Which government programme was launched specifically to develop basic infrastructure in rural and other parts of India?

Introduction / Context:
Infrastructure such as roads, irrigation, drinking water, housing and electricity is the backbone of economic development. In India, the central government has launched several flagship programmes to strengthen basic infrastructure, especially in rural areas. This question asks which of the listed programmes was specifically launched to develop basic infrastructure in different parts of the country, particularly focusing on Bharat Nirman, which is a well known rural infrastructure initiative.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options include Bharat Nirman Programme, Technical Mission, Special Economic Zones and None of these.
• The phrase basic infrastructure suggests facilities like rural roads, irrigation, rural housing, safe drinking water, electricity and telephone connectivity.
• We assume the context of national level schemes implemented by the Government of India.
• Bharat Nirman is widely known as a time bound business plan for rural infrastructure.
• Special Economic Zones are mainly industrial enclaves for export oriented units, not general basic infrastructure schemes.

Concept / Approach:
Bharat Nirman was launched as a comprehensive programme to create and upgrade rural infrastructure during a specific period. Its components included rural roads, rural housing, irrigation, rural drinking water, rural electrification and rural telephony. This matches the idea of building basic infrastructure. Technical missions and Special Economic Zones have different objectives, such as promoting specific technologies or creating industrial hubs. Therefore, the correct approach is to match the description in the question with the official objectives of Bharat Nirman.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Bharat Nirman is a flagship programme of the Government of India targeting rural infrastructure development. Step 2: List in mind the key components of Bharat Nirman, such as roads, electrification, irrigation, drinking water and housing. Step 3: Compare this with the concept of a Technical Mission, which usually focuses on a limited technical area rather than broad infrastructure. Step 4: Note that Special Economic Zones are industrial and export oriented areas rather than a basic infrastructure programme for the masses. Step 5: Conclude that Bharat Nirman Programme is the only option that fully matches the description of a basic infrastructure development programme.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard exam guides and government documents describe Bharat Nirman as a time bound plan to build rural infrastructure in six key areas. Whenever questions mention basic infrastructure in rural India, Bharat Nirman is usually the central answer. Technical Missions are more specialised, for example in drinking water quality or agriculture, and Special Economic Zones focus on industrial investment. None of these descriptions match as closely as Bharat Nirman with the question wording, so this cross checking verifies the chosen option.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Technical Mission: This term refers to specific missions in sectors like agriculture or health, which are narrower in scope than a comprehensive basic infrastructure programme. Special Economic Zones: These zones are designed to promote exports and industrial growth with special tax and regulatory regimes, not to provide broad based basic infrastructure to the general population. None of these: This cannot be correct because Bharat Nirman Programme clearly fits the description of a basic infrastructure development programme. Any blank option: Offers no defined programme and is irrelevant.

Common Pitfalls:
A common confusion is to associate infrastructure development only with urban or industrial projects such as Special Economic Zones and to overlook dedicated rural schemes. Some candidates also misread the question and focus only on the word programme without noticing the phrase basic infrastructure. Careful reading and recalling that Bharat Nirman specifically targeted rural infrastructure help avoid these mistakes. It is useful for exam preparation to connect Bharat Nirman with the idea of building the basic framework for rural development.

Final Answer:
The programme launched specifically to develop basic infrastructure in rural and other parts of India is the Bharat Nirman Programme.