MAINS 2013
GS2
10 marks
The concept of Mid Day Meal scheme is almost a century old in India with early beginnings in Madras Presidency. The scheme has again been given impetus in most states in the last two decades. Critically examine its twin objectives, latest mandates and success.
WRITE IN
7 min
200 words
What the examiner wants
Critically examine the twin objectives, latest mandates and success of the Mid Day Meal scheme.
Critically examineWeigh the strengths and the weaknesses, then give a balanced verdict.
Demand-wise check
- 1Origin: Madras Corporation (1925), Kamaraj's expansion, MGR's nutritious meal (1982); national scheme 1995≈35 words
- 2Twin objectives: nutrition and school enrolment/attendance; also social equity≈35 words
- 3Mandates: cooked meals per Supreme Court (2001); calorie-protein norms; NFSA 2013 entitlement; PM POSHAN (2021)≈35 words
- 4Success and problems: higher attendance; quality, caste discrimination, food safety (Bihar 2013)≈35 words
Open in about 30 words and close in about 30.
Answer plan
HistoryObjectivesMandatesSuccessesProblemsReforms
Where marks usually go
- Not covering 'latest mandates'
- Only success stories
Draw this
- Timeline from 1925 to PM POSHAN
Value addition
- CasePUCL v Union of India (2001): Supreme Court ordered cooked mid-day meals in all government primary schools.Supreme Court, 2001
- EventSaran, Bihar (July 2013): 23 children died after eating a contaminated meal.News reports, 2013
Mapped topper copies
Reviewed public-source references related to this PYQ. Same-syllabus references are labelled separately.
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 38 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Shakti Dubey · AIR 1 · Page 15 ↗Same syllabus reference
- Aditya Srivastava · AIR 1 · Page 5 ↗Same syllabus reference
Links open original public sources. MainsBuddy does not host these answer sheets.
Next: plan for one minute, write it in 7 minutes, then get it checked.