Planning in India: M. Viswesvarayya's Contribution

The question asks about the individual who made the first systematic attempt at planning in India. This refers to the early efforts to conceptualize and propose a structured approach to India's economic development even before independence.

Viswesvarayya's Pioneer Planning Attempt

M. Viswesvarayya is widely recognized for making the first systematic attempt at economic planning in India. His significant contribution came in the form of a book published in 1934.

• Book Title: His seminal work was titled "Planned Economy for India".
• Year of Publication: The book was published in 1934.
• Systematic Approach: In this book, M. Viswesvarayya outlined a detailed ten-year plan for India. He proposed a shift from an agricultural economy to an industrialized one, emphasizing the importance of statistical data and a planned approach for achieving economic growth and improving the standard of living. His approach was 'systematic' because it provided a comprehensive framework, concrete targets, and methods for achieving industrial and economic development.

Analysis of Other Options

Let's consider why the other options, while important figures in India's economic and political history, do not fit the description of making the first systematic attempt at planning in India:

• Jawaharlal Nehru: While Jawaharlal Nehru was instrumental in establishing the Planning Commission of India in 1950 and spearheading India's Five-Year Plans post-independence, his major involvement in formal state-led planning came later. He was a strong advocate for a planned economy, but M. Viswesvarayya's work predates the formal setup of the Planning Commission.
• Mahatma Gandhiji: Mahatma Gandhiji's economic philosophy centered on Sarvodaya, trusteeship, and village industries. While he had a profound vision for India's economic and social structure, his approach was more philosophical and decentralized, rather than a systematic, centralized economic plan for industrialization as proposed by Viswesvarayya.
• P.C. Mahalanobis: P.C. Mahalanobis was a renowned statistician who played a crucial role in India's planning, particularly in formulating the Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961). The Mahalanobis Model, focusing on heavy industry, was a cornerstone of this plan. However, his work came much later than M. Viswesvarayya's initial systematic attempt.

Therefore, based on historical records, M. Viswesvarayya is credited with the pioneering work in systematic economic planning in India.