Theme T75 · Social Justice & Welfare

Hunger, malnutrition & food security law: NFSA, Mid-Day Meal, millets

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What UPSC asks

Questions ask about malnutrition as equity and governance issue, poverty-malnutrition cycle, hunger vs food availability, Mid-Day Meal, NFSA and its WTO concerns, and millets for nutrition.

Prepare these

• NFSA 2013 features
• PM POSHAN, POSHAN Abhiyaan
• NFHS nutrition indicators
• Millets and nutrition
• WTO concerns on food security stocks

Answer writing

• Link food availability, access and absorption (health)

Directive words in these PYQs: Discuss (2), Critically (2), Explain (1), Do you agree (1), How far (1), Examine (1).

Linked themes

Builds on: study these first

These come earlier in the roadmap. Questions in this theme use them.

Comes back later in

Later themes that take this one further.

Syllabus lines covered

• GS2-L14 — Issues relating to poverty and hunger.
• GS3-L5 — Issues related to direct and indirect farm subsidies and minimum support prices; Public Distribution System- objectives, functioning, limitations, revamping; issues of buffer stocks and food security; Technology missions; economics of animal-rearing.

All 7 PYQs, newest first

1. GS2202610 marks · 150 wordsGS2-GOV-06-M2026-S01

   Malnutrition in India is not merely a public health concern; it is also a challenge of social equity, human development and effective welfare governance. Discuss

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2. GS2202410 marks · 150 wordsGS2-GOV-06-M2024-Q07

   Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle?

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3. GS3202410 marks · 150 wordsGS3-AGR-03-M2024-Q04

   Explain the role of millets for ensuring health and nutritional security in India.

   Also needs: T138 Cropping patterns & crop diversification: horticulture, pulses, milletsCopyReport a typo
4. GS32021GS3-AGR-03-M2021-S01

   What are the salient features of the National Food Security Act, 2013? How has the Food Security Bill helped in eliminating hunger and malnutrition in India?

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5. GS22018GS2-GOV-06-M2018-S01

   How far do you agree with the view that the focus on lack of availability of food as the main cause of hunger takes the attention away from ineffective human development policies in India?

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6. GS22013GS2-GOV-06-M2013-S01

   The concept of Mid Day Meal (MDM) scheme is almost a century old in India with early beginnings in Madras Presidency in pre-independent India. The scheme has again been given impetus in most states in the last two decades. Critically examine its twin objectives, latest mandates and success.

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7. GS32013GS3-AGR-03-M2013-S02

   Food Security Bill is expected to eliminate hunger and malnutrition in India. Critically discuss various apprehensions in its effective implementation along with the concerns it has generated in WTO.

   Also needs: T123 WTO, trade wars & protectionismCopyReport a typo