Question

Which was the first state in India to introduce the Mid Day Meal Scheme?
A Tamil Nadu
B Andhra Pradesh
C Karnataka
D Maharashtra

Answer 1

Hint:National Programme of Mid-Day Meal in Schools, popularly known as Mid-Day Meal Scheme is the extension to ‘National Programme of Nutritional Support to Primary Education (NP-NSPE)’, launched on 15 August 1995. In 2008-09, the scheme was extended to cover children of lower primary and upper primary classes (studying in I - VIII) in Government and Government-aided schools, Special Training Centres (STCs) and Madrasas & Maktabs supported under Samagra Shiksha scheme.

Complete answer:
 The Mid-day Meal Scheme is the Government of India's school meal programme intended to improve the nutritional status of school-age children nationwide. The programme provides free working day lunches for children in government and aided primary and upper primary classes,the scheme also provides free meals for children in educational institutions of government assistance, local body, Education Guarantee Scheme, and alternative creative education centres, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan-supported Madarsa and Maqtabs, and National Child Labour Initiative schools run by the Ministry of Education.
The objectives of the Mid-Day Meal include;
 1. Analysing and Improving the nutritional values in children studying in classes I – VIII in educational centres and schools.
2. Encouraging under privileged children to attend school more regularly and helping them participate in classroom activities.
3. Nutritional support to children of elementary stage.
Tamil Nadu was the first state to initiate this program and this was considered as the follow up to The mid-day meal programme, introduced in 1925 in Madras Corporation by the British administration.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A).

Note: According to paragraph 2(C) of Article 24 of the Convention on the Rights of the Child , India has legally undertaken responsibility to provide children with 'adequate nutritious food'. Since its inception in 1995, the programme has undergone several changes. The National Food Security Act, 2013 covers the Midday Meal Scheme. The legal backing of the Indian school meal programme is identical to the legal backing provided by the National School Lunch Act in the US.