In the Sixth Five Year Plan, the poverty line was defined on the basis of minimum nutritional requirements, under which the amount required to achieve the consumption level of 2400 calories per day per person in rural areas and 2100 calories in urban areas was considered as poverty line. Due to the need for more physical labor in rural areas, calorie levels are kept higher than in urban areas. In option A, rural and urban calorie values ​​are written interchangeably, which is incorrect. The data given in options C and D do not match the standards accepted by the Planning Commission. Poverty is a condition in which a person is unable to meet his basic living needs such as food, clothing and shelter, and in India the main basis of its measurement has been consumption expenditure and calorie intake capacity.

Expert committees have been formed from time to time for poverty assessment in India, including Dr. Y. Of. A separate committee was formed in 1977, which submitted its report in 1979 and determined the calorie-based poverty line. The D.T. Lakdawala Task Group was formed in 1989, which submitted its report in 1993 and suggested different poverty lines for the states. The Suresh D. Tendulkar Committee was formed in 2005, which submitted its report in 2009 and developed a new methodology based on consumption expenditure. Dr. C. Rangarajan Committee was constituted in 2012 which submitted its report in June 2014. Hence the correct match is A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2. Other options incorrectly reflect the correct chronology and report years of the committees.

According to the latest estimates of the Planning Commission for the year 2011-12, the percentage of below poverty line (BPL) population in Rajasthan was 14.71% (total poor 102.92 lakh), while the poverty ratio of India at the national level was 21.92% (total poor 2697.83 lakh). According to the Tendulkar Committee, poverty in India was 37.2% in 2004-05, which decreased to 21.9% in 2011-12. Statement C is false because in the year 2011-12 the percentage of poverty in rural areas of Rajasthan was 16.1%, whereas in urban areas it was only 9.2%, that is, poverty in rural areas was more than urban areas. Hence the correct answer is option A, in which statements A, B and D are considered true.

The 'Poverty Alleviation Project in Western Rajasthan', abbreviated as M-POWER (Mitigating Poverty in Western Rajasthan), is being implemented in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD - International Fund for Agricultural Development) and Sir Ratan Tata Trust. The main objective of this project is to improve the livelihood of poor families in drought-prone and adverse geographical conditions districts of Western Rajasthan (like Barmer, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, Pali, Sirohi), empower self-help groups and promote market-based income enhancing activities. Option A (the World Bank) provides assistance in command area development and other infrastructure projects, while ADB provides assistance primarily in urban development and road infrastructure.

According to NITI Aayog's Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) Report 2023, multidimensional poverty in Rajasthan has been recorded at 15.31%, showing significant progress towards poverty alleviation in the state. According to this report, Pratapgarh district of Rajasthan is the district with the highest multidimensional poverty. Rajasthan has performed better in reducing multidimensional poverty than states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, but it still lags behind developed states in the south and west like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat, hence statement D is false. Multidimensional poverty is measured on the basis of 12 key indices of health, education and living standards. Hence only statements A, B and C are correct.

'Give Up Campaign' has been started in the state by the Food and Civil Supplies Department of the Government of Rajasthan. The primary objective of this campaign is to motivate affluent or economically capable families who were earlier covered under BPL or Food Security Scheme but are now above the poverty line, to voluntarily give up their Food Security Scheme (NFSA) benefits. By doing this, genuinely needy and poor families get an opportunity to enroll their names under the National Food Security Act. Other options are just confusing names and are not related to this specific scheme of the state government.

According to Rajasthan Labor and Employment Data, in the Periodic Labor Force Survey (PLFS) from July 2023 to June 2024, Rajasthan's male unemployment rate was recorded at 3.2% and female unemployment rate was 4.8%. The total unemployment rate of Rajasthan was 4.9% in 2022-23 which reduced by 0.2% to 4.7% in 2023-24. Under the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Poverty Free Village Scheme, there is a provision of incentive amount of ₹ 50 lakh for the excellent performing districts for securing first position in the quarterly ranking (Statement D is true). However, under this scheme, the provision of assistance up to ₹ 2 lakh to BPL families for self-employment and livelihood is wrong, which proves statement C to be false. Hence the correct answer is option A.

The famine that occurred in Rajasthan during the year 2002-03 is considered to be the worst modern famine in the history of the state. This year, a total of 40,990 villages in 32 districts of the state and about 447.80 lakh population were affected. This was termed 'Macro-Drought' or 'Great Famine' by meteorologists. Option A (1987-88) was also a year of severe famine, but the number of districts affected was less than in 2002-03. Option C (2009–10) affected 27 districts and 429.13 lakh population, the second worst famine tragedy after 2002–03. In option D only 19 districts were affected.

Due to the uncertainty of rainfall in Rajasthan, there have been frequent famines which have a specific name in the folk culture. The famine of Vikram Samvat 1956 (1899-1900 AD) is called 'Chhappaniya Famine' after the name of the Samvat in which there was a severe crisis of food, water and fodder. The famine of 1783 AD is called 'Chalisa Famine' (due to Vikram Samvat 1840). The famine of 1812-13 (1869-70) is called 'Panchkal' and the famine of 1843-44 (1900-01) is called 'Sahsa-Bhadusa famine'. All these historical names and years are completely true, hence option D is the correct answer.

Classification has been done on the basis of effect of famine in Rajasthani language and folk life of Rajasthan. When there is shortage of food grains only due to destruction of crops, it is called 'food famine'. When groundwater and drinking water sources dry up, it is called 'water famine'. When there is shortage of grass and fodder for animals, it is called 'Trankaal'. When there is complete shortage of all three natural components, food, water and fodder, then that dire situation is called 'Trikal'. Apart from this, 'Kurio' means semi-famine. Hence, the correct matching option is A (A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4).

Drought and famine remain a permanent problem in Rajasthan, which has both natural and man-made causes. The Aravalli mountain range is located parallel to the monsoon winds in the south-west to north-east direction, due to which the Arabian Sea monsoon passes without causing rainfall. Lack, unevenness and uncertainty of rainfall are natural reasons. Anthropogenic causes include uncontrolled animal grazing (which is the main cause of desertification), indiscriminate deforestation, overexploitation of groundwater and wind erosion. All these factors together promote desertification in 61% of the desert area of ​​the state. Hence all the given statements are true.

Desertification is the process in which fertile land gradually turns into dry and barren desert. Expansion of canal irrigation (like Indira Gandhi Canal Project) and scientific use of water helps in preventing desertification and greening the area, rather than causing desertification. Option A (overgrazing), Option B (deforestation) and Option D (population pressure and land-use change) are the main human causes accelerating desertification. Apart from this, stabilization of sand dunes and organic agriculture are also measures to stop desertification, not its cause.

For natural disasters and famine relief work in Rajasthan, the Relief Department was reorganized on 31 October 2003 to form 'Disaster Management and Relief Department' whose headquarters is in Jaipur. The Disaster Management Act 2005 was made effective from 1 August 2007 in the state. Statement D is false because the 'State Disaster Management Authority' (SDMA), formed on 6 September 2007, is headed by the Chief Minister of the state and not the Chief Secretary. The Chief Secretary is the Chairman of the State Executive Committee. Hence the correct answer is option A, in which statements A, B and C are true.

Under Section 25 of the Disaster Management Act 2005, 'District Disaster Management Authority' (DDMA - District Disaster Management Authority) was established in every district of Rajasthan on 6 September 2007. The District Collector/District Officer is its ex-officio Chairman and the Head of the District Council is its ex-officio Co-Chairman. The District Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Chief Medical Officer are its members. Apart from this, under the Disaster Management Amendment Act, 'Urban Disaster Management Authority' (UDMA) for urban areas will be headed by the Municipal Commissioner and the District Collector will be its co-chairman.

According to Rajasthan Crisis Management Plan 2014, the recurrence rate of drought varies depending on the geographical location in the state. In the hyper-arid western districts like Jaisalmer, Barmer, Jodhpur, Jalore, drought occurs once in every 3 years which is the highest frequency. In central and eastern districts like Alwar, Jaipur, Pali, Sikar, Jhunjhunu, drought occurs once in 5 years. In Hadoti and Mewar districts like Chittorgarh, Jhalawar, Kota, Udaipur, drought occurs once in 6 years. In the eastern plains districts Bharatpur and Dholpur, drought occurs once in 8 years, which is the lowest recurrence rate of drought in the state. Hence the correct answer is option A.

For the development of uncultivable and degraded land in Rajasthan, 'Rajasthan Barren Land and Pasture Development Board' was reconstituted on 22 December 2016, which works under the Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department. UNCCD (United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification), established in Paris in 1994 to combat desertification at the international level, is the only legally binding environmental agreement which India signed on 14 October 1994. 'World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought' is celebrated every year on 17 June for global awareness. Hence all the statements are completely true.

Drought Prone Area Program (DPAP) was started in the Fourth Five Year Plan during 1974-75. Initially the financial share between the Center and the State was 50:50, which was changed to 75:25 (Centre:State) from April 1, 1999. This program was being run in 32 blocks of 11 drought-affected districts of the state (Karauli, Udaipur, Banswara, Bharatpur, Jhalawar, Dungarpur, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Tonk, Baran, Ajmer). Presently it has been merged into the Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP). Hence all the given statements are true.

On the basis of the recommendations of the National Agriculture Commission, 'Desert Development Program (DDP)' was started in the year 1977-78 to stop the spread of desert and to balance the desert ecology. From 1 April 1999, it was funded by the Center and the state in the financial ratio of 75:25. This program was run in 85 desert blocks of 16 desert districts of Rajasthan. Out of 142 desert blocks across India, maximum 85 blocks are in Rajasthan. Presently it has also been included in the Integrated Watershed Management Program (IWMP). Hence all the statements are true.

Magara Regional Development Program was started in the year 2005-06 for the development of intermediate hilly and backward 'Magara region' of the state. This scheme is operated in specific sections of these 5 districts Ajmer (Beawar), Bhilwara, Pali, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand. Statement C is false because it is a 100% 'State Funded' scheme and not by the Central Government. Districts like Kota, Jaipur, Udaipur etc. are not included in it. Hence the correct answer is option A, in which statements A, B and D are considered correct.

In the fifth five-year plan, 'Command Area Development Programme' (CADP - Command Area Development Programme) was started with the supervision and financial assistance of the Government of India and the World Bank. Its main objective was to eliminate the gap between the created irrigation potential and its actual use, to increase water use efficiency and to level the land and construct drains. Indira Gandhi Canal Command Area, Mahi Command Area and Chambal Command Area Development Program in Rajasthan are prominent examples of this.

Dang Development Program was started in the year 1994-95 for the socio-economic development of the rugged and dacoit affected areas of Chambal and its tributaries, which was started again from 2004-05. It is applicable in 26 blocks of 8 eastern districts (Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, Bundi, Baran, Jhalawar) of Bharatpur and Hadoti divisions. Statement D is false because the districts of western Rajasthan (Jodhpur, Barmer, Pali, Jalore) do not fall in Dang region. Dang Regional Development Board administers it. Hence option A is the correct answer.

The centrally sponsored 'Border Area Development Program' (BADP) was started in the year 1993-94 in Barmer, Jaisalmer, Bikaner and Sriganganagar for the development of infrastructure in the border areas adjacent to the International Border (Radcliffe Line). Additionally, the state government in its Budget 2025-26 has announced 100% state funded 'Mukhyamantri Thar Border Area Development Program' for improving the quality of life of border residents, education, health, drinking water and tourism development, for which a provision of ₹150 crore has been made. Hence all four statements are true.

Many regional programs were started in Rajasthan for the educational and economic upliftment of the tribal population. MADA (Modified Area Development Approach) started in the year 1978-79 for 36,036 tribal dominated villages in 13 districts. Mewat Regional Development Scheme is being run since 1986-87 for infrastructure and employment development in 807 Meo dominated villages of 14 blocks of Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara and Deeg districts. For the extremely backward Sahariya tribe, the Sahariya Development Program was implemented in Shahbad and Kishanganj blocks of Baran district in 1977-78. Hence all the options are correct.

The chronology of initiation of various regional development programs is as follows: Mewat Territorial Development Scheme was launched in the year 1986-87 in Meo dominated areas. Sahariya Tribal Development Program was started in the year 1977-78 in Shahbad and Kishanganj of Baran district. Magra Regional Development Scheme was started in the year 2005-06 in the middle 5 hill districts of the state. The Drought Prone Areas Program (DPAP) was started in the year 1974-75 with Centre-State partnership in the Fourth Five Year Plan. Hence, the correct matching option is A (A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4).

Mewat Regional Development Project was started in the year 1986-87. After the reorganization of the newly formed districts, it is being implemented in 807 villages of Meo community residing in 14 Panchayat Samitis of Alwar, Khairthal-Tijara (Bhrithhari Nagar) and Deeg districts. The main objective of this program is to develop essential infrastructure facilities like roads, drinking water, education, electricity in Mewat region, promote cottage and small scale industries and provide employment and livelihood opportunities to the local people. Hence all the given statements are true.

'Sahariya', the only tribe of Rajasthan, has been included in the Primitive Tribal Group (PTG) by the Government of India. 'Sahariya Development Programme' was started in the year 1977-78 for the social, educational and economic development of Sahariya tribe. This program is being run mainly in Shahbad and Kishanganj Panchayat Samitis of Baran district where dense population of this tribe resides. Under this, agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, cottage industries, drinking water and education facilities are provided. Other options (Atru, Chhabra) are not Sahariya dominated Panchayat Samitis.

Khadi and Village Commission (KVIC) started 'Project BOLD' (Bamboo Oasis on Land in Drought) to increase green cover in dry and drought-prone areas and increase the income of local villagers. It was started on 4 July 2021 from the tribal village 'Lower Mandwa' of Udaipur district in which special species of bamboos were planted. Apart from this, 'Combating Desertification Project' (CDP) approved by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India was implemented in Rajasthan from the year 2001. A 'Green Belt' has been developed near Indira Gandhi Canal to stop the spread of desert. Hence all the statements are true.

According to the 'Desertification and Land Degradation Atlas' released by ISRO's Space Applications Center (SAC), Ahmedabad on June 17, 2021, 62.06% of the geographical area of ​​Rajasthan was in the degraded/desertified category in 2018-19. The biggest cause of desertification in the state is wind erosion which affects 43.37% area. After wind erosion, the second biggest cause is Vegetation Degradation, which is spread over 7.64% area and Water Erosion is the third major cause, covering 6.21% area. Hence all the four given statements are true.

According to the seismic zone map of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the north-eastern part of Rajasthan, which is located near the Delhi-Gurgaon-Mathura seismic fault line, is considered to be the most earthquake prone area in the state. It mainly includes Bharatpur, Alwar, Jhunjhunu and Dholpur districts which are situated in the category of Zone-IV and upper Zone-III. The districts in options A, C and D are classified under relatively low intensity seismic zones (Zone-II or low Zone-III).

'Desert Development Board' was established in the year 1966 in the state for the development and balancing of desert areas. According to the January 2025 report released by the Board of Revenue of the Government of Rajasthan, the minimum number of destitute villages in the state was found in Baran district. To stop the eastward spread of desert in western Rajasthan, green cover (plantation) has been developed on the main route of Indira Gandhi Canal and the Combating Desertification Project (2001) was conducted by the Government of India. Hence all the given statements are true.