UPSC Prelims 2017 Q89: Current Affairs – Indian Government Schemes & Initiatives
What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?
- (a) Achieving 100% literacy by promoting collaboration between voluntary organizations and government’s education system and local communities.
- (b) Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
- (c) Strengthening India’s scientific research institutions in order to make India a scientific and technological power.
- (d) Developing human capital by allocating special funds for health care and education of rural and urban poor, and organizing skill development programmes and vocational training for them.
Answer: (b) Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.
Explanation
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
Launched in 2014 by the Ministry of Human Resource Development.
IIT Delhi is the national coordinating institute.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Aim | Connect institutions of higher education with local communities |
| Method | Each institute adopts a cluster of villages |
| Work | Find development challenges and solve them with appropriate technologies |
| Version 2.0 | Launched in 2018 with wider coverage |
The options checked:
| Option | Verdict |
|---|---|
| (a) Achieving 100% literacy through voluntary organizations | Incorrect; that is closer to Saakshar Bharat |
| (b) Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities | Correct |
| (c) Strengthening scientific research institutions | Incorrect |
| (d) Developing human capital through special funds and skill development programmes | Incorrect |
Answer: (b) Connecting higher education institutions with local communities.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 100% literacy is not the aim; that belongs to adult literacy programmes.
- (b) CORRECT. It connects institutions of higher education with local communities.
- (c) Incorrect. It is not a scheme for strengthening scientific research institutions.
- (d) Incorrect. It does not allocate special funds for health care or vocational training.
Key point
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (2014): higher education institutions adopt village clusters and apply appropriate technologies to development challenges; IIT Delhi coordinates.
Remember
Unnat Bharat = colleges adopt villages.
Common mistakes
- Reading 'Unnat Bharat' as a general scheme for science or human capital.
- Confusing it with Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana, where MPs adopt villages.
- Forgetting that the adopters here are colleges and universities.
Exam tip
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan = campus to village. Look for 'higher education' plus 'local communities'.
Sources
- Ministry of Education — Unnat Bharat Abhiyan
- Indian Institute of Technology Delhi — Unnat Bharat Abhiyan National Coordinating Institute