Question

India's Third Five Year Plan (1961-1966) was criticised for which of the following?

• A. Increasing the possibility of food shortage.
• B. Spending foreign exchange to buy technology from the global market.
• C. Displaying an unmistakable urban bias.
• D. Attracting more investment for green revolution.

Hint:

Think of the charge of favouring cities over villages.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understand the question.
We need the criticism that was made of the Third Five Year Plan (1961-66).

Step 2: Recall the background.
The Third Plan carried forward the heavy industry stress of the Second Plan. Critics said that its strategy favoured cities and industry over villages and farming.

Step 3: Check option 1.
Food shortage was a result of drought and war in the mid 1960s, and it is not the main named criticism of the plan design. So option 1 is not chosen.

Step 4: Check option 2.
Spending foreign exchange on technology was part of the planned approach, and it is not the standard criticism of the Third Plan. So option 2 is not chosen.

Step 5: Check option 3.
The strategy was said to show an unmistakable urban bias, because it put its stress on industry and cities. This is the standard criticism. So option 3 is chosen.

Step 6: Check option 4.
Investment in the green revolution was a later shift after the Third Plan, and it was not a criticism of it. So option 4 is wrong.

Final Answer:
The Third Plan was criticised for an urban bias. This is option 3. \[ \boxed{\text{Option 3}} \]