The Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 (IPR 1956) was a policy adopted by the Government of India to promote industrial development and institutionalize a socialist pattern of society in India. It built upon the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1948 and formalized the state's role in key industries. [1]
Following Indian independence, the government sought to transition from an agrarian economy to an industrialized one through planned development. The 1948 resolution provided a preliminary framework for public and private sector roles, but by the mid-1950s, a more comprehensive approach was deemed necessary. [2] [3]
The resolution aimed to establish a socialist pattern of society through state-led industrialization. Its specific goals included:
The resolution classified industries into three schedules:
This structure emphasized public sector control in strategic sectors while allowing regulated private sector participation. [1]
The resolution introduced the industrial licensing system, requiring government approval for establishing or expanding industrial units. Other key provisions included:
The resolution led to the establishment of several major Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs), such as Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), and Indian Oil Corporation. [1]
However, the industrial licensing regime also gave rise to bureaucratic inefficiencies, delays, and lack of competition, later termed the License Raj . [8]
By the late 1980s, the industrial policy was seen as inflexible and a barrier to innovation. In 1991, the government introduced the New Industrial Policy of 1991, which dismantled the licensing regime, liberalized the economy, and opened sectors to private and foreign investment. [1]
Although later replaced by liberalization measures, the Industrial Policy Resolution of 1956 significantly shaped India's economic strategy for over three decades. Several institutions and industries established during this period continue to play important roles in infrastructure, defence, and energy sectors. [9]