Hill Area Development Programmes were initiated during the __________ Five-Year Plan covering 15 districts.

Correct option is C

The correct answer is: (c) Fifth
Explanation:
· Hill Area Development Programme (HADP) was launched during the Fifth Five-Year Plan (1974–79) to promote balanced development in hilly and tribal regions.
· It aimed to reduce disparities and integrate remote regions into mainstream development.
Information Booster:
· Covered 15 districts initially in Assam, West Bengal, and Tamil Nadu.
· Focused on infrastructure, agriculture, horticulture, and livelihood enhancement.
· Later integrated into the Western Ghats Development Programme (WGDP).
· Monitored by the Planning Commission, now NITI Aayog.
· Designed to ensure sustainable development in ecologically sensitive zones.
Additional Information:
· Second Plan: Focused on industrialization (Mahalanobis model).
· Fourth Plan: Emphasized growth with stability.
· Sixth Plan: Introduced economic liberalization elements.