Five Year Plans and NITI Aayog Notes for SSC Exams
Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
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India used five year plans from 1951 to 2017 for the planned development of the economy, and the Planning Commission made them. In 2015, the Planning Commission was replaced by the NITI Aayog. SSC exams ask about the main aim or model of each plan and the work of NITI Aayog. These five year plans and NITI Aayog notes for SSC give all twelve plans in a table with the aim and the model, along with NITI Aayog facts and practice questions.
Planning Commission
- The Planning Commission was set up on 15 March 1950 by a resolution of the Central Government; it was not a constitutional body.
- The Prime Minister was its chairperson.
- The first Five Year Plan started in 1951.
- It was replaced by the NITI Aayog on 1 January 2015.
Five Year Plans of India
| Plan | Period | Main aim or model |
|---|---|---|
| First | 1951 to 1956 | Agriculture, irrigation and power; Harrod-Domar model |
| Second | 1956 to 1961 | Rapid industrialisation, heavy industry; Mahalanobis model |
| Third | 1961 to 1966 | Self-reliant economy; failed due to wars and drought |
| Plan holiday | 1966 to 1969 | Three annual plans were made instead of a plan |
| Fourth | 1969 to 1974 | Growth with stability and self-reliance |
| Fifth | 1974 to 1978 | Garibi Hatao (removal of poverty); ended earlier in 1978 |
| Sixth | 1980 to 1985 | Removal of poverty and economic growth |
| Seventh | 1985 to 1990 | Food, work and productivity |
| Eighth | 1992 to 1997 | Economic reforms and human development, after liberalisation |
| Ninth | 1997 to 2002 | Growth with social justice and equity |
| Tenth | 2002 to 2007 | Target of 8 per cent growth |
| Eleventh | 2007 to 2012 | Faster and more inclusive growth |
| Twelfth | 2012 to 2017 | Faster, more inclusive and sustainable growth (the last plan) |
Important Models and Ideas
| Plan | Model or idea | Associated with |
|---|---|---|
| First | Harrod-Domar model | Capital and growth |
| Second | Mahalanobis model | P. C. Mahalanobis; focus on heavy industries |
| Fifth | Garibi Hatao | Indira Gandhi |
| Rolling plan | Plan revised every year | Introduced by the Janata Government in 1978 |
NITI Aayog
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full form | National Institution for Transforming India |
| Started | 1 January 2015, replacing the Planning Commission |
| Nature | A policy think tank of the Government; not a constitutional body |
| Chairperson | The Prime Minister |
| First Vice Chairperson | Arvind Panagariya |
| Idea | Cooperative federalism, and "bottom-up" planning with the states |
| Governing Council | Chief Ministers of all states and Lieutenant Governors of Union Territories |
Planning Commission vs NITI Aayog
| Point | Planning Commission | NITI Aayog |
|---|---|---|
| Approach | Top-down; Centre decided the plans for states | Bottom-up; states take part in the planning |
| Power | Could allocate funds to states | Gives advice; does not allocate funds |
| Plans | Five year plans | Long-term vision and action plans |
| Period | 1950 to 2014 | From 2015 |
Well-Known Works of NITI Aayog
- Atal Innovation Mission to promote innovation and start-ups.
- India Innovation Index and SDG India Index to rank the states.
- National Multidimensional Poverty Index.
- Aspirational Districts Programme to improve backward districts.
Quick Tips
- Learn the plans in order, with one keyword for each, such as agriculture, heavy industry and poverty.
- Remember the Second Plan with Mahalanobis and the First Plan with Harrod-Domar.
- Remember that the Twelfth Plan was the last plan, and NITI Aayog replaced the Planning Commission in 2015.
- Do not mix the Planning Commission (top-down) with NITI Aayog (bottom-up).
Quick Revision Points
- The Planning Commission started in 1950 and ended in 2014.
- The First Plan (1951 to 1956) focused on agriculture.
- The Second Plan (1956 to 1961) focused on heavy industry and used the Mahalanobis model.
- The Twelfth Plan was the last plan (2012 to 2017).
- NITI Aayog started on 1 January 2015, and the Prime Minister is its chairperson.
Practice Questions With Answers
- In which year was the Planning Commission set up?
Answer: 1950 - Which plan used the Mahalanobis model?
Answer: Second Five Year Plan - Which plan was based on the Harrod-Domar model?
Answer: First Five Year Plan - Which plan focused on "Garibi Hatao"?
Answer: Fifth Five Year Plan - Which was the last Five Year Plan?
Answer: Twelfth Plan (2012 to 2017) - What is the full form of NITI?
Answer: National Institution for Transforming India - Who is the chairperson of NITI Aayog?
Answer: The Prime Minister - Who was the first Vice Chairperson of NITI Aayog?
Answer: Arvind Panagariya - When was NITI Aayog formed?
Answer: 1 January 2015 - Which period is called the "plan holiday"?
Answer: 1966 to 1969
How to Practise This Chapter
Make a table of the plans with the period and the aim and learn it in two parts. Then solve questions from our practice papers, the free SSC quizzes and the previous year papers page. Read the previous chapter, RBI and Monetary Policy, and see all topics on the Indian Economy notes page. For the latest schemes, read the Current Affairs notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a five year plan?
A five year plan is a plan of the government for the economic development of the country for a period of five years.
When did the first Five Year Plan start?
The first Five Year Plan started in 1951 and ended in 1956. It focused on agriculture, irrigation and power.
Which plan focused on heavy industries?
The Second Five Year Plan (1956 to 1961) focused on rapid industrialisation and heavy industries, based on the Mahalanobis model.
Which was the last Five Year Plan of India?
The Twelfth Five Year Plan (2012 to 2017) was the last one.
What was the plan holiday?
The period from 1966 to 1969, when annual plans were made instead of a five year plan after the Third Plan failed.
What was the Planning Commission?
The Planning Commission was a body set up in 1950 to make the five year plans. It was replaced by NITI Aayog in 2015.
What is NITI Aayog?
NITI Aayog is the policy think tank of the Government of India, started on 1 January 2015 in place of the Planning Commission.
Who is the chairperson of NITI Aayog?
The Prime Minister of India is the chairperson of NITI Aayog.
What is the difference between the Planning Commission and NITI Aayog?
The Planning Commission was top-down and could allocate funds, while NITI Aayog is bottom-up and gives advice with the states.
What does NITI stand for?
NITI stands for National Institution for Transforming India.
How can I remember the plans easily?
Learn the plans in order with one keyword for each, and revise the table every week.
How many questions come from planning in SSC exams?
Usually one question comes from five year plans or NITI Aayog in SSC General Awareness papers, but the number changes from year to year.
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Rahul Kumar
SSC Exam Expert & Content Editor
Rahul is a senior SSC exam strategist with 8+ years of experience helping aspirants crack CGL, CHSL and MTS exams. He writes in-depth notification breakdowns, exam pattern guides and preparation strategies.