects the historical assessment of the First Five Year Plan. The plan set a modest target of 2.1% annual growth in national income but achieved 3.6%, primarily due to good harvests and effective implementation of agricultural and irrigation projects. This success laid a strong foundation for future economic planning in India.
The question asks to identify the regulatory body for higher education funding that was established during India's First Five Year Plan period, alongside the establishment of several IITs. This requires knowledge of the history of higher education institutions and regulatory bodies in India, specifically their establishment timelines.
A) The University Grants Commission (UGC) was established in 1953 and became a statutory body in 1956, falling within the First Five Year Plan period (1951-1956). It plays a crucial role in funding and maintaining standards in higher education, aligning with the broader educational development goals of the time, including the establishment of IITs.