Green Revolution & Industrial Development in India

Vocabulary flashcards summarising key terms on India’s Green Revolution and industrial policy, covering agricultural innovations, policy measures, outcomes and parallel industrial development strategies.

Green Revolution

A 1960s agricultural initiative introducing high-yielding seeds, fertilizers and irrigation to raise India’s food-grain output and achieve self-sufficiency.

High-Yielding Variety (HYV) Seeds

Genetically improved crop seeds that give much larger harvests than traditional varieties when supplied with adequate inputs.

Chemical Fertilizers

Synthetic nutrient compounds applied to soil during the Green Revolution to boost crop productivity.

Irrigation Infrastructure

Canals, dams and tube-wells expanded during the Green Revolution to supply reliable water to farms.

New Agricultural Strategy (NAS)

Package of practices launched under the Third Five-Year Plan (1961-66) that formally began India’s Green Revolution.

Third Five-Year Plan (1961-66)

Development plan that prioritized agriculture through the NAS and triggered the Green Revolution.

Kalyan Sona

One of the first HYV wheat varieties introduced during the Green Revolution.

Sonalika

Another prominent HYV wheat variety released in Green Revolution programmes.

IR-8

The famous HYV rice variety that dramatically raised paddy yields in India.

Bhakra-Nangal Dam

Major multipurpose dam whose waters helped double India’s irrigated area from 30 to 60 million ha.

Minimum Support Price (MSP)

Government-declared floor price that guaranteed farmers a return and encouraged adoption of HYV crops.

National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

Institution supplying rural credit that financed farmers’ purchase of Green Revolution inputs.

Food Corporation of India (FCI)

Agency created to procure, store and market surplus food-grains generated by the Green Revolution.

Market Surplus

Portion of farm output sold after meeting household consumption; expanded sharply post-Green Revolution.

Buffer Stock

Government-held reserve of food-grains formed from surpluses to stabilise supply during crises.

Agricultural Subsidies

Financial assistance (e.g., cheaper inputs) given to farmers to make HYV technology affordable.

Import Dependency

India’s pre-Green-Revolution need to import ~10 million tonnes of cereals annually, draining foreign exchange.

Bengal Famine of 1943

Catastrophic food crisis that underscored the need for higher domestic grain production.

Industrial Development

Growth of manufacturing and heavy industry viewed as the backbone of a modern, self-reliant economy.

Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs)

Government-owned enterprises set up to fill capital gaps and spearhead industrialisation.

Shortage of Private Capital

Post-independence reality that few Indian entrepreneurs had funds to establish large industries.

Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 1956

Landmark policy that set rules, classified industries and aimed to accelerate industrial growth for social welfare.

Industrial Licensing

Government permit required to establish, expand or diversify an industrial unit under the IPR 1956 regime.

Karve Committee (1955)

Expert panel that recommended promoting small-scale industries for rural employment.

Small Scale Industry (SSI)

Manufacturing units with investment up to ₹1 crore, promoted for job creation and balanced growth.

Investment Limit for SSI

Maximum capital of ₹1 crore fixed to qualify an enterprise as a small-scale industry.

SSI Concessions

Benefits such as low-interest loans, reduced excise duty and product reservation granted to small units.

Cottage Industries

Traditional, home-based manufacturing that dominated India before large-scale industrialisation.