The Service Area Approach was implemented under the purview of

1. Integrated Rural Development Programme
2. Lead Bank Scheme
3. Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
4. National Skill Development Mission

Explanation

Option (b) is correct

• Service area approach (SAA) is a developed version of the ‘area approach’ structure of the Lead Bank Scheme. Under the SAA plan, each commercial bank/RRB branch in a rural and semi-urban area is designated to serve 15 to 25 villages to support the planned and orderly development of the area.
• The designated branch of a bank has to meet the banking needs of its service area vis-à-vis forging effective linkages between bank credit, production, productivity, and an increase in income levels of the villages.

Answer: (b) Lead Bank Scheme; Difficulty Level: Medium