The Nehru-Mahalanobis strategy of development, formulated in the early 1950s, was a cornerstone of India’s post-independence economic policy framework. Named after Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who championed industrialization, and P.C. Mahalanobis, whose statistical models underpinned planning decisions, the strategy was implemented through the First and Second Five-Year Plans, focusing on a long-term vision for self-reliant and industrially advanced India. The central objective was rapid industrialization, especially in the capital goods sector, which was believed to create the necessary foundation for sustained economic growth. The main elements of the Nehru-Mahalanobis strategy revolved around three critical aspects. Firstly, the strategy emphasized heavy and basic industries such as steel, machinery, and cement. These sectors were considered vital for building the infrastructure of a modern industrial economy. By promoting large-scale production in capital goods, the plan aimed to generate backward and forward linkages in the economy, thereby stimulating other sectors like agriculture, transport, and consumer goods. Secondly, the strategy adopted a model of a mixed economy, combining the private and public sectors. While private enterprise was encouraged in the production of consumer goods, the public sector was given a dominant role in heavy industries and infrastructure development. The underlying belief was that the private sector alone would not have the capacity to mobilize resources and finance for large-scale industrial projects, necessitating state intervention. Thirdly, the strategy was guided by the Mahalanobis model, a two-sector framework dividing the economy into capital goods and consumer goods sectors. The model suggested that prioritizing investment in capital goods industries would maximize long-term growth, even if it led to a temporary lag in consumer goods availability. This choice reflected a long-term perspective, focusing on building the productive capacity of the nation. The principal achievements of the Nehru-Mahalanobis strategy are notable in several areas. One of the most significant accomplishments was the establishment of a robust public sector base in India. The strategy led to the creation of major industrial undertakings such as steel plants in Bhilai, Durgapur, Rourkela, and