Which of the following is a target group programme?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → The Small Farmers Development Agency
Option (1) Command Area Development Programme — Incorrect. It is a target area programme. It develops a particular area, the command area of an irrigation project, and not a particular group of people.
Option (2) The Small Farmers Development Agency — Correct. A target group programme is aimed at a section of people wherever they live. The SFDA works for small farmers, as the Marginal Farmers Development Agency works for marginal farmers.
Option (3) Drought Prone Area Programme — Incorrect. It is a target area programme for the drought-prone areas of the country, so its unit is an area, not a group of people.
Option (4) Desert Development Programme — Incorrect. This too is a target area programme, meant for the desert areas.
Note: The same question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2025 on 15-05-2025 (Slot 2).
NCERT (2025-26): “Target Area Planning … With the planning experience of about one-and-a-half decades, it was realised that regional imbalances in economic development were getting accentuated. In order to arrest the accentuation of regional and social disparties, the Planning Commission introduced the ‘target area’ and target group approaches to planning. Some of the examples of programmes directed towards the development of target areas are Command Area Development Programme, Drought Prone Area Development Programme, Desert Development Programme, Hill Area Development Programme. The Small Farmers Development Agency (SFDA) and Marginal Farmers Development Agency (MFDA) which are the examples of target group programme.…” |