Which one among the following is NOT covered under Integrated Child Development Programme ?
- (a)Supplementary Nutrition
- (b)Immunization
- (c)Nutrition and Health Education
- (d)Family Planning
Correct — D, Family Planning. The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, launched in 1975, delivers a package of six services — supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-up, referral services, pre-school non-formal education, and nutrition & health education — to children below six years and to pregnant and lactating mothers, chiefly through anganwadi centres. Family planning is part of the reproductive- and family-welfare programme, and is not one of the six ICDS services.
- (a)Supplementary Nutrition — This IS an ICDS service (the flagship one — take-home rations / hot cooked meals), so it cannot be the item 'not covered'.
- (b)Immunization — Immunization is one of the six ICDS services (delivered in convergence with the health department), so it is covered.
- (c)Nutrition and Health Education — Nutrition & Health Education for women (15–45 years) is explicitly one of the six ICDS services, so it is covered.
ICDS is India's flagship early-childhood programme, run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Its six services target the 0–6 age group and pregnant/lactating women, delivered at the village anganwadi centre by an anganwadi worker and helper. Three of its services (immunization, health check-up, referral) are provided in convergence with the health system.
The 'NOT covered' framing means three options must be genuine ICDS services and one must be an outsider. Family planning belongs to the family-welfare/reproductive-health stream, not to ICDS's child-and-mother nutrition-and-development package — that distinction is the answer.
- ICDS launched 1975; administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Six services: supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-up, referral services, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition & health education
- Beneficiaries: children under 6 years, and pregnant & lactating mothers; delivered via anganwadi centres
- Family planning is part of the family-welfare programme — NOT an ICDS service
- Assuming family planning is bundled into ICDS because both are 'welfare' schemes
- Forgetting that immunization and health check-up are ICDS services delivered through health-department convergence
UPSC/UPPSC ask which item is/isn't one of the six ICDS services, or which ministry runs it — memorise the six services as a list.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
ICDS services are delivered at the community level chiefly through which institution?
- (a)Primary Health Centres
- (b)Anganwadi centres
- (c)Fair Price Shops
- (d)Gram Panchayat offices
Answer(b) Anganwadi centres, staffed by an anganwadi worker and helper.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme is administered by which Union Ministry?
- (a)Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
- (b)Ministry of Women and Child Development
- (c)Ministry of Rural Development
- (d)Ministry of Education
Answer(b) Ministry of Women and Child Development.