UPSC Prelims 2012 · GS Paper I
Question 58: Economy and Social Development
How do District Rural Development Agencies (DRDAs) help in the reduction of rural poverty in India?
- 1.DRDAs act as Panchayati Raj Institutions in certain specified backward regions of the country.
- 2.DRDAs undertake area-specific scientific study of the causes of poverty and malnutrition and prepare detailed remedial measures.
- 3.DRDAs secure inter-sectoral and inter-departmental coordination and cooperation for effective implementation of anti-poverty programmes.
- 4.DRDAs watch over and ensure effective utilization of the funds intended for anti-poverty programmes.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
District Rural Development Agencies are registered societies that implement anti-poverty programmes in a district. They coordinate among departments and agencies, and they monitor the use of funds meant for those programmes. They are not Panchayati Raj Institutions, which are constitutional bodies, and they do not carry out scientific studies of the causes of poverty and malnutrition.
- 1. DRDAs are not Panchayati Raj Institutions.
- 2. DRDAs do not conduct scientific studies of poverty and malnutrition.
- 3. They secure coordination across departments for anti-poverty programmes.
- 4. They watch over effective use of funds for these programmes.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 1 is not correct, (a) and (d) go: each of them includes 1.
What you needed to know: DRDAs are not Panchayati Raj Institutions.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is correct, (c) goes: it leaves 3 out.
What you needed to know: They secure coordination across departments for anti-poverty programmes.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statements 2 or 4.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong: DRDAs are not PRIs and do not study causes of poverty and malnutrition.
- (b) Correct: coordination and monitoring of fund use.
- (c) Incomplete: coordination across departments is also a DRDA role.
- (d) Wrong: statements 1 and 2 are false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2012, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.