Question 60 from UPSC CSE 2017 - Current
Affairs

Question

Which of the following are the objectives of 'National Nutrition Mission'?
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls, and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals, and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: A. 1 and 2 only

Strategy: Identify the core nature and primary goals of a national mission like the 'National Nutrition Mission' (POSHAN Abhiyaan). Such missions typically focus on broad, outcome-oriented public health improvements, behavioural changes, and addressing specific vulnerabilities. Keywords such as **'create awareness relating to malnutrition'** and **'reduce the incidence of anaemia'** directly align with these core objectives, targeting crucial public health challenges among vulnerable groups (pregnant women, lactating mothers, young children, adolescent girls, and women). Conversely, statements promoting the **'consumption of millets, coarse cereals, and unpolished rice'** or **'poultry eggs'** represent specific dietary recommendations or interventions, which are generally means to achieve nutritional goals rather than the fundamental, overarching objectives of the mission itself. Therefore, statements 1 and 2 represent direct objectives, while 3 and 4 are more akin to supportive strategies or general dietary advice.

Key Info: ## National Nutrition Mission (POSHAN Abhiyaan)

**Launch and Objective:** Launched in March 2018 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), Government of India. The primary goal is to improve nutritional outcomes for children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers by addressing malnutrition comprehensively.

**Targets:** The mission aims to reduce stunting, under-nutrition (underweight prevalence), anaemia among young children, adolescent girls, and women, and low birth weight. Specific targets were set for reducing these indicators by a certain percentage annually (e.g., 2% reduction per annum for stunting and under-nutrition, 3% for anaemia, and 2% for low birth weight).

**Key Pillars:** POSHAN Abhiyaan operates on principles of convergence (bringing together various programs and schemes), technology (using ICT for real-time monitoring), behavioural change communication (BCC) to promote healthy practices, and capacity building.

**Focus Areas:** It emphasizes creating awareness about malnutrition, promoting healthy eating habits, improving health and nutrition services, and ensuring better uptake of services, especially among vulnerable groups like pregnant women, lactating mothers, and young children.

Statements 1 and 2 directly align with these core objectives of creating awareness and reducing anaemia, which are central to the mission's mandate. The mission focuses on outcome-based targets and strategies to achieve them, rather than prescribing specific food items as its primary objectives.

**Anaemia**

A condition characterized by a deficiency of healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin, which can lead to fatigue, weakness, and impaired cognitive function. It is a widespread public health issue in India, particularly affecting women, adolescent girls, and young children. Reducing anaemia is a crucial health objective for improving overall public health and human development.

**Millets, Coarse Cereals, and Unpolished Rice**

These are highly nutritious food grains. Millets (e.g., Jowar, Bajra, Ragi) are rich in fiber, proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Coarse cereals and unpolished rice retain more nutrients than their refined counterparts. While the promotion of such nutritious foods is beneficial for dietary diversity and overall nutrition, it typically falls under broader dietary guidelines, food security initiatives, or specific interventions rather than being a direct, stated objective of the overarching National Nutrition Mission.

**Poultry Eggs**

Eggs are a rich source of high-quality protein, essential vitamins (like B12, D), and minerals. Promoting the consumption of nutrient-dense foods like eggs can be part of nutritional interventions to combat deficiencies. However, like millets, promoting a specific food item like 'poultry eggs' is generally an intervention or recommendation within a nutrition strategy, not a primary, stated objective of a comprehensive national mission like POSHAN Abhiyaan.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 1, 2, and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1, 2, and 4 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option D: 3 and 4 only