Which one of the following statements correctly describes the Niryat Bandhu Scheme?

Introduction / Context:
The Niryat Bandhu Scheme is an initiative launched by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It seeks to encourage new participants in India’s international trade by providing guidance and handholding support. Questions on this scheme assess awareness of export promotion measures and programmes designed to support new entrepreneurs in foreign trade.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The scheme is called Niryat Bandhu, where “Niryat” means export and “Bandhu” means friend or companion.
The options describe the scheme variously as mentoring entrepreneurs, crop protection, support for vulnerable groups or monitoring rural poor.
We assume official information about the scheme as available from DGFT and government documents.

Concept / Approach:
The key idea of Niryat Bandhu is to act as a friend and guide for those who are new to exports and foreign trade. The scheme focuses especially on first generation entrepreneurs and small and medium enterprises, offering training, counselling and information about export procedures, documentation and opportunities. It does not deal with agriculture protection, poverty monitoring or social welfare in a narrow sense. Hence, the option that mentions mentoring first generation entrepreneurs is the correct description.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the word “Niryat” is Hindi for export, which hints that the scheme deals with foreign trade. Step 2: Recall that the Niryat Bandhu Scheme was launched by DGFT to support those new to exports by providing guidance and capacity building. Step 3: Among the options, only option A talks about mentoring first generation entrepreneurs, which matches this understanding. Step 4: The other options refer to crop protection, vulnerable sections and rural poor monitoring, which are not the focus areas of a foreign trade scheme. Step 5: Therefore, option A is the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Textbooks on Indian economy and government schemes often explain that Niryat Bandhu provides handholding support for new entrepreneurs in exports. The scheme includes outreach programmes, training sessions and counselling on export related issues. None of the official descriptions mention crop protection or poverty monitoring. This confirms that mentoring first generation entrepreneurs is the central theme.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option B (scheme for crop protection) is incorrect because agricultural crop protection is covered by other schemes under the agriculture ministry, not by a scheme whose name explicitly relates to exports.

Option C (scheme for the vulnerable section of society) is incorrect because although entrepreneurship support can indirectly benefit vulnerable groups, Niryat Bandhu is not a social welfare scheme targeted by vulnerability criteria. Its primary focus is export promotion.

Option D (scheme for monitoring rural poor) is incorrect since monitoring poverty in rural areas is the mandate of separate surveys and programmes, and Niryat Bandhu does not perform this function.

Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may misinterpret the scheme as a general social welfare programme because of the friendly word “Bandhu” and mark an option related to poor or vulnerable sections. Another pitfall is ignoring the hint in the word “Niryat”. Understanding basic Hindi terms often helps decode the subject area of a scheme. Always look for such clues in scheme names to narrow down the correct description.

Final Answer:
The Niryat Bandhu Scheme is correctly described as a scheme for mentoring first generation entrepreneurs in the field of exports.