The Great Leap Forward campaign aimed to encourage:

Answer & explanation

Correct answer: option 2

The correct answer is Option (2) → Industrial sector.

In 1958 China launched the Great Leap Forward campaign to industrialise the country on a massive scale. People were encouraged to set up industries in their backyards, and in rural areas communes were started to cultivate the land collectively, but the thrust of the campaign was the industrial sector.

It met with many problems: a severe drought killed about 30 million people, and Russia withdrew the professionals it had sent to help with industrialisation.

Why the other options are incorrect

Option (1) Agriculture. — Incorrect. The communes did organise farming collectively, but the aim of the campaign was industrialisation; agriculture was reformed later, from 1978.
Option (3) Service Sector. — Incorrect. The service sector covers trade, transport, banking and the like; the campaign was about setting up industries, even in backyards.
Option (4) Military strength. — Incorrect. The campaign was an economic programme, not a plan to build up the armed forces.

Note: A same/similar question was asked in CUET (UG) in the papers below.

2026	2025	2024	2023	2022
20-05 S1	–	–	–	16-07 S1*

* 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.…”