Community development block

The nomenclature varies from state to state, such as common terms like "block" and others including community development block, panchayat union block, panchayat block, panchayat samiti block, development block, etc. All denote a CD Block, which is a subdivision of a district, exclusively for rural development.^[7][6][4]

The concept of the community development block was first suggested by Grow More Food (GMF) Enquiry Committee in 1952 to address the challenge of multiple rural development agencies working without a sense of common objectives.^[8] Based on the committee's recommendations, the community development programme was launched on a pilot basis in 1952 to provide for a substantial increase in the country's agricultural programme, and for improvements in systems of communication, in rural health and hygiene, and in rural education and also to initiate and direct a process of integrated culture change aimed at transforming the social and economic life of villagers.^[9] The community development programme was rapidly implemented. In 1956, by the end of the first five-year plan period, there were 248 blocks, covering around a fifth of the population in the country. By the end the second five-year plan period, there were 3,000 blocks covering 70 per cent of the rural population. By 1964, the entire country was covered.^[10]

A Block Development Officer (BDO) is an administrative officer in India responsible for the overall development of a Community Development Block (CD Block), a sub-division of a district. They are appointed by the state government and report to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) or District Development Commissioner or the similar position.

They typically fall under the purview of the Rural Development Department or Department of Panchayats of the respective state government. The BDO is responsible for overall supervision of all the antipoverty schemes and execution of the Developmental works.

The BDO functions as the Secretary of the Panchayat Samiti/Block Panchayat and exercises supervision and control over the extension officers and other employees of the Panchayat Samiti and the staff borne on transferred schemes.

The following table lists the number of Development Blocks across the States and Union Territories of India. The administrative data is as of 1 February 2024:^[11][12]

1. ^ Maheshwari, Shriram. "Rural Development and Bureaucracy in India". The Indian Journal of Public Administration. XXX (3): 1093–1100.
2. ^ Vidyarthi, Lalita Prasad (1981). Tribal Development and Its Administration. Concept Publishing Company.
3. ^ Sharma, Shailendra D. (1999). Development and Democracy in India. Boulder, Colorado: Lynne Rienner Publishers, Inc. ISBN 9781555878108.
4. ^ a b "Development Blocks | District Barabanki, Government of Uttar Pradesh | India". Retrieved 5 April 2024.
5. ^ CD Blocks of Assam. "Administrative setup".
6. ^ a b "GUIDELINES FOR THE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS OF THE NEWLY CREATED ADDITIONAL BLOCK DEVELOPMENT OFFICERS IN THE PANCHAYAT UNION ADMINISTRATIVE SET-UP" (PDF). Rural Development Department, Government of Tami Nadu.
7. ^ "Block development offices; Kerala, Commissionerate of Rural Development". Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
8. ^ Report of The Grow More Food Enquiry Committee. Government of India Ministry of Food and Agriculture. 1952.
9. ^ "First Five Year Plan". Planning Commission. Archived from the original on 16 September 2018. Retrieved 10 September 2018.
10. ^ "The Failure of the Community Development Programme in India". Retrieved 6 April 2010.
11. ^ "Annexure referred to in part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 605: State-wise list of Block Development Blocks as per Local Government Directory". Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India / Local Government Directory. 6 February 2024. Retrieved 1 July 2026.
12. ^ "State-wise-Summary".