Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Bharat Nirman Programme
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
In the mid 2000s, the Government of India launched several flagship schemes to improve both social development and physical infrastructure. Among them, Bharat Nirman was specifically designed as a time bound plan for rural infrastructure development. This question asks which programme launched in 2005 06 focused on creating infrastructure and basic amenities in rural areas, and it checks whether candidates can distinguish Bharat Nirman from other social and urban programmes launched around a similar time.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Bharat Nirman Programme was conceptualised as a major rural infrastructure initiative to be implemented during a fixed time frame. It brought together multiple components that directly relate to basic rural amenities and connectivity. Janani Suraksha Yojana focuses on safe motherhood and reducing maternal mortality, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan targets universal elementary education and Swarnajayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana deals with urban employment and poverty alleviation. Thus, the approach is to match the rural infrastructure theme with Bharat Nirman and eliminate the other schemes based on their different purposes.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify the keywords in the question: infrastructure, basic amenities and rural parts of the country.
Step 2: Recall that Bharat Nirman was launched as a comprehensive rural infrastructure development project during the mid 2000s.
Step 3: Note that Janani Suraksha Yojana is related to maternal and child health services, not physical infrastructure.
Step 4: Recognise that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan is an educational programme aiming at universal elementary education.
Step 5: Observe that Swarnajayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana addresses urban employment, not rural infrastructure, and therefore the correct answer is Bharat Nirman Programme.
Verification / Alternative check:
Additional verification can be done by reviewing standard exam notes where Bharat Nirman is always described in connection with rural roads, irrigation, housing, water supply and electrification. These clearly fall under infrastructure and basic amenities. In contrast, Janani Suraksha Yojana is often grouped with health schemes, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan with education sector reforms and Swarnajayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana with urban poverty and employment programmes. This consistent categorisation across different sources confirms that Bharat Nirman is the only option matching the description in the question.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Janani Suraksha Yojana: This scheme is aimed at promoting institutional deliveries and improving maternal and neonatal health, not at building rural infrastructure.
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan: It focuses on universalising elementary education and improving school infrastructure and quality, but is not a broad rural infrastructure programme.
Swarnajayanti Shahari Rozgar Yojana: This programme deals with employment generation and poverty alleviation in urban areas, not in rural areas.
Any blank option: Not relevant to the clearly specified theme of rural infrastructure and amenities.
Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may be distracted by the similarity between the words Shahari and rural because they sound like general development terms. Another pitfall is to assume that any programme launched around 2005 06 must be related, without checking its actual focus sector. To avoid such confusion, it is important to associate Bharat Nirman specifically with rural infrastructure and to remember the sectoral focus of other flagship schemes like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Janani Suraksha Yojana.
Final Answer:
The programme launched in 2005 06 to create infrastructure and basic amenities in rural parts of India is the Bharat Nirman Programme.
Discussion & Comments