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General Studies 2024 GS Paper II 10 marks 150 words Compulsory Suggest

GS Paper II — Q7

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

Poverty and malnutrition create a vicious cycle, adversely affecting human capital formation. What steps can be taken to break the cycle ? (Answer in 150 words) 10 marks

हिंदी में प्रश्न पढ़ें

निर्धनता और कुपोषण एक विषाक्त चक्र का निर्माण करते हैं जो मानव पूंजी निर्माण पर प्रतिकूल प्रभाव डाल रहा है। इस चक्र को तोड़ने के लिए क्या कदम उठाए जा सकते हैं ? (उत्तर 150 शब्दों में लिखिए)

Q7 of the 2024 UPSC Mains General Studies GS Paper II, as printed
The question as printed in the 2024 General Studies paper
Evaluate your answer to this question → See all 2024 General Studies questions

Model answer

Written by UPSC Answer Check against this question's marking rubric, to the 150-word length. UPSC does not publish answers for Mains — this is one way to score well, not an official key.

Poverty limits food access, causing malnutrition that impairs child cognition and adult productivity, perpetuating poverty. Breaking this cycle requires action.

Direct nutrition measures must strengthen ICDS and POSHAN Abhiyaan by improving Anganwadi coverage, quality of supplementary nutrition, and timely IFA and Vitamin A supplementation. Fortified foods and micronutrient interventions should reach pregnant women, children and adolescent girls.

Social protection should ensure PMGKAY and NFSA provide adequate, affordable food, while PMMVY gives maternity cash benefits for wage loss and maternal/child health; separate conditional cash transfers can promote dietary diversity.

Agriculture must shift from calorie-centric to nutrient-rich production through biofortified crops such as iron-rich pearl millet, kitchen gardens and livelihood diversification.

Human capital gains require integrating early childhood education with nutrition in Anganwadis and health-nutrition convergence under Ayushman Bharat.

Governance should use NFHS-5 data, Anemia Mukt Bharat, and community participation in nutrition-sensitive planning. Thus, they convert nutrition security into human capital formation.

What "Suggest" is asking you to do

Propose measures that attach to the causes the question has just had you identify. Each should name who acts, on what, and why it would work; a measure with no actor behind it is a wish rather than a suggestion.

Structure that answers it

The problem in one line → measure 1 with the cause it addresses → measure 2 → measure 3 → how it would be implemented and what it requires

Where marks are lost

Prescriptions that would fit any question on any subject — awareness campaigns, capacity building, better coordination. The examiner checks whether each measure is traceable to a cause the answer itself named.

All UPSC directive words, compared →

How this answer will be evaluated

Approach

Framework: GS2 Social Justice / Human Capital Formation. suggest: the problem in one line > implementable measures > who acts > conclusion Full marks: Specific, multi-dimensional measures with clear links to breaking the cycle

Key points expected

  • Nutritional interventions (ICDS, PDS, Mid-day meals)
  • Healthcare access (Ayushman Bharat, primary health)
  • Education quality and access (NEP, skill development)
  • Economic empowerment (livelihoods, social security)

Evaluation rubric

Each sub-part is marked on its own, against the marks and word limit printed on the paper.

  1. The answer Implementable measures to break the poverty-malnutrition-human capital cycle. 10 marks · 150 words

    suggest— the problem in one line → implementable measures → who acts → conclusion

    Must cover

    • Nutritional interventions (ICDS, PDS, Mid-day meals)
    • Healthcare access (Ayushman Bharat, primary health)
    • Education quality and access (NEP, skill development)
    • Economic empowerment (livelihoods, social security)

    Loses marks

    • Vague generalities without specific schemes
    • Ignoring the vicious cycle aspect
    • No connection to human capital formation

    Earns more

    • Linking nutrition to cognitive development
    • Targeting specific vulnerable groups (women, children)
    • Institutional mechanisms for implementation
    • Sustainable financing models

    Extra mark

    • Specific scheme names (Poshan Abhiyaan, PM Awas Yojana)
    • Data points on malnutrition rates or human capital index

Practice this exact question

Write your answer and it is marked point by point against the model answer above — what you covered, what you missed, what you got wrong.

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