{"id":2490,"date":"2026-01-06T12:15:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T06:45:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/?p=2490"},"modified":"2026-01-07T11:36:04","modified_gmt":"2026-01-07T06:06:04","slug":"lal-bahadur-shastri","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/lal-bahadur-shastri\/","title":{"rendered":"Lal Bahadur Shastri – Background, Contribution"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lal Bahadur Shastri was a humble leader who became\u00a0India's second Prime Minister (1964-66)\u00a0<\/strong>after the death of\u00a0Jawaharlal Nehru<\/strong>. He was a seasoned freedom fighter who had served nine years in prison. Following independence, he held several ministerial and party positions in the\u00a0Indian National Congress<\/strong>. Apart from being General Secretary of the Congress, he was also responsible for railways, transportation, and commerce.<\/p>\r\n

Among the Shastri era's long-term legacies were India's attainment of\u00a0self-sufficiency<\/strong>\u00a0in food and India\u2019s defence in the 1965 war. For this, he gave the nation the slogan of\u00a0\u2018Jai Jawan Jai Kisan\u2019\u00a0<\/strong>and exhorted the people to make all sacrifices in honour of India.<\/p>\r\n

Rise of Lal Bahadur Shastri<\/h2>\r\n

Lal Bahadur Shastri<\/strong>\u00a0was born in an ordinary family on\u00a0October 2, 1904<\/strong>, in\u00a0Uttar Pradesh<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

Following his education at\u00a0Kashi Vidyapeeth<\/strong>, he dedicated his time to social service through the Servants of People Society, founded by\u00a0Lala Lajpat Rai.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

    \r\n\t
  • He was an active participant in the 1930\u00a0Civil Disobedience Movement<\/strong>.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
  • Jawaharlal Nehru\u00a0<\/strong>appointed him as the\u00a0General Secretary of Allahabad District Congress<\/strong>\u00a0Committee in 1930.<\/li>\r\n\t
  • In 1937 he was elected to the\u00a0legislative assembly of the United Province.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
  • During the\u00a0Quit India Movement<\/strong>\u00a0of\u00a01942,\u00a0<\/strong>he infuriated the British authorities and was imprisoned several times by the\u00a0Britishers\u00a0<\/strong>before Independence.<\/li>\r\n\t
  • After Independence:<\/strong>\u00a0When India achieved independence in\u00a01947<\/strong>, he became a minister in the state government of\u00a0Uttar Pradesh.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n
      \r\n\t
    • He later served in the\u00a0Union cabinet<\/strong>\u00a0as a Minister of Railways and Transport (1952-1956), an industry minister (1957-1961), and a home affairs minister (1961-1963).<\/li>\r\n\t
    • He resigned from the\u00a0Railway Minister\u00a0<\/strong>post owing to the responsibilities of the\u00a0Mahbubnagar Rail accident.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
    • As a Prime Minister of India:\u00a0<\/strong>Shastriji became the second Prime Minister of India after the death of\u00a0Jawaharlal Nehru\u00a0<\/strong>in\u00a01964<\/strong>. He held the office from June 9, 1964, to January 11, 1966.\r\n\r\n
        \r\n\t
      • Two main events occurred during his tenure as a prime minister - the 1965 war with Pakistan and the Green Revolution in India.<\/li>\r\n\t
      • He came up with the famous slogan \u201cJai Jawan, Jai Kisan,\u201d aimed to boost the morale of both soldiers and farmers, which were needed at that time.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        Lal Bahadur Shastri\u2019s Agricultural Policy<\/h2>\r\n

        India went through acute food shortages and relied on the\u00a01954 Public Law (PL) 480 agreement\u00a0<\/strong>with the United States to get food aid under Government agricultural trade development support. When he took office, the agriculture sector was in crisis.<\/p>\r\n

          \r\n\t
        • Food crisis and Indo-Pak war:\u00a0<\/strong>Between 1960 and 1963,<\/strong>\u00a0India imported a staggering 15 million tonnes of\u00a0US<\/strong>\u00a0grains, and the amount of imports was rising each year.\r\n\r\n
            \r\n\t
          • The crisis was aggravated by the beginning of the Indo-Pak war in 1965.<\/li>\r\n\t
          • Against this backdrop, the Green Revolution was introduced in India.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
          • Green Revolution:\u00a0<\/strong>Shastri brought agriculture to the\u00a0Planning Commission's<\/strong>\u00a0attention at that time. And it was this shift in direction that fueled the Green Revolution in 1965.\r\n\r\n
              \r\n\t
            • It was under his tenure that the country saw the formation of the\u00a0Commission for Agricultural Costs and Prices (CACP)<\/strong>, ensuring that farmers got the Minimum Support Price (MSP) for their crops.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
            • His government passed the National Agricultural Products Board Act.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
            • He also established the\u00a0Food Corporation of India (FCI) in 1965<\/strong>\u00a0under the\u00a0Food Corporations Act, 1964.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
            • The introduction of improved\u00a0irrigation systems<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0high-yielding crops<\/strong>\u00a0during his tenure varieties also helped the Green Revolution to succeed.<\/li>\r\n\t
            • White Revolution: He also played a pivotal role in the White Revolution to make India self-reliant in milk production.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
            • He created the\u00a0National Dairy Development Board<\/strong>\u00a0in 1965.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

              Lal Bahadur Shastri\u2019s Administration<\/h2>\r\n

              Shastriji established his own\u00a0Prime Minister's<\/strong>\u00a0Secretariat as a source of information and advice to the Prime Minister on policy matters.<\/p>\r\n

                \r\n\t
              • The Secretariat, which came to be known as\u00a0PMO (Prime Ministers Office),<\/strong>\u00a0started acquiring a great deal of influence and power in the making and execution of government policies.<\/li>\r\n\t
              • Combating Corruption:\u00a0<\/strong>He combated corruption through the\u00a0Central Bureau of Investigation<\/strong>, taking prompt action on the\u00a0Das Enquiry Report<\/strong>\u00a0against Punjab Chief Minister Pratap Singh Kairon.<\/li>\r\n\t
              • Foreign policy:<\/strong>\u00a0Shastri focussed on India\u2019s immediate neighbourhood aimed at improving relations within South Asia.\r\n\r\n
                  \r\n\t
                • Sirimavo-Shastri pact:\u00a0<\/strong>This agreement was signed between Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, and Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1964. According to the Agreement, all people of Indian origin in Ceylon (Sri Lanka\u2019s old name) who have not been accepted as Ceylonese or Indian citizens should become citizens of either country.<\/li>\r\n\t
                • Relations with Burma:<\/strong>\u00a0India\u2019s relationship with Burma had been strained after the 1962 Military coup followed by the repatriation of many Indian families in 1964 by Burma. In December 1965, Lal Bahadur Shastri paid an official visit to Rangoon, Burma, and reestablished friendly relations with the country's military government, led by General Ne Win.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                  India-Pakistan War 1965<\/h2>\r\n

                  The\u00a01965 Indo-Pak War<\/strong>was the second conflict between these two neighbouring countries after 1947. This was the attempt by Pakistan to annex\u00a0Jammu and Kashmir<\/strong>\u00a0by any means.<\/p>\r\n

                    \r\n\t
                  • While India was still recovering from the damages of the\u00a0Sino-India war of 1962<\/strong>,\u00a0Pakistan\u00a0<\/strong>saw it as an opportunity to acquire\u00a0Jammu and Kashmir<\/strong>\u00a0with might, presuming India to be weak in terms of\u00a0defence preparation.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
                  • Operation Desert Hawk:<\/strong>On\u00a024 April 1965<\/strong>, the\u00a0Pakistan Army<\/strong>\u00a0attacked the\u00a0Rann of Kutch<\/strong>\u00a0in\u00a0Gujarat\u00a0<\/strong>and penetrated six to eight miles inside the\u00a0Indian territory.<\/strong>\r\n
                      \r\n\t
                    • Pakistan conducted Operation Desert Hawk, seizing several Indian posts along the Kanjarkot Fort border area.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                    • Kutch Agreement:<\/strong>\u00a0However, as a result of United Kingdom mediation, Pakistani forces withdrew from Indian territory in the\u00a0Kutch sector.\u00a0<\/strong>\r\n
                        \r\n\t
                      • India consented to the ceasefire to improve mutual ties and delimit the border in this area peacefully.<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • The\u00a0'Kutch Agreement'<\/strong>\u00a0was signed on July 1, 1965. Pakistanis mistook India's restraint and maturity as weakness.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                      • Operation Gibraltar:\u00a0<\/strong>Operation Gibraltar was intended to infiltrate forces into\u00a0Jammu and Kashmir<\/strong>, sparking an insurgency against Indian rule. This became the immediate cause of the 1965 war.\r\n\r\n
                          \r\n\t
                        • In August 1965,\u00a0Pakistani soldiers dressed<\/strong>\u00a0as tribesmen infiltrated\u00a0Jammu and Kashmir<\/strong>\u00a0to join a rally in\u00a0Srinagar\u00a0<\/strong>to commemorate Saint Pir Dastgir.<\/li>\r\n\t
                        • However, the plan failed with their early detection and lack of support from the locals, who gave away their positions.<\/li>\r\n\t
                        • Pakistan used its artillery in support of\u00a0guerrilla operations<\/strong>\u00a0out of sheer desperation. India responded immediately, recapturing the Kargil Heights, which had been returned in July 1965.<\/li>\r\n\t
                        • By the end of August 1965, Pakistan's plans for rapid annexation of the Valley had been decisively defeated.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/li>\r\n\t
                        • Operation Grand Slam: Following the failure of Operation Gibraltar, General Ayub Khan launched Operation Grand Slam on September 1, 1965.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
                        • A massive attack was planned in the\u00a0Chamb Jaurian Sector<\/strong>\u00a0aimed at capturing\u00a0Akhnoor\u00a0<\/strong>and cutting off Indian positions in\u00a0Naushera<\/strong>,\u00a0Rajouri and Punch.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
                        • The\u00a0Emergency Committee of the Cabinet<\/strong>, chaired by Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, gave the 'go-ahead' for an all-out military response on September 3, 1965.<\/li>\r\n\t
                        • The Indian strategy was to threaten\u00a0Lahore\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Sialkot<\/strong>, relieving pressure in the Chamb-Jaurian Sector while also degrading Pakistani armed potential and capturing some territory for bargaining in post-war negotiations.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                          Tashkent Agreement<\/h3>\r\n

                          Hostilities between the two countries ended when a cease-fire was declared by\u00a0UN Security Council Resolution 211,<\/strong>\u00a0following diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and the United States and the subsequent issuance of the Tashkent Declaration.<\/p>\r\n

                            \r\n\t
                          • The\u00a0Tashkent Agreement<\/strong>\u00a0was signed on\u00a010 January 1966<\/strong>\u00a0between\u00a0Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Pakistani President General Ayub Khan<\/strong>, agreeing to observe the\u00a0Cease Fire Line<\/strong>\u00a0as it existed before\u00a005 August 1965.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
                          • The Prime Minister of India and the President of Pakistan have committed to make every effort to promote good neighbourly relations in conformity with the\u00a0United Nations Charter.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
                          • Key points:\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\r\n\t
                          • All armed personnel of the two countries shall be withdrawn not later than 25\u00a0February 1966<\/strong>\u00a0to the positions they held before 5 August 1965, and both sides must adhere to the cease-fire terms on the\u00a0cease-fire line<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • Relations between India and Pakistan must be founded on the principle of non-interference in each other's internal affairs.<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • The High Commissioner of India<\/strong>\u00a0to Pakistan and the\u00a0High Commissioner of Pakistan<\/strong>\u00a0to\u00a0India\u00a0<\/strong>will return to their posts, and the normal functioning of the\u00a0diplomatic missions<\/strong>\u00a0of both countries will be restored.<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • Both governments must abide by the\u00a01961 Vienna Conventionon Diplomatic Relations<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • To consider measures to restore economic and trade relations, as well as communications.<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • They give their respective authorities orders to carry out the repatriation of prisoners of war.<\/li>\r\n\t
                          • Continue the discussion of issues concerning refugees and evictions\/illegal immigration.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                            End of the Shastri Era<\/h3>\r\n

                            Lal Bahadur Shastri\u00a0died\u00a0<\/strong>on the night of\u00a0January 10\/11, 1966, in the city of Tashkent, hours after signing a peace agreement.<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

                              \r\n\t
                            • The cause of death was reported as cardiac arrest, but it remains a mystery, as there are many conspiracy theories about his death.<\/li>\r\n\t
                            • He received the\u00a0highest civilian award, Bharat Ratna, posthumously in 1966.<\/strong><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

                              Lal Bahadur Shastri- Jai Jawan Jai Kisan PYQs<\/h2>\r\n

                              Question 1:<\/strong>\u00a0Analyse the circumstances that led to the Tashkent Agreement in 1966. Discuss the highlights of the Agreement.\u00a0(UPSC Mains 2016)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n

                              Question 2:<\/strong>\u00a0Write a critical note on the evolution and significance of the slogan, \u2018Jai Jawan Jai Kisan\u2019.\u00a0(UPSC Mains 2013)<\/strong><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

                              Lal Bahadur Shastri was a self-effacing layman who became India’s second Prime Minister (1964-66) and successfully led the country through the Indo-Pakistan War of 1965.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":2491,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[102,40],"class_list":{"0":"post-2490","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-notes","8":"tag-lal-bahadur-shastri","9":"tag-quest"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2490"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19634,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2490\/revisions\/19634"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2491"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}