India’s Five Year Plans (Frequently Asked Questions)

Read this article to learn about the most frequently asked questions on India’s Five Year Plans.

Q. 1. What are the basic objectives of economic planning in India?

Ans. The basic or long term socio-economic objectives of India’s Five-Year Plans are the following:

(a) A higher rate of economic growth by developing agriculture, industry, electricity, transport and communications and other sectors of the economy;

(b) Sizeable increase in national income and per capita income so as to raise the levels of standard of living of people;

(c) Removal of poverty and unemployment;

(d) Attainment of self-reliance;

(e) Reduction of social, economic and regional inequalities; etc.

Q.2. State two main objectives of the Eleventh Plan.

Ans. The two most important objectives of the Eleventh Plan are:

(i) Faster growth in GDP and per capita income; and

(ii) Inclusive growth.

This last objective says that the benefits of growth must reach the marginalized sections of population so that they are integrated to the processes of development.

Q.3. State three main objectives of the Ninth Plan.

Ans. The focus of the Ninth Plan was on growth with social justice and equality.

The specific objectives are:

(i) Accelerating the growth rate of the economy with stable prices;

(ii) Providing basic minimum services of safe drinking water, primary health care facilities, universal elementary education, shelter, etc.,

(iii) Containing the growth of population.

Q.4. What are most important objectives of the Tenth Plan?

Ans. The Tenth Plan aimed at achieving a higher growth rate (8 p.c. p.a.), a higher employment rate, reduction of gender gaps in literacy, and a significant reduction in poverty rate by 5 percentage points. It also aimed at ensuring access to basic services, like education, health, drinking water and basic sanitation.

Q.5. Indicate the average rate of growth of the Indian economy during the last decade.

Ans. The decade of 1990s saw a growth rate of India’s national income of 5.42 p.c. p.a.

Q.6. Which two States in India today has the per capita income highest and lowest?

Ans. Available data indicates that Goa is the highest per capita income State in India. Chandigarh stands second.

Bihar, in terms of per capita income, is the poorest state in India. Next comes Orissa.

Q.7. Indicate two main causes for ‘poverty’ in India.

Ans. The most immediate cause of mass poverty in India is the vast inequality in the distribution of income and wealth. Second is the economic backwardness. Economic backwardness has kept the Indian economy in a perpetual state of vicious circle of poverty. Besides these, terrific unemployment problem is also responsible for mass poverty.

Q.8. At present, how many Indians are living below the poverty line?

Ans. The percentage of population below the poverty line has been estimated at 28 p.c. in 2004-05.