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Politics of Planned Development – Class 12 Political Science notes, important questions and MCQs

NCERT Class 12 Political Science, chapter 10. Notes, key terms, important questions with answers and MCQs.

Chapter overview

After independence India chose planned development to achieve economic growth with social justice. The Planning Commission was set up in 1950 and Five Year Plans guided investment. The First Plan focused on agriculture, while the Second Plan, based on the Mahalanobis model, stressed heavy industry. Debates arose about agriculture versus industry and the public versus private sector. The Green Revolution and Operation Flood later transformed agriculture and dairying. In 2015 the Planning Commission was replaced by NITI Aayog.

Models of development

India rejected both the capitalist and the Soviet-style communist models and chose a mixed economy with a large public sector.
The Planning Commission (1950), chaired by the Prime Minister, prepared Five Year Plans.
The Bombay Plan (1944) by industrialists also supported a state role in industrial development.

The early plans

The First Five Year Plan (1951–56) gave priority to agriculture, irrigation and dams, such as Bhakra Nangal.
The Second Plan (1956–61), drafted under P. C. Mahalanobis, emphasised heavy industry and the public sector.
Critics argued that the plans neglected agriculture and that the public sector became inefficient, while supporters credited them with building an industrial base.

Later developments

Food shortages in the 1960s led to the Green Revolution, using high-yielding seeds, fertilisers and irrigation, which raised output but increased regional and class disparities.
Operation Flood, led by Verghese Kurien, created a cooperative milk network and made India a leading milk producer.
From 1991, India shifted towards liberalisation; in 2015 NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission.

Key terms

Planning Commission: the body set up in 1950 to prepare Five Year Plans
Mixed economy: an economy with both public and private sectors
Mahalanobis model: the strategy of the Second Plan emphasising heavy industry
Green Revolution: the rise in food production through high-yielding seeds and modern inputs
Operation Flood: the dairy cooperative programme that increased milk production

Important questions with answers

What is a mixed economy?2 marks

A mixed economy is one in which both the public sector (owned by the state) and the private sector operate, with the state planning and regulating key areas while allowing private enterprise.

What were the positive and negative effects of the Green Revolution?3 marks

The Green Revolution greatly increased food grain production, especially wheat and rice, and made India self-sufficient in food. However, it benefited mainly richer farmers and irrigated regions such as Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, increased disparities, and caused environmental problems such as soil degradation and falling water tables.

Discuss the main debates about India's model of planned development.5 marks

After independence India adopted planned development to achieve growth with equity, choosing a mixed economy rather than either a capitalist or a Soviet-style model. The Planning Commission was set up in 1950 and Five Year Plans directed investment. Two major debates arose. The first was about agriculture versus industry. The First Plan gave priority to agriculture, irrigation and dams, but the Second Plan, based on the Mahalanobis model, emphasised heavy industry such as steel, machine tools and power, believing that this would create long-term growth. Critics such as J. C. Kumarappa argued for a Gandhian approach centred on villages and agriculture, and later food shortages in the 1960s seemed to show that agriculture had been neglected. Others argued that industrial growth would also help agriculture through fertilisers, machinery and markets. The second debate concerned the public versus private sector. Supporters argued that the state needed to invest in core industries where private capital was weak, and to promote equality. Critics argued that the public sector became inefficient, bureaucratic and loss-making, and that the licence system stifled private enterprise. Despite these debates, planning built a strong industrial base, while the Green Revolution and Operation Flood later improved food and milk production. From 1991 India moved towards liberalisation, and NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.

Quick revision

Mixed economy; Planning Commission 1950.
First Plan: agriculture; Second Plan: heavy industry.
Green Revolution; Operation Flood.
NITI Aayog 2015.

Exam tips

Compare the First and Second Plans in a table.
Remember: Planning Commission 1950, NITI Aayog 2015.

Practice MCQs

The Planning Commission was set up in
1. 1947
2. 1950
3. 1956
4. 1991
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1950. It was chaired by the Prime Minister.
The First Five Year Plan gave priority to
1. heavy industry
2. agriculture
3. defence
4. information technology
Show answer
Answer: (b) agriculture. It focused on irrigation and food.
The Planning Commission was replaced in 2015 by
1. Finance Commission
2. RBI
3. Election Commission
4. NITI Aayog
Show answer
Answer: (d) NITI Aayog. It acts as a policy think tank.
The Second Five Year Plan was drafted under
1. K. N. Raj
2. M. S. Swaminathan
3. Verghese Kurien
4. P. C. Mahalanobis
Show answer
Answer: (d) P. C. Mahalanobis. It stressed heavy industry.
Operation Flood was associated with
1. milk
2. wheat
3. cotton
4. fisheries
Show answer
Answer: (a) milk. It was led by Verghese Kurien.
An economy with both public and private sectors is called
1. capitalist
2. communist
3. mixed
4. feudal
Show answer
Answer: (c) mixed. India adopted it after independence.
A major criticism of the Green Revolution was that it
1. reduced food output
2. banned fertilisers
3. increased disparities between regions and classes
4. ended irrigation
Show answer
Answer: (c) increased disparities between regions and classes. Benefits went mainly to richer farmers and irrigated areas.
The main debate around the Second Plan was about
1. adopting a monarchy
2. whether to hold elections
3. the choice between agriculture and industry
4. abolishing the Constitution
Show answer
Answer: (c) the choice between agriculture and industry. Critics felt agriculture was neglected.

All chapters of Class 12 Political Science

Written by Kundali IQ from standard, well-established facts to help with revision. This is not an official NCERT publication; always read your textbook too.