Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: It is a placement-linked skill training programme exclusively for rural girls.
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana (DDU GKY) is a flagship programme under the Ministry of Rural Development that seeks to provide skill training and placement to rural youth from poor families. It forms part of the larger National Rural Livelihoods Mission. This question presents four statements about DDU GKY and asks which one is not correct. Identifying the incorrect description requires a clear understanding of the target group and the programme design.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
DDU GKY targets rural youth from poor families, typically in the age group 15 to 35 years, and provides skill training that is linked to placement in wage employment. It is not limited to girls; both young men and women are eligible, though there are special provisions for vulnerable groups. The programme is designed to harness India’s demographic surplus by equipping young rural population with employable skills, so Statement B is correct. It aims to reach a large number of poor rural youth, so Statement C is broadly correct in spirit. It is considered a generational poverty alleviation programme because stable employment for youth can lift entire families out of poverty, making Statement D correct. Thus the incorrect statement is Statement A, which wrongly says the scheme is exclusively for rural girls.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that DDU GKY provides skill development and placement support to rural youth from poor households.
Step 2: Note that the scheme is meant for both males and females. There are specific targets and relaxations for women, but it is not restricted to girls only.
Step 3: Statement B describes the vision of turning India’s young population surplus into a demographic dividend, which is indeed part of the scheme’s objective, so B is correct.
Step 4: Statement C about benefiting more than 55 million poor rural people describes the broad long term target of the scheme and is consistent with official communications, so it is acceptable.
Step 5: Statement D calling it a generational poverty alleviation programme is also correct because placement in stable jobs for youth can break intergenerational poverty cycles.
Step 6: Therefore the only statement that is not correct is Statement A.
Verification / Alternative check:
Verification comes from reading official DDU GKY documents which explicitly state that it targets rural youth from poor families in the age group 15–35, including both men and women. They emphasise special attention to women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and minorities but never mention that the scheme is exclusively for rural girls. Also, the language of demographic dividend and generational poverty alleviation is commonly used in official descriptions, confirming that Statements B, C and D reflect the intent of the programme.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
As answers to the question asking for the incorrect statement, options B, C and D are wrong choices because the statements they represent are either exactly correct or broadly aligned with the official scheme objectives. They cannot be selected when we are specifically asked to identify the statement that is not correct.
Common Pitfalls:
Candidates may see the words “placement linked skill training” and accept Statement A at a glance without noticing the word “exclusively”. The exam setter uses this term to create a trap. Another pitfall is misunderstanding approximate numbers such as 55 million and treating them as automatically suspicious. However, in government documents, large rounded figures are common targets. It is essential to read every word of a statement, especially qualifiers like “only” or “exclusively”.
Final Answer:
The statement that is not correct is option A, because DDU GKY is a placement linked skill training programme for rural youth from poor families, but it is not exclusively for rural girls.
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