Evaluating Five-Year Plan Statements

This question asks us to determine the accuracy of two statements concerning India's Five-Year Plans. Let's analyze each statement:

Statement I: Sixth Five-Year Plan Goals

Statement I claims that the Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-1985) focused on income growth and modernization of technology. This statement is factually correct.

• The Sixth Plan marked a shift towards more pragmatic economic policies.
• Key objectives included significant income growth, reduction of poverty and unemployment, and improvement in the quality of life.
• A major focus was on the modernization of technology across various sectors, including industry and agriculture, to enhance productivity and competitiveness.
• Programs like the Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP) were initiated to address poverty directly.

Statement II: Third Five-Year Plan Failures

Statement II states that the Third Five-Year Plan (1961-1966) failed due to factors like wars, rupee devaluation, and the food crisis. This statement is also historically accurate.

• The Third Plan aimed for self-sufficiency and self-generating economy, but faced severe external and internal challenges.
• The Sino-Indian War of 1962 strained the economy and shifted focus towards defense.
• The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 further exacerbated economic instability.
• The country faced a severe drought in 1965-66, leading to a major food crisis.
• The devaluation of the rupee occurred in 1966, impacting trade and contributing to economic difficulties.
• These combined factors led to the stagnation of economic growth during the plan period, marking it as a period of failure.

Conclusion

Both Statement I and Statement II provide accurate historical information regarding the objectives and outcomes of the Sixth and Third Five-Year Plans, respectively. Therefore, both statements are correct.