UPSC CSE Prelims
Women and Child Development Previous Year Questions (PYQs)
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With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013 consider the following statements:
- The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised grains.
- The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
- Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Detailed Explanation:
Answer: Option 2 — 2 only
The National Food Security Act, 2013 aims to provide subsidized food grains to approximately 67% of India's population, not just BPL families. The Act mandates that the eldest woman aged 18 years or above in a household be designated as the head for ration card issuance. However, pregnant and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration of 600 calories (not 1600) per day along with a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000.
✅ Statement 1 – Incorrect: The NFSA covers about 67% of the population (75% rural and 50% urban), identified through SECC methodology, not just BPL families. Beneficiaries include both Priority Households and Antyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) families.
✅ Statement 2 – Correct: Section 3(5) of the NFSA mandates that the eldest woman in the household aged 18 years or above shall be the head of the household for issuing ration cards, ensuring women's empowerment in food security.
❌ Statement 3 – Incorrect: Under Section 4 of the NFSA, pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration of 600 calories per day (not 1600) during pregnancy and six months after childbirth, along with a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000.
📝 Short Notes: National Food Security Act, 2013
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverage | Up to 75% of rural population and 50% of urban population (approximately 67% overall) |
| Foodgrain Allocation | Priority Households: 5 kg per person per month; AAY: 35 kg per household per month |
| Prices | Rice: Rs 3/kg, Wheat: Rs 2/kg, Coarse grains: Rs 1/kg |
| Maternity Entitlements | 600 calories take-home ration + Rs 6,000 maternity benefit for 6 months |
| Household Head | Eldest woman aged 18 years or above |
| Grievance Redressal | District and State level mechanisms; State Food Commissions |
Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?
- Undernourishment
- Child stunting
- Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
Detailed Explanation:
The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is computed using four indicators that measure multidimensional hunger: Undernourishment (share of population with insufficient caloric intake), Child Stunting (children under 5 with low height for age, reflecting chronic undernutrition), Child Wasting (children under 5 with low weight for height, reflecting acute undernutrition), and Child Mortality (deaths before fifth birthday).
The question asks about three indicators — Undernourishment, Child Stunting, and Child Mortality — all of which are used by IFPRI (now published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe) in GHI computation, making all three statements correct.
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