Question

Rural Development
There is a greater need today to make rural areas more vibrant through diversification into dairying, poultry, fisheries, vegetables and fruits and linking up the rural production centres with the urban and foreign markets to realise higher returns on the investments in the products. Moreover, infrastructure elements like credit and marketing, farmer-friendly agricultural policies and a constant appraisal and dialogue between farmers' groups and state agricultural departments are essential to realise the full potential of the sector.

Today we cannot look at the environment and rural development as two distinct subjects. There is need to invent or procure alternate sets of eco-friendly technologies that lead to sustainable development in different circumstances such as organic farming. From these, each rural community can choose whatever will suit its purpose. We need to learn from, and also try out when found relevant, practices from the available set of 'best practice' illustrations to speed up this process of 'learning by doing'. A good example of such practice is creating a group and channelling their savings through micro credit whcih functions like mini banks for the development of agriculture.

What is rural development?

• A. A plan of action for the development of agricultural areas which are lagging behind in socio-economic development.
• B. A plan of action for the development of rural areas which are lagging behind in socio-economic development.
• C. A plan of action for the development of marginalised regions which are lagging behind in socio-economic and sustainable development indicators.
• D. A plan of action for the development of urban which are lagging behind in socio-economic development

Hint:

Rural development means action for villages lagging behind in socio-economic progress.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Step 1: Break the term into two words
Rural means villages and the countryside. Development means progress in living standards and the economy. So rural development means progress of village areas.

Step 2: Look for the key phrase
The correct definition must name rural areas and the fact that they are behind others in social and economic progress.

Step 3: Scan the options
Option 4 names urban areas, so it is out first. Option 1 narrows the idea to agriculture only. Option 3 uses the word marginalised regions, which could be urban slums or hills as well, and not only villages.

Step 4: Pick
Option 2 names rural areas and lagging socio-economic development. It matches the term and so it is the answer.

Step 5: Why the passage does not change the answer
The passage talks about diversification, credit and marketing, but it does not give a definition. So we rely on the standard text definition, which speaks of lagging rural areas. The passage supports this by treating rural areas as the focus of action.

Final Answer:
Option 2 is the definition of rural development. \[ \boxed{\text{Option 2}} \]