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The World Bank was created immediately after the Second World War. Its activities are focused on the developing countries. Which among the following are the activities of the Bank? 1. Human development rural 2. Agriculture and development 3. Environmental protection and governance 4. Loans and grants to the member countries Select the correct answer using the code given below : Code:
Explanation
The World Bank, established in 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference, initially focused on post-WWII reconstruction but shifted its focus to developing nations [2]. Its activities are comprehensive, covering all four listed areas. It promotes human development through social projects like education and health [3]. Agriculture and rural development are core focuses, including initiatives for food security and climate-smart agriculture [4]. The Bank integrates environmental protection and governance into its operations through its Environmental and Social Framework, addressing biodiversity and climate change [5]. Finally, its primary function is providing loans and grants to member countries; the IBRD provides loans to middle-income nations, while the IDA provides concessional loans and grants to the poorest countries [3]. Thus, all four activities are central to the World Bank's mission of poverty reduction and sustainable development.
Sources
- [1] Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 13: International Organizations > World Bank > p. 399
- [2] https://www.usgovernmentmanual.gov/Agency?EntityId=X5vsRt9eYso=&ParentEId=+klubNxgV0o=&EType=jY3M4CTKVHY=
- [3] https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11361
- [4] https://academy.worldbank.org/en/planet/agriculture
- [5] http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2025/06/10/safeguarding-people-and-planet-how-the-world-bank-s-environmental-and-social-framework-is-driving-sustainable-developmen