Previous Year Question

In competitive examinations, the Third Five-Year Plan (1961–1966) is commonly referred to as the “Gadgil Yojana” or “Gadgil Plan.” Official answer keys of the Kerala Public Service Commission also give the Third Five-Year Plan as the correct answer to the question “Which Five Year Plan is also known as Gadgil Yojana?” The Planning Commission Repository maintained by NITI Aayog also confirms the period of the Third Five-Year Plan as 1961–1966.

A major objective of the Third Five-Year Plan was to move the Indian economy towards a self-reliant and self-generating pattern of development. The Plan gave importance to agricultural production, irrigation, power, industry and social services. Official archival records of the Planning Commission also identify agricultural production, irrigation, power generation and social services as important areas under the Third Plan.

An important distinction should be remembered: the “Gadgil Plan” should not be confused with the Gadgil Formula. According to the Government of India's Indian Economic Service Arthapedia, the Gadgil Formula related to the distribution of Central Plan Assistance among States and came into use from the Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969–74); no such formula was in use up to the Third Plan.