After independence, co-operatives became an integral part of which planning initiative in India?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (C) Five-Year Plans

Explanation:

• After independence, co-operatives became an integral part of India’s Five-Year Plans, particularly in the Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961), which emphasized the development of the agricultural sector and rural development.
• Co-operatives played a crucial role in promoting farmers' welfare, agricultural credit, and co-operative farming as a means of improving rural economy and ensuring equitable growth.
• Co-operatives were seen as a tool to provide credit, distribution of agricultural inputs, and marketing to farmers, helping improve their socio-economic conditions.

Information Booster:

• The Five-Year Plans aimed at accelerating India’s economic growth, and co-operatives were identified as a key element for improving the agricultural sector, which was the backbone of the Indian economy at that time.
• The National Policy on Cooperatives was later recommended by the National Development Council (NDC) in 1958, further strengthening co-operatives in the planning process.

Additional Knowledge:

• Option A: Green Revolution: The Green Revolution (1960s-1980s) was a significant agricultural initiative to increase food production, but co-operatives were a part of the broader framework of rural development, especially in the Five-Year Plans.
• Option B: Operation Flood: Operation Flood (1970s) focused on increasing milk production and creating a national milk grid, with co-operatives like Amul playing a central role, but the initiative was separate from the Five-Year Plans.
• Option D: Industrial Policy Resolution: The Industrial Policy Resolution (1948) mainly focused on industrial development and public sector enterprises, not co-operatives.