What was the timing of Rolling Plan in India ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 2:
The Rolling Plan concept was introduced in India by the Janata Party government in 1978, effectively terminating the Fifth Five-Year Plan one year early. This plan, which was designed to be annually reviewed and updated, was initially intended to run from 1978 to 1983. However, due to political instability and a change in government, the plan was abandoned when the Congress government returned to power in 1980. Therefore, the effective period for which the Rolling Plan was implemented was 1978-80. The core idea behind the Rolling Plan, conceived by Gunnar Myrdal, was flexibility, allowing for continuous revision of targets and allocations based on the country's changing economic needs, unlike the rigid five-year fixed plans.

The incorrect option is 1 (1967-69):
This period falls within the timeline of the "Plan Holiday" (1966-69), which occurred after the Third Five-Year Plan. During this time, India implemented Annual Plans instead of a Five-Year Plan, primarily due to wars, inflation, and resource constraints, not the Rolling Plan framework.

The incorrect option is 3 (1980-85):
The Sixth Five-Year Plan began in 1980 and ran until 1985. This period marks the abandonment of the Rolling Plan and the re-establishment of the traditional Five-Year Plan system by the new government.

The incorrect option is 4 (1975-80):
The period 1975-80 covers the duration of the Fifth Five-Year Plan (originally 1974-79), which was terminated early in 1978. While the Rolling Plan was initiated during the tail end of this overall period, the specific timing of the Rolling Plan itself was 1978-80.