The Bharat Nirman Programme of the Government of India focuses on specific rural infrastructure sectors. Which one of the following areas is not covered as a component under the Bharat Nirman scheme?

Introduction / Context:
Bharat Nirman is a flagship rural infrastructure development programme launched by the Government of India to strengthen basic facilities in villages. It focuses on specific physical infrastructure components such as roads, housing, irrigation, drinking water, electrification, and rural telecommunication connectivity. This question checks whether the learner can accurately recall which sectors are formally included within Bharat Nirman and distinguish them from other important but separate programmes like rural employment schemes.

Given Data / Assumptions:
The question is specifically about the Bharat Nirman Programme.We are asked to identify which area is not covered under this programme.The options given are rural housing, rural water supply, irrigation facilities, and rural employment.We assume the standard list of Bharat Nirman components as used in government documents and exam syllabi.

Concept / Approach:
Bharat Nirman was designed as a time bound business plan for rural infrastructure. Its original components were: rural housing, irrigation, rural roads, rural drinking water supply, rural electrification, and rural telecommunication connectivity. These are all physical infrastructure sectors. Rural employment, on the other hand, is addressed through separate schemes such as Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act and other livelihood programmes. Understanding the division between infrastructure creation and employment generation helps to pick the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the main components of Bharat Nirman, which include rural roads, rural housing, irrigation, drinking water, electrification, and telecommunication connectivity.Step 2: Compare each option with this list. Rural housing clearly matches one of the components.Step 3: Rural water supply is also explicitly covered as rural drinking water under Bharat Nirman.Step 4: Irrigation facilities are another major component aimed at expanding irrigated area in rural India.Step 5: Rural employment does not appear in the formal list of Bharat Nirman components, as employment generation is handled through different schemes, so it must be the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, think of how Bharat Nirman is usually described in exam oriented books. It is repeatedly introduced as a time bound business plan for building rural infrastructure, not as an employment programme. In contrast, rural employment is normally linked to MGNREGA and other schemes that guarantee work and wages. This clear difference in focus confirms that rural employment is not a Bharat Nirman component, whereas the other three options match known sectors under the programme.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Rural housing: This is a core component of Bharat Nirman, aiming to provide houses for the rural poor through schemes like the rural housing programme.Rural water supply: Bharat Nirman includes rural drinking water as an important component to ensure safe and sustainable water sources in villages.Irrigation facilities: Expansion and improvement of irrigation infrastructure is explicitly included to increase agricultural productivity in rural areas.

Common Pitfalls:
Because rural employment is such a central objective in overall rural development, some students assume it must be part of every large rural scheme. This leads to confusion between Bharat Nirman and employment centric schemes. Another pitfall is not learning the exact list of components and instead relying on intuition, which can be misleading in objective type exams. Careful memorisation and understanding of major government programmes is essential for success in general studies questions.

Final Answer:
The Bharat Nirman Programme does not include Rural employment as one of its formal components.