In India, the Community Development Programme aimed at integrated rural development was formally started on which of the following dates?

Introduction / Context:
The Community Development Programme was one of the earliest efforts by the Government of India to promote rural development through a multi purpose approach to agriculture, education, health, and infrastructure. Exam questions often ask about the date on which this programme was formally launched, because it marks an important milestone in the history of planned rural development in India.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• We are given four dates representing different years but the same day and month.
• The question asks for the starting date of the Community Development Programme in India.
• We assume familiarity with the fact that many important programmes were launched on Gandhi Jayanti, which is October 2.

Concept / Approach:
The Community Development Programme was formally inaugurated on October 2, 1952. It aimed to carry out all round rural development through community participation and government support. This date is significant because it links the programme to Gandhi Jayanti, symbolising an emphasis on rural uplift and self reliance.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that the programme started soon after independence during the early 1950s.Step 2: Note that many rural development programmes of that era were launched on October 2.Step 3: Official historical records state that the Community Development Programme started on October 2, 1952.Step 4: Compare this with the options provided.Step 5: Select October 2, 1952 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Historical accounts of rural development in India and standard exam guides list October 2, 1952 as the launch date for the Community Development Programme. This programme later influenced other schemes and projects, reinforcing the importance of knowing its start date.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
October 2, 1957: This is later than the actual launch and does not match historical records.

October 2, 1959: Also incorrect and not associated with the start of this programme.

October 2, 1961: By this time, the Community Development Programme was already in operation and being modified, so it is not the correct starting year.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners remember the day and month (October 2) but confuse the year because several programmes were started on the same date in different years. To avoid this, it helps to fix 1952 in memory as the year when the Community Development Programme began, early in the planning era.

Final Answer:
The Community Development Programme in India started on October 2, 1952.