Where was rural development particularly emphasised in the Seventh Five-Year Plan?

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (D) Rural capital formation areas

Explanation:

•        The Seventh Five-Year Plan (1985–1990) placed strong emphasis on rural development, especially through rural capital formation.

•        The strategy focused on enhancing agricultural productivity, employment generation, and improving rural infrastructure like irrigation, rural roads, and electricity.

•        The idea was to build productive assets in rural areas to stimulate economic self-reliance and reduce poverty and unemployment.

Information Booster:

·       The Seventh Plan was led under the tenure of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and aimed at “faster growth with social justice”.

·       It introduced initiatives like:

o   Integrated Rural Development Programme (IRDP)

o   National Rural Employment Programme (NREP)

o   Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP)

·       The plan also emphasized education, health, and women's development in rural areas

·       Rural capital formation included investments in land development, minor irrigation, soil conservation, and animal husbandry.

Additional Knowledge:

(A) Industrial zones:

• Emphasised under industrial policies, not a core focus of rural development.

(B) Urban centers:

• The Plan addressed urban issues, but rural development remained a top priority.

(C) Foreign markets:

• The focus was domestic economic growth, not driven by export-oriented strategies.