The Sixth Five Year Plan was developed by taking into account the successes and failures of the previous three decades of planning, as well as recent economic developments that have an impact on the economy’s medium-term growth prospects and the vision for the future as reflected in the long-term perspective. The elimination of poverty is the primary goal of the Sixth Plan, despite the fact that it is acknowledged that the work is too large to be completed in five years.

Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-1985)

Since 1977-78, India’s trade balance has been on the decline. In 1977-78, the trade balance deficit was Rs. 621 crores, compared to an excess of Rs. 72 crores in the year between 1976-77, and is considered to have been higher than Rs. 2370 crores in 1979-80. According to available data on the trade balance from 1980-81 a to June, the deficit has already surpassed Rs. 3000 crores. An increase in the trade imbalance between 1977 and 1980 was attributed to reduced export growth of 6.1 percent compared to 26.8 percent between 1974 and 1977 at prevailing prices, but also to a 19 percent annual increase in the value of imports.

An overview of the Sixth Five-Year Plan

Under the leadership of the young Prime Minister, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, this plan is intended for rapid industrial development, particularly in the field of information technology. This plan, also known as the Janata Government Plan, was a reversal of the Nehruvian Five-Year Plan concept.

The Janata Government completed the 5th five-year plan one year before the conclusion of its tenure, i.e. only 4 years (1974-79), and began a new plan on April 1, 1978. “Rolling plan” is the name of this scheme. On April 1, 1978, the 6th plan was announced as part of the first phase of the Rolling Plan for a period of five years (1978-83). The Janata Government’s Sixth Plan (Rolling Plan) was abandoned in 1980, and a new Sixth Plan for the period 1980-85 was introduced. The Scheme’s centerpiece was the launch of DWCRA, which aimed to give acceptable self-employment options for women from rural families. As a result, the emphasis was on rural empowerment. 

The motive of the Sixth five-year plan

• Poverty alleviation and industrial development were two of the main motives.
• To implement this plan in a way that strengthens both agricultural and industrial infrastructure at the same time.
• It was emphasized that dealing with connected problems requires a systematic approach, intense monitoring in all sectors, and people’s participation in creating specific development schemes at the local level and ensuring their swift and efficient implementation.

6th Five Year Plan achievements

• For the first time, India’s national highway system was established, and several roads were extended to accommodate increased traffic and improve the country’s traffic infrastructure.
• The tourism industry grew.
• The start of the economic liberalization process.
• Ration shops were closed and price limits were removed.
• To avoid overpopulation, family planning has been expanded.
• The percentage of people living in poverty fell from 48.3% in 1977-78 to 36.90% in 1984-85.

6th Five Year Plan objectives

• A major increase in the economy’s pace of growth, the promotion of efficiency in resource usage and increased productivity;
• Strong modernization impulses for the accomplishment of economic and technological self-reliance;
• A progressive reduction in poverty and unemployment;
• A rapid development of indigenous energy sources, with a strong emphasis on energy conservation and efficiency;
• Increasing the people’s quality of life in general, with a special focus on the economically and socially disadvantaged, through a minimum needs program whose coverage is meant to ensure that all sections of the country meet nationally acceptable standards within a set time frame;
• Strengthening the redistributive bias of public policies and services in favor of the poor, resulting in a reduction in income and wealth inequalities;
• A progressive reduction in regional inequalities in the pace of development and the spread of technological benefits; promotion of policies to control population growth through voluntary acceptance of the small family norm;
• Promoting the active participation of all sections of the population in the development process through appropriate educational, communication, and institutional strategies; and
• Bringing about harmony between the short and long-term goals of development by protecting and improving ecological and environmental assets.

Conclusion

We have studied The motive of the Sixth five-year plan, 6th Five Year Plan achievements, 6th Five Year Plan objectives, and everything you need to know about Sixth Five-Year Plan (1980-1985).

The Sixth Five Year Plan in India was implemented from 1980 to 1985 with the primary goal of achieving objectives such as rapid industrialization, increased employment, poverty reduction, and technological self-reliance.