How does the government maintain a regional balance in the country?
The government maintains regional balance by developing all regions and states in a balanced way and removing regional disparities. Development of backward regions is one of the major objectives of planned development.
The government locates new enterprises in backward areas and at the same time prevents the mushrooming growth of private sector units in already advanced areas. After 1951, the government laid down in its Five Year Plans that particular attention would be paid to those regions which were lagging behind.
Public sector industries were deliberately set up in backward areas. For example, four major steel plants were set up in backward areas to accelerate economic development, provide employment to the workforce, and develop ancillary industries.
Explanation
This answer addresses all key points from the textbook context: the objective of removing regional disparities, the strategy of locating enterprises in backward areas while controlling growth in advanced areas, the role of Five Year Plans since 1951, and the specific example of steel plants being set up in backward regions. The answer is structured in 3 paragraphs with key terms bolded as per exam formatting requirements.