Under which revolution students and professionals were sent to work and learn from the countryside?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution
China first tried the Great Leap Forward of 1958, a campaign to industrialise on a massive scale through backyard industries and rural communes. In 1965 Mao introduced the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966–76), under which students and professionals were sent to work and learn from the countryside. It ended a few years before the reforms of 1978, to which China’s present fast industrial growth is traced.
Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
| 31-05 S1 | – | – | 07-06 S3* | – |
* A similar question.
NCERT (2025-26): “8.1 Introduction … China: After the establishment of People’s Republic of China under one-party rule, all critical sectors of the economy, enterprises and lands owned and operated by individuals were brought under government control. The Great Leap Forward (GLF) campaign initiated in 1958 aimed at industrialising the country on a massive scale. People were encouraged to set up industries in their backyards. In rural areas, communes were started. Under the Commune system, people collectively cultivated lands. In 1958, there were 26,000 communes covering almost all the farm population. GLF campaign met with many problems. A severe drought caused havoc in China killing about 30 million people. When Russia had conflicts with China, it withdrew its professionals who had earlier been sent to China to help in the industrialisation process. In 1965, Mao introduced the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966–76) under which students and professionals were sent to work and learn from the countryside. The present day fast industrial growth in China can be traced back to the reforms introduced in 1978.…” |