In which year, "Mid-day Meal Scheme" was renamed as "P.M. Poshan Scheme"?

Question

UnlockIAS · Accepted Answer

Correct — D, 2021. On 29 September 2021 the Union Cabinet renamed the National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools as 'PM POSHAN' (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman). It was approved as a centrally sponsored scheme for 2021-22 to 2025-26 and its coverage was extended to pre-primary (Balvatika) children in government and government-aided schools.

Why the other options are wrong — (a) No renaming happened in 2019 — the Mid-Day Meal Scheme was renamed PM POSHAN in 2021.  (b) Not 2020 — the Cabinet approved the PM POSHAN rebranding in September 2021.  (c) 2018 is the launch year of POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), a DIFFERENT scheme for maternal and child malnutrition — a deliberate 'POSHAN' trap; the Mid-Day Meal renaming was 2021.

Concept: The Mid-Day Meal Scheme — a school-lunch programme to boost enrolment, attendance and nutrition — began nationally in 1995 (as NP-NSPE) and became universal cooked meals after a 2001 Supreme Court order. In September 2021 it was rebranded 'PM POSHAN' (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), implemented by the Ministry of Education (Department of School Education & Literacy).

State PCS 2023 Q65 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer

State PCS 2023 Q65 — Current Affairs PYQ with Answer