Which Five-Year Plan in India was mainly focussed on Garibi Hatao, creation of employment opportunities and agricultural production amongst other objectives?

The correct answer is Fifth.

Key Points

• Garibi Hatao slogan:
  • ‘Garibi Hatao’ was the slogan given by Indira Gandhi at the time of the fifth five-year plan.
  • It was given for the objective of poverty aviation and employment creation for a better life.
  • The commitment to Poverty alleviation was followed by the formulation of a 20-point program by Indira Gandhi.
  • The Fifth Five Year Plan India was sketched out for the period spanning 1974 to 1979.

Important Points

• 2nd Five-Year Plan of India:
  • Also called the ‘Mahalanobis Plan’ after its chief architect PC Mahalanobis.
  • It was based on the 1928 Soviet Model of Feldman.
  • Its emphasis was on economic stability.
  • The agricultural target fixed in the first plan was almost achieved. Consequently, the agriculture sector got low priority in the second five Year plan.
  • Its objective was Rapid Industrialization, particularly basic and heavy industries such as iron and steel, heavy chemicals like nitrogenous fertilizers, and heavy engineering and machine building industry.
  • Besides, the Industrial Policy of 1956 emphasized the role of the Public Sector and accepted the establishment of a socialistic pattern of society as the goal of economic policy.
  • Advocated huge imports which led to the emptying of funds leading to foreign loans. It shifted basic emphasis from agriculture to industry far too soon. During this plan, the price level increased by 30%, against a decline of 13% during the First Plan.
• 3rd Five-Year Plan:
  • The duration of the plan is 1961-66
  • The aim of this plan was to make India a 'self-reliant' and 'self-generating' economy.
  • The Plan was a failure in reaching the target growth of 5.6% due to the following factors - Chinese aggression (1962), Indo-Pak war (1965), and severe drought 1965-66. 
  • It was a thorough failure as it achieved a growth rate of 2.8% against a target growth of 5.6% due to unforeseen events that took place during this tenure.
• 4th Five Year Plan:
  • Rolled out during 1969-74.
  • Also known as Ashok Rudrah Manne Model.
  • First, two years was successful with record food grain production due to the Green revolution.
  • Targeted growth rate: 5.7%, Achieved growth rate: 3.3%.
  • The plan became a failure because of the huge influx of refugees from Bangladesh during Indo-Pak war 1971.
• 5th Five Year Plan:
  • Targeted growth rate: 4.4%, Achieved growth rate: 4.8%
  • It was terminated 1 year before the plan period, in March 1978. 
  • The final draft of the plan was made by DP Dhar with the objective of removal of poverty & attainment of self-reliance.