India's Five-Year Plans At a Glance
Introduction
India’s Five-Year Plans were a series of centralized and integrated national economic programs aimed at economic growth and development. The following table provides an overview of each plan, focusing on their growth targets, achievements, and important sectors.
| Plan | Growth Rate | Important Sector |
|---|---|---|
| First Plan (1951-56) (Based on Harrod Domar Model) |
Target: 2.1% Achieved: 3.6% |
Agriculture, irrigation, electricity |
| Second Plan (1956-61) (Based on PC Mahalanobis Two-Sector Model) |
Target: 4.5% Achieved: 4.2% |
Heavy industries |
| Third Plan (1961-66) | Target: 5.6% Achieved: 2.8% |
Foodgrains, heavy industries |
| Plan Holiday (1966-69) | --- | --- |
| Fourth Plan (1969-74) | Target: 5.7% Achieved: 3.3% |
Agriculture |
| Fifth Plan (1974-78) | Target: 4.4% Achieved: 4.8% |
Removal of poverty |
| Rolling Plan (1978-80) | --- | --- |
| Sixth Plan (1980-85) | Target: 5.2% Achieved: 5.4% |
Agriculture, industries |
| Seventh Plan (1985-90) | Target: 5.0% Achieved: 6.0% |
Energy, foodgrains |
| Two Annual Plans (1990-92) | --- | --- |
| Eighth Plan (1992-97) | Target: 5.6% Achieved: 6.6% |
Human resource education |
| Ninth Plan (1997-2002) | Target: 6.5% Achieved: 5.4% |
Social justice |
| Tenth Plan (2002-07) | Target: 8.1% Achieved: 7.5% |
Income, energy |
| Eleventh Plan (2007-2012) | Target: 8.0% Achieved: 7.9% |
Inclusive growth |
| Twelfth Plan (2012-2017) | Target: 8% Achieved: --- |
Faster, sustainable and more inclusive growth |
Conclusion
The Five-Year Plans were instrumental in shaping India’s economic landscape, focusing on different sectors and addressing various developmental challenges. Despite achieving varying degrees of success, these plans laid the groundwork for modern India’s growth story.