Socialism was the core theme of the reforms done by Indira Gandhi. – Explain.

Civil Services Main Examination

General Studies (Paper - 1) : Model Question & Answers


Indira GandhiQuestion: “Socialism was the core theme of the reforms done by Indira Gandhi.” – Explain.

Answer: Indira Gandhi succeeded Lal Bahadur Shastri as Prime minister of India in 1966. J.L. Nehru respecting socialism and opted for 5 year plans on the pattern of U.S.S.R while Lal Bahadur Shastri also gave the slogan of ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ with objective to strengthen armed forces and peasantry.

As India was already suffering from poverty and food crisis so, Mrs. Gandhi after coming to the power came out with 10 point programme in 1967 on the ground of socialism. It included nationalization of Banks, nationalization of general Insurance, state trading in import and export trade, ceilings on urban property and income, public distribution of food grains, rapid implementation of land reforms, provisions of housing sites to the rural poor etc.

In 1969, she introduced MRTP (Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices) with the objective to end the dominance and monopoly of big business houses in trade and commerce and in 1970 she ended Privy Purses of princely states. In 1976, she went ahead with the grand 42nd amendment in which Fundamental Rights were indirectly emasculated by being made subordinate to an expanded version of Directive Principles of State Policy. Lastly, she gave the slogan ‘Garibi Hatao.’

In this way she was committed to the cause of socialism i.e; bringing the underprivileged in the privileged class.

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