Which five-year plan of India was based on Mahalanobis model?
Last updated Jun 23, 2026
Correct Answer:
Option B —
Second
The Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961) was based on the Mahalanobis Model, named after the famous Indian statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis.
Key Features of the Mahalanobis Model:
Rapid Industrialization: The plan shifted the focus from agriculture (the primary focus of the First Plan) to the development of heavy and basic industries.
Capital Goods Sector: It emphasized increasing the domestic production of industrial goods (like steel, chemicals, and machine tools) to make the Indian economy self-reliant in the long run.
Public Sector Dominance: The model advocated for a leading role for the public sector in building the country's industrial infrastructure.
Big Push: It was essentially a "big push" strategy aimed at structural transformation of the Indian economy.
Why the other options are incorrect:
A: The First Five-Year Plan (1951–1956) was based on the Harrod-Domar Model, which focused primarily on agriculture, price stability, and power projects.
C: The Third Five-Year Plan (1961–1966) aimed to make the economy "self-reliant and self-generating," but its progress was severely hampered by the Sino-Indian War (1962) and the Indo-Pak War (1965).
D: The Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969–1974) was based on the Gadgil Formula and focused on "growth with stability" and the attainment of self-reliance.
Answer verified by Quintessence Classes faculty — Karan Nagar, Srinagar.
