The Mahalanobis Model, which formed the mathematical foundation of India's Second Five Year Plan (1956-61), prioritized the rapid development of the consumer goods and textile industries.

The Mahalanobis strategy actually prioritized the rapid development of the capital goods and heavy industries (like steel, machinery, and power). The logic was that building a strong domestic capital goods base would eventually enable the mass production of consumer goods, ensuring long-term self-reliance and industrialization, albeit at the cost of short-term consumer shortages.