Which of the following is NOT a Target Area Planning?

Irrigation Planning

The correct answer is Option 3: Irrigation Planning

Target Area Planning focuses on the development of specific problem areas or regions requiring special attention.

Option 1: Hill Area Development Programme. This is a target area planning programme meant for hilly regions.

Option 2: Drought Prone Area Programme. This is also a target area planning programme designed for drought-affected regions.

Option 3: Irrigation Planning. Incorrect — irrigation planning is a sectoral planning activity, not a target area planning programme.

NCERT: "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.
Irrigation Planning is sectoral planning.