Correct Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru

Solution : The correct answer is (a) Jawaharlal Nehru.

Jawaharlal Nehru, who served as the Prime Minister of India from 1947 to 1964, played a pivotal role in introducing economic planning in the country. He was a strong advocate of a planned economy to address the socio-economic challenges faced by the newly independent nation.

The introduction of the first Five-Year Plan in 1951 was a major step towards implementing economic planning in India. Nehru's government focused on industrialization, agriculture, infrastructure development, and investments in education and healthcare. The objective was to lay the foundation for a self-sustained and equitable economy.