The Mid-Day Meal Scheme in India is a welfare programme designed primarily to provide nutritious cooked food to which of the following groups?

Introduction / Context:
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is one of the largest school feeding programmes in the world and is a key part of India's strategy to improve school enrolment, retention, and nutrition. For competitive exams, it is important to know the main target group for this scheme. This question checks whether you can correctly identify who receives the mid day meals under the scheme.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The scheme mentioned is the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.
• Four possible beneficiary groups are listed: hospital patients, school going children, daily wage employees, and girls in hostels.
• We rely on the official design of the scheme as implemented across India.

Concept / Approach:
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is targeted at school going children, particularly those in government and government aided primary and upper primary schools. The idea is to provide a cooked meal during the school day to improve nutritional status and to encourage children from poor households to attend and stay in school. While other groups may benefit from different welfare schemes, the mid day meal programme specifically focuses on children attending school.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that mid day meals are served in schools during lunch break.Step 2: Recognise that the scheme is closely linked with universalisation of elementary education and child nutrition.Step 3: Note that the scheme operates in primary and upper primary schools, covering children in specific age groups.Step 4: Compare this with the options; only school going children match the known target group.Step 5: Conclude that school going children are the primary beneficiaries of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official documents and reports on the Mid-Day Meal Scheme clearly state that its main objectives are to boost enrolment, retention, and attendance in schools and to improve nutritional levels among children. The scheme is implemented in schools, not in hospitals or workplaces, which confirms that the beneficiaries are school going children.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Those taking treatment in hospitals: They may receive nutrition through hospital services, but that is not through the Mid-Day Meal Scheme.

Daily wage employees: Some states have schemes for workers, but these are different from the school focused mid day meals.

Girls residing in hostels: There are separate hostel and scholarship schemes for girls, but mid day meals are specifically linked with day time schooling in primary and upper primary institutions.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the Mid-Day Meal Scheme with other food and nutrition programmes, such as those related to anganwadi centres or targeted at specific vulnerable groups. To avoid confusion, remember that the word mid day refers to lunchtime in schools and is aimed at school going children.

Final Answer:
The Mid-Day Meal Scheme is designed to provide nutritious food to school going children.