Question

The ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative’ carries forward the same spirit of self-reliance, which was adopted by the Government after 1947.

In the light of the given statement, explain why self-reliance was considered as an important planning objective after independence.

Hint:

Self-reliance meant less dependence on other nations, especially for food. It stressed domestic resources and avoided foreign interference through imported food, technology and capital.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the question:
The question links Atmanirbhar Bharat with the old planning goal of self-reliance. We must explain why self-reliance mattered as a planning objective after 1947.

Step 2: Meaning of self-reliance:
Self-reliance means a country depends on its own resources and skills. It tries to cut its dependence on other nations. The same idea stands behind the Atmanirbhar Bharat Initiative, which aims to make India self-reliant.

Step 3: Point 1 - Less dependence on other nations:
After independence, India needed food, machines and money. Buying all of these from abroad would have made India depend on other countries. Planners wanted to reduce this dependence, mainly for food.

Step 4: Point 2 - Use of home resources:
The plans stressed the use of domestic resources. They also stressed home production of goods and technology. This was meant to keep the economy strong from within.

Step 5: Point 3 - Avoiding foreign interference:
There was a fear about imported food, foreign technology and foreign capital. If India relied on them, other countries could interfere in its policies. A self-reliant economy was a way to avoid this.

Final Answer:
Self-reliance was important because it cut dependence on other nations (mainly for food), used home resources, and avoided foreign interference in policy.