'लीड बँक' योजनेअंतर्गत लीड बँकेत खालीलपैकी कोणाला दत्तक घेण्याचे सांगण्यात आले ?
(1) खेडे
(2) शहर
(3) जिल्हा
(4) राज्य

The correct answer is Option C (District).

Key Points:
• Core Concept
• The Lead Bank Scheme (LBS) was introduced by the Reserve Bank of India in December 1969 based on the recommendations of the F.K.F. Nariman Committee and the Gadgil Study Group on Organizational Framework for the Implementation of Social Objectives.
• Why Correct
• Under the Scheme, a specific commercial bank was designated as the 'Lead Bank' for an allocated District (which served as the administrative unit).
• The designated Lead Bank was tasked with acting as a consortium leader to survey credit needs, prepare District Credit Plans (DCP), coordinate branch expansion with other financial institutions, and monitor developmental credit through District Consultative Committees (DCC).
• Key Details
• Metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, and Delhi were excluded from the Lead Bank Scheme.
• Exam Traps
• Do not confuse Lead Bank Scheme (where the basic unit is the District) with the Service Area Approach (introduced in 1989, where semi-urban/rural branches adopt clusters of Villages).
• Other Options
• Village (Option 1) is the unit of the Service Area Approach.
• Town (Option 2) and State (Option 4) were never the administrative units for the Lead Bank model.
• Key Takeaway: Under the Lead Bank Scheme (1969), commercial banks were designated to adopt a specific 'District' as the unit of credit planning.