Which of the following Five-Year Plans in India prioritized accelerating industrialization, particularly targeting the expansion of heavy and basic industries?

The correct option is Second Five-Year Plan.

Detailed Explanation:
The Second Five-Year Plan (1956–1961) in India was framed around the economic strategy developed by the renowned statistician Prasanta Chandra Mahalanobis, commonly known as the Mahalanobis Model.
While the First Five-Year Plan (1951–1956) prioritized agricultural development to resolve severe post-independence food shortages, the Second Five-Year Plan marked a major policy shift toward rapid industrialization, specifically targeting the growth of basic and heavy industries.

Key Highlights of the Second Five-Year Plan:
• Focus on Heavy and Capital Goods Industries: Primary emphasis was placed on developing steel, hydroelectric power projects, coal, heavy chemicals, and locomotives to build a robust domestic capital goods sector.
• Major Steel Plants Established: Three large integrated steel plants were set up in the public sector with foreign technical assistance:
- Bhilai Steel Plant (Chhattisgarh) – built in collaboration with the USSR.
- Rourkela Steel Plant (Odisha) – built in collaboration with West Germany.
- Durgapur Steel Plant (West Bengal) – built in collaboration with the United Kingdom.
• Public Sector Expansion: The plan expanded the role of the state in heavy industry to establish economic self-reliance.

Brief Summary of Other Five-Year Plans Listed:
• First Five-Year Plan (1951–1956): Focused mainly on agriculture, irrigation, and power projects based on the Harrod-Domar model.
• Fourth Five-Year Plan (1969–1974): Focused on "growth with stability" and progressive self-reliance.
• Seventh Five-Year Plan (1985–1990): Focused on improving productivity, increasing food grain production, and generating employment ("Food, Work, and Productivity").