Rural development and environment interface – UGC NET Question

Statements B, C and D are correct because they show how environmental management and rural development are linked. Watershed projects support conservation and productivity, agroforestry offers multiple benefits while protecting resources and ignoring sustainability can degrade land and water in the long run. Statement A is incorrect as watershed programmes are not confined to infrastructure building but emphasise conservation and resource management. Hence, the combination containing B, C and D only is the correct answer.

Option A:
Option A is incorrect because it includes only B and C and omits D, even though D is a true statement about the risks of environmentally insensitive rural development strategies. Leaving out a correct statement results in an incomplete representation of the topic.

Option B:
Option B is correct because it captures all the true statements—B, C and D—and excludes the false claim in A. It acknowledges conservation benefits, agroforestry’s role and the need for sustainability in rural development planning, which together reflect the integrated approach promoted in the syllabus.

Option C:
Option C is incorrect because it includes statement A, which mischaracterises the objectives of watershed development. While B and C are correct, adding A means the option no longer represents only correct statements.

Option D:
Option D is incorrect since it asserts that all four statements are correct. Accepting A as correct would imply that watershed development is restricted to roads and markets, which contradicts its actual conservation focus. Therefore, the entire combination cannot be chosen.