In which of the following scheme, the main objective is to promote the use of appropriate methods, care and services during pregnancy, safe delivery and lactation period to improve the health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and their infants (0-6 months) ?

Correct — option (1), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.

The stem repeats how Rajasthan's Economic Review 2022-23 describes this scheme: "The main objective of the scheme is to promote the use of appropriate methods, care and services during pregnancy, safe delivery and lactation period to improve the health and nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women and their infants (0-6 months)."

Two details single it out: the span of pregnancy, safe delivery and lactation, and infants of 0-6 months.

The Review 2022-23, whose PMMVY figures run to November 2022, adds that ₹5,000 is paid to the beneficiary in three instalments of ₹1,000, ₹2,000 and ₹2,000, directly into a bank or post office account. The scheme is Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

Sources differ on the instalments. MoWCD's Mission Shakti guidelines, sent to the states on 14 July 2022, set PMMVY 2.0 at ₹5,000 in two instalments (₹3,000 and ₹2,000) for the first child. A woman paid only her first instalment under PMMVY 1.0 stays on the earlier three-instalment norms.

The idea to remember: PMMVY is tied to pregnancy, delivery, lactation and infants of 0-6 months; IGMPY to low birth weight and children up to 3 years.

Why the others are wrong

• (2)
  Indira Gandhi Matrutva Poshan Yojana — The Review gives Rajasthan's Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana (IGMPY) a different main objective: to reduce the incidence of low birth weight and debility at birth, by improving the health and nutrition of pregnant women, lactating mothers and children up to 3 years.

  It started on 19 November 2020 in Pratapgarh, Dungarpur, Banswara, Udaipur and Baran; the Review says that in 2022-23 it was implemented in all 33 districts. It pays ₹6,000 in five phases on the birth of a second child.

• (3)
  Mission Vatsalya Yojana — Mission Vatsalya is about child protection, not maternal nutrition. The Review describes it as Child Protection Services, a comprehensive scheme that aims to create a protective environment for children.

  It delivers statutory and support services to children in difficult circumstances, and in Rajasthan it sits with the Department for Child Rights.

• (4)
  Palanhar Yojana — Palanhar is a Rajasthan cash transfer scheme for the care of orphans and children in difficult circumstances, such as children whose parents have died or are serving life imprisonment. The person who brings up such a child is the "Palanhar".

  Per the Review, an orphan aged 0-6 enrolled at an anganwadi gets ₹1,500 a month and a school-going orphan aged 6-18 gets ₹2,500.

A maternity benefit is a cash payment to pregnant women and lactating mothers. Under PMMVY 2.0, MoWCD ties the first instalment (₹3,000) to registering the pregnancy with at least one antenatal check-up, and the second (₹2,000) to registering the birth and the child's first cycle of vaccines.

Section 4 of the National Food Security Act, 2013 entitles every pregnant woman and lactating mother, subject to Central schemes, to free meals through the local anganwadi and a maternity benefit of not less than ₹6,000.

Those in regular government or PSU employment, or receiving similar benefits under another law, are excluded from the cash benefit. The Mission Shakti guidelines say PMMVY is implemented under this section, and that with Janani Suraksha Yojana incentives after an institutional delivery a woman gets ₹6,000 on average.

Key facts

• Economic Review 2022-23: PMMVY aims to promote appropriate methods, care and services during pregnancy, safe delivery and lactation, for mothers and infants of 0-6 months.
• The Review describes PMMVY payments as ₹5,000 in three instalments (₹1,000, ₹2,000 and ₹2,000) and reports 19,59,437 beneficiaries up to November 2022 against a target of 21,09,350.
• MoWCD's Mission Shakti guidelines (letter of 14 July 2022), PMMVY 2.0: ₹5,000 in two instalments for a first child; ₹6,000 for a second child who is a girl.
• The Mission Shakti guidelines say PMMVY has been implemented with effect from 1 January 2017, under section 4 of the National Food Security Act, 2013.
• Rajasthan's IGMPY began on 19 November 2020 in five districts and, per the Review, covered all 33 districts in 2022-23; 71,735 beneficiaries paid through five instalments up to November 2022.

Common traps

• Both maternity schemes mention improving the health and nutrition of mothers. The markers differ: PMMVY names pregnancy, safe delivery, lactation and infants of 0-6 months; IGMPY names low birth weight and children up to 3 years.
• Instalment counts differ by source: the Economic Review 2022-23 (figures to November 2022) describes three PMMVY instalments, while MoWCD's Mission Shakti guidelines for PMMVY 2.0 (14 July 2022) set two for the first child.
• Similar names: Matru Vandana is the Central scheme; Matritva Poshan (spelt Matrutva in the stem) is Rajasthan's.

• practice — not a real PYQ

  According to Rajasthan's Economic Review 2022-23, the main objective of Indira Gandhi Matritva Poshan Yojana is to

  • (a)provide monthly support to orphan children through a caregiver
  • (b)reduce the incidence of low birth weight and debility at birth
  • (c)create a protective environment for children in difficult circumstances
  • (d)provide free sanitary napkins to girls and women
  Answer(2) — The Review states IGMPY's main objective as reducing low birth weight and debility at birth, by improving the nutrition of mothers and children up to 3 years. Option (1) describes Palanhar Yojana, option (3) Mission Vatsalya, and option (4) the Indira Mahila Shakti Udaan scheme.
• practice — not a real PYQ

  Under section 4 of the National Food Security Act, 2013, every pregnant woman and lactating mother is entitled, subject to Central schemes, to a maternity benefit of not less than

  • (a)₹5,000
  • (b)₹6,000
  • (c)₹10,000
  • (d)₹12,000
  Answer(2) — Section 4(b) sets a maternity benefit of not less than ₹6,000, in instalments the Central Government prescribes. Option (1) is the PMMVY amount for a first child. Options (3) and (4) do not appear in section 4.