In India, in which year was the new agricultural strategy linked to the Green Revolution first introduced on a large scale?

Introduction / Context:
The phrase new agricultural strategy in India usually refers to the package of measures that led to the Green Revolution. This included high yielding variety seeds, increased use of fertilisers and pesticides, expansion of irrigation and supportive government policies. The question asks in which year this new strategy was introduced on a significant scale. Knowing this helps learners place the Green Revolution in the correct time frame of post independence economic history.

Given Data / Assumptions:
• The focus is on the initial introduction of the Green Revolution strategy. • The options give four different years: 1956, 1966, 1976 and 1986. • We assume the question refers to the first major implementation, not later expansions.

Concept / Approach:
India faced serious food shortages and famines in the years after independence. In the mid 1960s, after poor monsoons and heavy food imports, the government launched a new agricultural strategy based on high yielding varieties of wheat and rice, especially in Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. This is commonly associated with the start of the Green Revolution and is generally dated to 1966 to 1967. The other years in the options either precede or follow this shift by a decade or more.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Recall that the Green Revolution in India is linked with the mid 1960s, particularly 1966 to 1967. 2. Remember that the introduction of Mexican dwarf wheat varieties and intensive package programmes came around 1966. 3. Check the options and identify the year closest to this period. 4. 1956 is too early, as India was still focusing on traditional expansion during the Second Five Year Plan period. 5. 1976 and 1986 are too late and correspond to later phases of agricultural policy, not the initial launching of the new strategy. 6. Therefore, 1966 is the appropriate year for the introduction of the new agricultural strategy linked with the Green Revolution.

Verification / Alternative check:
Most economics and geography textbooks state that the new agricultural strategy and Green Revolution began in the mid 1960s and often specifically mention 1966 as the turning point when the intensive areas development programme and high yielding variety programme were launched. They also note that the dramatic increase in wheat production took place after this period. This consistent dating in educational material confirms that 1966 is the correct year to choose.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1956: This year falls in the early planning period when India was focused on industrialisation and community development, before the Green Revolution package was introduced. 1976: By this time, the first phase of the Green Revolution had already taken place and the new strategy was well underway. 1986: This is linked with later policy changes such as the launching of the New Education Policy, not the start of the Green Revolution in agriculture.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the middle decades of the twentieth century and place the Green Revolution either too early or too late. Another common problem is mixing up dates of later agricultural or economic reforms with the original Green Revolution period. A helpful memory trick is to link the Green Revolution with the mid 1960s and the leadership of scientists like M S Swaminathan, which points directly to 1966 as the key introductory year.

Final Answer:
The new agricultural strategy that launched the Green Revolution in India was introduced in 1966.