Objectives of Planning in India

December 11, 2015 December 11, 2015

In India objectives of planning are mainly classified as long-term objectives and short-term objectives.

Long-term objectives try to solve the socio-economic issues that the country is facing over the years. It includes increase in national income or per-capita income, achieving full employment, social justice and equitable distribution, poverty alleviation, self-sufficiency and modernisation, etc. Achieving all these objectives would be termed as ‘Growth with Social Justice’. Short term objectives are plan specific to be achieved within the plan itself. They are often concerned with the allocation of resources to various sectors of the economy according to immediate demand as envisaged by the policy makers.

Long-term Objectives

Economic Growth

Achievement of economic growth is the main motive of planning. Economic growth can be measured in terms of rate of growth of GDP or GNP. Higher rate of economic growth creates multiplier effect which will further improve the economic growth indicators. Each five year plan sets a target to achieve growth in terms of increase in GDP.

Full Employment

Rampant unemployment is a serious issue in India. Provision of full employment is a long-term objective of planning in India. For the first time Sixth five year plan accorded the priority status for employment.

Equity and Social Justice

The fruits of economic growth should benefit large sections of the society. Development of few sections of the society will lead to the inequality in society. Indian planning should aim at reducing such inequalities, so that the benefits of economic development percolate down to the lower strata of the society.

Eradication of Poverty

Eradication of poverty is one of the long-term objectives of the planning in India. Fifth and Sixth five year plans primarily focussed on eradication of the poverty problem in India.

Modernisation

Modernisation means updation of technical know-how and adoption of new technologies for betterment of the society. Productivity of the economy can be raised many-fold with the use of innovative and modern technology. Green Revolution and IT revolution are best examples of how technology can transform a country. Modernisation also includes issues like empowerment of women.

Self-sufficiency

Self-sufficiency means dependence on domestically produced goods, particularly foodgrains. The basic idea was not to expose India’s fragile economy to political diktats of rest of the world as it happened in 1965 when U.S.A., threatened to stop exports of foodgrains to India unless the latter stopped the then war with Pakistan.