Which Central Government scheme aims to strengthen organised rural Panchayats and make Indian villages more self-sustained?

Introduction / Context:

Rural local self government through Panchayati Raj Institutions is one of the core features of democratic decentralisation in India. Over the years, the Union Government has launched several campaigns and schemes to empower Gram Panchayats, improve village level planning, and make villages more self-reliant in social and economic terms. The question asks you to identify which specific Central Government initiative focuses on strengthening organised rural Panchayats so that villages can become more self-sustained, not just in infrastructure but also in governance and community participation.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on a Central Government scheme or campaign.
• The main aim mentioned is to set up or strengthen an organised rural Panchayat structure.
• The ultimate objective is to make villages more self-sustained and self-reliant.
• Options include different flagship schemes related to social welfare, education, women empowerment, and rural development.

Concept / Approach:

To answer this question, you should recall the objectives and themes of major Central Government schemes. Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan was specifically conceived as a campaign to promote village development, strengthen Panchayati Raj, and encourage coordinated efforts for rural upliftment. In contrast, many other schemes focus on particular sectors such as clean cooking fuel, maternal health, or school education. Matching the key phrase organised rural Panchayat and self-sustained villages with the primary focus of each scheme leads you to the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:

Another way to verify is to recall the broad slogans or themes associated with these initiatives. Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan literally translates to From the rise of the village, the rise of India, clearly indicating a Panchayat and village centric thrust. Government publicity around this campaign highlighted Gram Sabha meetings, awareness on social issues, and capacity-building for elected Panchayat representatives. No such Panchayat centric language is the primary focus of Ujjwala, Surakshit Matritva, or Vidyanjali, which confirms that option A is the best fit.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana is a clean energy and health related scheme aimed at providing LPG connections to women from below poverty line households, not a Panchayat strengthening campaign. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Yojana targets safe motherhood and antenatal care services. Vidyanjali Yojana promotes community and volunteer participation in school education. Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana focuses on holistic development of villages adopted by Members of Parliament, which certainly promotes self-sufficiency but is not specifically framed as a campaign to organise and empower Gram Panchayats in the same way as Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan. Therefore, all of these are not the exact match required by the question.

Common Pitfalls:

A common mistake is to choose Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana because it also talks about model villages and self-sufficiency. However, that scheme is centred on Members of Parliament adopting villages, not on a nationwide Panchayat awareness and strengthening campaign. Another error is being misled by the word Panchayat in Pradhan Mantri LPG Panchayat related campaigns associated with Ujjwala, but Ujjwala itself is primarily a LPG connection scheme. Always focus on the exact description in the question: organised rural Panchayat and self-sustained villages driven by a broad campaign.

Final Answer:

The correct scheme is Gram Uday Se Bharat Uday Abhiyan, which specifically aims to strengthen rural Panchayats and promote self-reliant village development.