Under which Five Year Plan did the Government of India introduce the new agricultural strategy that led to the Green Revolution?

Introduction / Context:
This question connects Indian planning history with agricultural development. The Green Revolution refers to the introduction of high yielding varieties of seeds, chemical fertilisers, irrigation expansion, and improved farming practices, which led to a sharp rise in food grain production. Knowing under which Five Year Plan the government adopted this new agricultural strategy is a standard question in Indian economy and history examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on the new agricultural strategy that triggered the Green Revolution.
• The question is about the Five Year Plan under which it was introduced.
• Options list the Second, Third, Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Five Year Plans.

Concept / Approach:
The early plans of India had different priorities. The First Plan concentrated on agriculture and irrigation due to the food crisis at independence. The Second Plan emphasised heavy industry and the public sector, following the Mahalanobis model. The new agricultural strategy, which came to be known as the Green Revolution, was launched during the period of the Third Five Year Plan and subsequent years, particularly in the mid 1960s. It was further intensified in later years but was conceptually introduced around the time of the Third Plan.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Third Five Year Plan covered the period from 1961 to 1966.Step 2: The mid 1960s saw food shortages, leading to attempts to increase production rapidly.Step 3: During the Third Plan period, the government began to adopt the new agricultural strategy, including intensive agriculture districts and high yielding variety programmes.Step 4: Later plans consolidated and extended these measures, but the initial policy shift occurred under the Third Plan.Step 5: Therefore, the correct answer is the Third Five Year Plan.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can cross check by lining up the chronology of important events. The Green Revolution in India is usually dated to around 1965 to 1968, when new seeds and inputs began to be used extensively in states like Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh. This timeline coincides with the Third Plan and the early years following it. The Second Plan (1956 to 1961) was still strongly oriented toward heavy industry, while the Fourth Plan (1969 onwards) built on gains already started by the Green Revolution approach.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The Second Plan focused on rapid industrialisation and did not launch the Green Revolution strategy. The Fourth, Sixth, and Seventh Plans came later and were important for consolidating and extending agricultural advances, but they were not the initial launch pad for the new strategy. Exam questions that mention the introduction or origin of the Green Revolution in India normally expect the Third Five Year Plan as the answer.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes mistakenly associate the Green Revolution solely with later plans because its visible impact on production continued for decades. Others confuse the early emphasis on agriculture in the First Plan with the specific Green Revolution strategy, which involved modern inputs and technology rather than simply expanding area or irrigation. To avoid errors, tie the term Green Revolution to the mid 1960s and the Third Plan period in your memory.

Final Answer:
The new agricultural strategy that led to the Green Revolution was introduced under the Third Five Year Plan of India.