Which of the following was a key element of India's Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961)?

Correct option is C

The correct answer is (C) Heavy industrialisation.

Explanation:
The Second Five-Year Plan (1956-1961) was primarily focused on heavy industrialisation. The goal was to build the foundation of an industrial economy by prioritising the development of core sectors such as steel, electricity, machinery, and engineering. This plan was based on the vision of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to move towards a more self-reliant economy. The development of heavy industries was viewed as critical for the nation's economic progress and was expected to lay the groundwork for long-term industrial growth.

Information Booster:

• Heavy Industrialisation: The plan aimed at setting up large industries in sectors such as steel, coal, and transport. Key projects included the establishment of the Bhilai Steel Plant and the Haldia Dock.

• The Second Plan was designed by the famous economist PC Mahalanobis, whose model emphasised state intervention and investment in the public sector.

• The plan also included the creation of significant infrastructure projects to support industrialisation, including electricity grids and railway expansion.

• Public Sector: Unlike the First Five-Year Plan, which mainly focused on agricultural development, the Second Plan concentrated more on industrialisation with a special emphasis on the public sector as the driver of growth.