PL-480: US Wheat Aid to India Before the Green Revolution

The question asks to identify the specific United States program that supplied wheat aid to India prior to the significant reduction in India's dependency on food aid, which was largely brought about by the Green Revolution. Understanding India's agricultural history and its reliance on foreign aid during the mid-20th century is key to answering this question.

Understanding India's Food Aid History

During the 1950s and 1960s, India faced significant challenges in meeting its food demands due to factors like population growth and agricultural limitations. Consequently, India received substantial food aid from other countries, particularly the United States, to supplement its domestic supply and prevent widespread famine.

The Role of PL-480

The program that provided substantial wheat aid to India under concessional terms was indeed the PL-480. Officially known as the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, PL-480 was a US initiative designed to export American agricultural commodities. Under Title I of this act, food grains, including wheat, were supplied to friendly nations like India on long-term loans or sometimes on a deferred payment basis. This aid was crucial for India's food security during the pre-Green Revolution era.

Analyzing Other Options

• KL-580: This designation does not correspond to any known major US food aid program provided to India.
• Green Aid: While the Green Revolution dramatically improved India's agricultural output, "Green Aid" is not the name of a specific US aid program providing wheat.
• Marshall Plan: The Marshall Plan was an American initiative enacted after World War II (1948-1951) to aid Western Europe in rebuilding its economies. It was not directly involved in providing food aid to India during the period in question.

Therefore, the program responsible for providing significant wheat aid to India before the Green Revolution's impact was PL-480.