The main difference was in the styles of the Plans. The first Plan envisaged development at a slow pace. whereas the second plan wanted development to be fast. The first Plan gave priority to agricultural matters whereas the 2nd Plan gave preference to large scale heavy industries.
The first Plan envisaged at eradicating poverty. According to K.N. Raj, India needed a Quick, but also gradual, development. Fast actions would jeopardise democracy itself. Therefore the first half of the Plan devoted attention to dams and irrigation. The inequality in the land distribution was harmful to agriculture. So it was thought necessary to make land reforms. The 2nd Plan stressed industrial development, it was under the leadership of P.C. Mahalanobis. The 2nd Plan wanted to implement schemes for the quick development of the industrial base.
The Resolution passed at the Avadi Conference of the Congress aimed at social justice. The 2nd Plan reflects this. By imposing import duties, Indian industries were protected from foreign competition. The savings and investments of the people increased. It made it possible to bring about development in the public sector areas like electricity, railway, steel, heavy instruments, and communication.
