Correct Answer: Second Five-Year Plan

Solution : The correct answer is (b) Second Five-Year Plan.

The Public Distribution System (PDS) was introduced in India during the Second Five-Year Plan (1956-61). The PDS was a government-run system that distributed essential commodities, such as food grains, sugar, and kerosene, to the poor at subsidized prices. The PDS was designed to ensure that the poor had access to basic necessities, even during times of scarcity.

The PDS has been expanded and modified over the years, but it remains an important part of the Indian government's efforts to ensure food security.