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Indian Five-Year Plans (Historical Context) ​

  • First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956)
    • Began: April 1, 1951
    • Model: Harrod-Domar
    • Drafted by: K.N. Raj
    • Focus: Agriculture
    • Growth Target: 2.1%; Achieved: 3.6%
  • Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961)
    • Model: Mahalanobis
    • Focus: Heavy Industries
    • Key Establishments: Bhilai (Chhattisgarh), Rourkela (Odisha), Durgapur (West Bengal) Iron and Steel Plants.
    • Growth Target: 4.5%; Achieved: 4.27%
  • Third Five-Year Plan (1961-1966)
    • Model: Sukhamoy Chakravarty
    • Focus: Agriculture and Industry
    • Challenges: India-China War (1962), India-Pakistan War (1965) led to failure in achieving targets.
    • Key Events: "Jai Jawan Jai Kisan" slogan, Food Corporation of India (FCI) established (1965).
  • Plan Holiday (1966-1969)
    • Duration: 3 years (1966-67, 1967-68, 1968-69)
    • Reason: Poor economic conditions.
    • Key Initiative: Green Revolution launched for food self-sufficiency.
  • Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969-1974)
    • Model: Ashok Rudra (Drafted by D.R. Gadgil)
    • Objective: Economic development with stability and self-reliance.
    • Growth Target: 5.5-5.7%; Achieved: 3.3%
    • Key Events: India-Pakistan War (1971), First Nuclear Test (Operation Smiling Buddha, Pokhran, 1974), Nationalization of 14 banks (1969).
  • Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974-1979)
    • Duration: 1974-1978 (terminated one year early), the only plan to end prematurely.
    • Model: D.P. Dhar
    • Objective: Poverty Eradication (Garibi Hatao).
    • Growth Target: 4.4%; Achieved: 4.8%
  • Rolling Plan (1978-1980)
    • Duration: 2 years (1978-79, 1979-80)
    • Introduced by: Janata Party government (PM Morarji Desai).
    • Concept Originator: Gunnar Myrdal (Book: Asian Drama).
    • Implemented in India by: Lakdawala.
  • Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-1985)
    • Model: Input-Output Model
    • Objectives: Employment generation, poverty eradication.
    • Key Events: Establishment of NABARD (1982), Nationalization of 6 more banks (1980), Death of Indira Gandhi (1984), Operation Blue Star, Operation Meghdoot (Siachen) (1984).
  • Seventh Five-Year Plan (1985-1990)
    • Objective: Social justice with modernization.
    • Slogan: "Roti, Rozi, Utpadakta" (Bread, Work, Productivity) or "Food, Work, Productivity".
    • Growth Target: 5%; Achieved: 6%
    • Key Events: SEBI established (1988).
  • Plan Holiday (1990-1992)
    • Duration: 2 years (1990-91, 1991-92)
    • Reason: Foreign exchange crisis.
    • Key Initiative: New Economic Policy (LPG - Liberalization, Privatization, Globalization) adopted (1991) under PM P.V. Narasimha Rao and FM Dr. Manmohan Singh.
  • Eighth Five-Year Plan (1992-1997)
    • Model: John W. Miller
    • Objective: Human Resource Development (influenced by HDI concept by Mahbub ul Haq and Amartya Sen).
    • Key Events: 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments (Panchayati Raj & Nagarpalika) (1992), WTO established (Jan 1, 1995).
  • Ninth Five-Year Plan (1997-2002)
    • Objective: Economic growth with social justice and equity.
    • Key Events: Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (Dec 25, 2000), Kargil War.
  • Tenth Five-Year Plan (2002-2007)
    • Model: Input-Output Model
    • Objective: Social justice and equity.
    • Achieved Growth: 7.6% (highest till then).
    • Key Events: NREGA Act (2005), implemented (Feb 2, 2006).
  • Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-2012)
    • Objective: Rapid and Inclusive Growth.
    • Achieved Growth: 8% (highest ever).
    • Key Events: Right to Education Act (2009), implemented (Apr 1, 2010).
  • Twelfth Five-Year Plan (2012-2017)
    • Objective: Rapid, Sustainable, and Inclusive Development.
    • Targeted Agricultural Growth: 4%
    • Targeted Total Fertility Rate (TFR): 2.1% (replacement rate).
    • This was the final Five-Year Plan.

Recent Global and National Current Affairs ​

  • UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage
    • Diwali included in UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity on December 10, 2023. This is the 16th Indian inclusion.
    • The 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage was held at the Red Fort Complex, India.
    • Announcement made by Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (Culture Minister).
    • Previous Indian Inclusions:
      • 2021: Durga Puja (Kolkata) (14th inclusion).
      • 2023: Garba Dance (15th inclusion).
    • UNESCO World Heritage Sites in India: 44 (1 mixed, 7 natural, 36 cultural). Latest: Maratha Military Landscape (44th, 12 forts in Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu).
    • UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Network: Cold Desert Biosphere Reserve (Himachal Pradesh) is the latest inclusion in the global network.
  • WTO Reforms (Trinja Initiative)
    • Trinja Initiative launched to bring reforms to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
    • Reasons for reform: Changing US policy (America First), global trade wars, increasing protectionism.
    • An event for the Trinja Initiative was held in Tokyo, Japan.
    • Steering Committee for Trinja Initiative: Co-chairpersons Shashi Tharoor (Indian MP) and Pascal Lamy (former WTO head).
    • WTO (World Trade Organization):
      • Established: January 1, 1995 (evolved from GATT).
      • Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.
      • Director-General: Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.
      • Established by: Marrakesh Agreement.
  • Galwan War Memorial
    • India built the world's highest War Memorial in Galwan, Ladakh, near the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
    • Inaugurated by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
    • Built in memory of soldiers martyred in the 2020 India-China Galwan Valley conflict. Specifically honors Col. Santosh Babu (Bihar Regiment), posthumously awarded the Maha Vir Chakra.
    • Design: Made of red and black granite, inspired by the shapes of Damru and Trishul (associated with Lord Shiva).
    • Doka La: Tri-junction of India (Sikkim), Bhutan, and China (Tibet).
  • DRI Operation (Operation Hinterland Broo)
    • Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) conducted Operation Hinterland Broo.
    • Action: Busted a mephedrone drug manufacturing facility in Wardha, Maharashtra.
    • Mephedrone: A drug that increases the speed of messages between the brain and body.
    • Relevant Law: NDPS Act (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act), 1985.
    • Operation Sagar Bandhu: Launched for aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Diswa.
  • CITES COP 20
    • The 20th Conference of Parties (COP 20) of CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) concluded in Samarkand, Uzbekistan.
    • Outcome: Three new species (Manta, Devil Ray, White Shark) found in the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador were added to Appendix I (most endangered list).
    • Established: 1975. Total Members: 185 (India is a member).
    • Previous CITES COPs: COP 1 in Bern (1976), COP 3 in Delhi (1981), COP 19 in Panama (2022).
    • Uzbekistan Capital: Tashkent.
    • Dustlik Exercise: Joint military exercise between India and Uzbekistan.
  • World Human Rights Day 2023
    • Celebrated: December 10, 2023.
    • Reason: UN Human Rights Declaration adopted on December 10, 1948 (30 articles).
    • Theme 2023: "Human Rights Our Everyday Things."
    • National Human Rights Day (India): December 24.
    • National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act (India): 1993.
    • Other events on Dec 10, 2023: First-ever Pravasi Rajasthan Diwas, Swahid Diwas (in memory of Assam Movement, 1979).
  • Bharat WIN Portal & Jal Shakti Hac-kathon
    • Launched by: Ministry of Jal Shakti (Minister C.R. Patil).
    • Bharat WIN Portal (Water Innovation Network): Aims to find practical solutions for ground-level water challenges.
    • Jal Shakti Hac-kathon: Organized to generate new ideas for water conservation, with awards for best innovations.
  • Microsoft's Largest Investment in Asia
    • Microsoft announced an investment of over $17.5 billion in India over the next 4 years (by 2029).
    • This is Microsoft's largest investment in Asia, equivalent to approximately ₹1.55 lakh crore.
    • Microsoft CEO: Satya Nadella.
  • Time Magazine Awards 2023
    • CEO of the Year: Neal Mohan (CEO of YouTube).
    • Athlete of the Year: A'ja Wilson.
    • Entertainer of the Year: Leonardo DiCaprio.
    • Animal Welfare Award: Anant Ambani (first Asian and youngest recipient, for his Vantara foundation for injured animals).
    • Australia's Geddes Gavel Award: Colonel Prateek Raj (Indian Army).
  • ISSF World Cup Final 2023 (Shooting)
    • Event: ISSF Shooting World Cup Final.
    • Host: Doha, Qatar.
    • Point Table:
      • 1st: China (9 medals: 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze).
      • 2nd: India (6 medals: 2 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze).
    • Indian Gold Medalists: Suruchi, Simranpreet Kaur.
    • International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) Headquarters: Munich, Germany (established 1907).
    • Chess: R. Praggnanandhaa became the first Indian to qualify for Candidates 2026.
  • Lithuania Emergency Declaration
    • Lithuania declared a state of emergency after balloons from Belarus entered its airspace.
    • Capital of Lithuania: Vilnius.
    • Capital of Belarus: Minsk.