UPSC Prelims 2023 Q52: Indian Economy – Human Development, Poverty & Employment Schemes
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Answer: (c) Only three
Explanation
Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Strategy — Interventions
| Statement | Claim | Verdict | Correct Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents, pregnant women | FALSE | AMB provides prophylactic IRON AND FOLIC ACID (IFA) supplementation — not calcium. Calcium supplementation is a different intervention. Iron is the key nutrient for anaemia prevention. |
| 2 | Campaign for delayed cord clamping at childbirth | TRUE | Delayed cord clamping allows more iron-rich blood to transfer from placenta to newborn, reducing neonatal anaemia. AMB includes this as an evidence-based intervention. |
| 3 | Periodic deworming to children and adolescents | TRUE | Intestinal worms cause blood loss and reduce iron absorption — deworming reduces anaemia burden. AMB includes National Deworming Day interventions. |
| 4 | Addresses non-nutritional causes (malaria, hemoglobinopathies, fluorosis) | TRUE | AMB recognises that anaemia has multiple causes beyond iron deficiency — malaria destroys RBCs, sickle cell/thalassemia are genetic causes, and fluorosis affects bone marrow. |
Statements 2, 3, 4 correct → Only three.
Answer: (c) Only three.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. 'Only one' — three interventions (delayed cord clamping, deworming, non-nutritional causes) are all genuine AMB components.
- (b) Incorrect. 'Only two' — addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia is a documented AMB strategy element.
- (c) CORRECT. Statements 2, 3, and 4 are correct. Statement 1 is wrong — AMB provides iron/folic acid supplementation, not calcium.
- (d) Incorrect. 'All four' — prophylactic calcium supplementation is NOT part of AMB; it is iron supplementation.
Key point
AMB provides IRON (not calcium) supplementation. Three correct: delayed cord clamping ✓, deworming ✓, non-nutritional causes (malaria/haemoglobinopathies/fluorosis) ✓. The calcium trap is the key error in Statement 1.
Remember
Anaemia Mukt Bharat provides iron and folic acid supplementation (not calcium). It includes delayed cord clamping, periodic deworming, and addressing non-nutritional causes like malaria and haemoglobinopathies. Three of the four statements are correct.
Common mistakes
- Not catching 'calcium' vs 'iron' in Statement 1 — anaemia is iron deficiency (mostly); AMB's supplementation is iron + folic acid, not calcium.
- Dismissing Statement 4 as too complex — AMB explicitly addresses non-nutritional anaemia in endemic pockets, which is a broader public health approach.
- Not knowing delayed cord clamping reduces neonatal anaemia — it is an evidence-based practice that allows placental blood (rich in iron) to transfer to the baby.
Exam tip
AMB = iron + folic acid supplementation (NOT calcium). Six interventions: prophylactic IFA, deworming, delayed cord clamping, non-nutritional causes, fortified foods, POSHAN campaign. Calcium ≠ AMB. Statement 1 replaces iron with calcium = wrong.
Sources
- Ministry of Health — Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy Document
- National Health Mission — Anaemia Intervention Programmes