Politics of Planned Development – Class 12 Political Science NCERT Solutions

1. Which of these statements about the Bombay Plan is incorrect?

• It was a blueprint for India’s economic future.
• It supported state-ownership of industry.
• It was made by some leading industrialists.
• It supported strongly the idea of planning.

Answer: (b) It supported state-ownership of industry.

2. Which of the following ideas did not form part of the early phase of India’s development policy?

• Planning
• Liberalisation
• Cooperative Farming
• Self sufficiency

Answer: (b) Liberalisation.

3. The idea of planning in India was drawn from

• the Bombay plan
• experiences of the Soviet bloc countries
• Gandhian vision of society
• Demand by peasant organisations

i. b and d only   iii. a and b only
ii. d and c only   iv. all the above

Answer: (iii) a and b only.

4. Match the following.

5. What were the major differences in the approach towards development at the time of Independence? Has the debate been resolved?

Answer: At the time of Independence, there were two major approaches to development—one favoured rapid industrialization following the Soviet model, stressing state control and planning, while the other focused on rural development and agriculture. The latter group stressed alleviating rural poverty as the priority. The debate is still not fully resolved, as India combines both approaches, though emphasis has shifted over the decades in response to changing needs and policies.

6. What was the major thrust of the First Five Year Plan? In which ways did the Second Plan differ from the first one?

Answer: The First Five Year Plan (1951–1956) focused on the agrarian sector and prioritized investment in dams, irrigation, and land reforms to raise national income and address issues caused by Partition. The Second Plan (1956–1961), led by P.C. Mahalanobis, shifted focus towards rapid industrialisation and growth of heavy industries, marking a move from agriculture to industry as the main driver of development. This reflected a significant change in the country’s development strategy.

7. Read the following passage and answer the questions below:

“In the early years of Independence, two contradictory tendencies were already well advanced inside the Congress party. On the one hand, the national party executive endorsed socialist principles of state ownership, regulation and control over key sectors of the economy in order to improve productivity and at the same time curb economic concentration. On the other hand, the national Congress government pursued liberal economic policies and incentives to private investment that was justified in terms of the sole criterion of achieving maximum increase in production.” — Francine Frankel

1. What is the contradiction that the author is talking about? What would be the political implications of a contradiction like this?
   Answer: The contradiction is between the Congress party's support for socialist policies (state control and ownership) and its simultaneous encouragement of liberal economic policies (private investment). This could lead to confusion in implementation, opposition within the party, and conflicting interests during policy execution.
2. If the author is correct, why is it that the Congress was pursuing this policy? Was it related to the nature of the opposition parties?
   Answer: The Congress pursued both socialist and liberal policies to balance differing views within the party and meet varied national needs. The lack of a strong ideological opposition allowed it this flexibility, enabling it to accommodate conflicting interests and preserve unity among its diverse support base.
3. Was there also a contradiction between the central leadership of the Congress party and its State level leaders?
   Answer: Yes, often there were differences between the central and state leaderships in the Congress party. State leaders sometimes prioritized local or immediate issues, while the central leadership aimed for broader national strategies. This led to contradictions in policy emphasis and approaches to development across regions.

Politics of Planned Development: Chapter Insights

Mastering the Politics of Planned Development is crucial for excelling in Class 12 Political Science. Focusing on concepts like the Five Year Plans and Planning Commission will help students build a strong foundation for board exams and future studies.

This chapter explains how India blended socialist principles and economic freedom to create inclusive growth. Understanding the debates of the time, from agriculture-focused policies to heavy industrialisation, is key for critical thinking and exam answers.

Review exercise-based questions regularly and analyze real-world case studies like the Orissa example to improve your answer-writing. With strategic revisions, you can strengthen your Political Science preparation for the 2025-26 academic session.