The first Survey was presented in 1950–51 and was separated from the Budget documents in the 1960s. The Survey called for caution amid an uncertain global environment but said there was no reason for pessimism about India’s economic trajectory. It said a free trade agreement with Europe could strengthen India’s manufacturing capacity, export resilience, and strategic positioning. It proposed a transition from Swadeshi to what it termed “strategic indispensability,” where Indian products become a default global choice. It added that prices of gold and silver are likely to continue rising due to sustained demand as safe-haven assets amid global uncertainty.