Which one among the following was the focus of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan?

The correct answer is  Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.

Key PointsTwelfth Five-Year Plan

• The Twelfth Five-Year Plan of India was implemented from 2012 to 2017.
• The main objective of the Twelfth Five-Year Plan was Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.
• Sustainable Growth refers to economic development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It emphasizes the balance between economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social equity.
• Inclusive Growth ensures that the benefits of economic growth are distributed fairly across society and reach all sections of the population, particularly the marginalized and disadvantaged groups.
• The plan aimed to achieve a growth rate of 8% but also focused on reducing poverty, improving health and education, and ensuring environmental sustainability.
• Special emphasis was placed on sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and infrastructure to create job opportunities and improve the quality of life for all citizens.
• The plan also included measures to improve governance and service delivery, enhance skill development, and promote technological advancements.

Additional Information

• Five-Year Plans in India were centralized and integrated national economic programs. They were modeled after the five-year plans of the Soviet Union and were implemented by the Planning Commission of India, which was later replaced by the NITI Aayog in 2015.
• The First Five-Year Plan was launched in 1951, focusing on agriculture, irrigation, and power projects to boost the rural economy.
• The Eleventh Five-Year Plan (2007-2012) aimed at achieving a growth rate of 9% and emphasized inclusive growth to ensure that the benefits of economic growth were shared widely among the population.
• The concept of Sustainable Development was highlighted in the Brundtland Report published in 1987 by the World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED), which defined it as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
• In the context of India, inclusive growth is essential due to the country's diverse population and significant socio-economic disparities. It involves policies that promote equality of opportunity and reduce income inequality.
• The planning process in India has evolved over time, with a greater focus on decentralization, stakeholder participation, and performance-based monitoring and evaluation.