Question

Mid-day meal is given in government-aided schools because of
A. Supreme court
B. FIR
C. PIL
D. All of these

Answer 1

Hint: The mid-day meal scheme came into force on 28 November 2001 when the supreme court ordered that all government and government-aided primary schools should provide cooked mid-day meals.

Complete answer:
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties(PUCL) in April 2001 initiated A public interest litigation (PIL). The No. of the PIL was 196/2001 and was called People’s Union for Civil Liberties v. Union of India & Others. However, it was also known as the "right to food" case. The PUCL argued that according to article 21 of the Indian constitution which states "right to life" when read collectively with Articles 39(a) and 47, makes the right to food a fundamental right. It is enforceable under the right to constitutional remedy provided under Article 32 of the Indian constitution. The PUCL put forward the argument that the excess food stock that rests with the Food Corporation of India should be fed to the needy ones. This should be utilized to feed hungry citizens of India. This, therefore, included providing mid-day meals in various primary schools.
Therefore the correct answer is “C. PIL”.

Note: According to paragraph 2C of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, India has pledged to provide "adequate nutritious food" for children. The Midday Meal Scheme comes under the National Food Security Act, 2013.