During which five year plan, the national income growth rate was the lowest?

Option 2 : Third plan

The correct answer is the Third Plan.

• The First Plan (1951-56) was successful and achieved a growth rate of 3.6% (more than its target of 2.1%). 
• The second plan lags behind its target growth rate of 4.5% and achieved a growth rate of 4.27%. 
• The growth rate achieved during the Third Plan period stood at 2.4 p.c.
  • This downturn in the growth rate was because of two wars and severe drought faced during that time.
  • The target growth was 5.6% while the achieved growth was 2.4%. 

• Ninth Plan - 
  • This plan failed to achieve the growth target of 7% and achieved a growth rate of 5.6%.
• It increased during the Tenth Plan.
  • Its growth target was 8.0% but it achieved only 7.2%.
• Eleventh plan - 
  • It achieved a growth rate of 8% against a target of 9% growth.