What is the aim of the programme ‘Unnat Bharat Abhiyan’?

Correct Answer: Connecting institutions of higher education with local communities to address development challenges through appropriate technologies.

Explanation:

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan (UBA) is a flagship programme launched by the Ministry of Education (formerly Ministry of Human Resource Development - MHRD), Government of India.

Key Objectives of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan:

1. Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) Linkage: The primary objective is to leverage the knowledge, expertise, and research capabilities of higher education institutions (such as IITs, NITs, and universities) to bring transformational development to rural areas.
2. Community Engagement: Institutions adopt clusters of villages to study local conditions, understand community needs, and identify challenges faced in areas like agriculture, water management, sanitation, renewable energy, and local livelihood.
3. Appropriate Technologies: HEIs work to customize existing technologies or innovate suitable, cost-effective, and sustainable technological solutions to resolve these developmental issues.

Therefore, the main aim of Unnat Bharat Abhiyan is to connect higher education institutions with local communities to address rural developmental challenges using appropriate technologies.