On 22 November 2017, the Union Cabinet approved the expansion of which mission for pan-India coverage in all 640 districts of the country?

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question concerns a flagship social initiative of the Government of India aimed at improving the status of girls in society. Many national missions initially begin as pilot projects in selected districts and later get expanded nationwide. On 22 November 2017, the Union Cabinet approved such an expansion for one important mission, extending it to all 640 districts of the country. Remembering which mission was expanded in this way is a key current affairs point.


Given Data / Assumptions:


    • The date of the Cabinet decision is 22 November 2017.
    • The decision was to expand a mission for pan-India coverage in all 640 districts.
    • The options list: Make in India, Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and Skill India.
    • We assume standard official records of the Cabinet decision.


Concept / Approach:
The mission being referred to is 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' (BBBP), which aims to address declining child sex ratio, prevent gender-biased sex selection and promote education of the girl child. Initially launched in selected districts with low child sex ratios, its scope was later expanded to cover all districts nationwide. The Cabinet decision on 22 November 2017 formalised this expansion, making BBBP a truly pan-India campaign. Recognising this timeline and the mission’s focus helps you identify the correct answer.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Note that the question is about a mission expanded to all 640 districts on 22 November 2017. Step 2: Recall that 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' was initially implemented in selected districts and was later extended to all districts as a pan-India programme. Step 3: Examine the options: Make in India, Swachh Bharat, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao and Skill India. Step 4: Recognise that while other missions are national in character, the specific Cabinet decision about covering exactly 640 districts is strongly associated with the expansion of BBBP. Step 5: Choose 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is possible by consulting Press Information Bureau (PIB) releases or official Cabinet decisions from November 2017, which explicitly mention the expansion of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme to all 640 districts. Many competitive exam magazines and government exam notes summarise this decision under social welfare and women-and-child development sections, confirming that BBBP is the mission in question.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:


    • Make in India: A broad initiative to promote manufacturing, not specifically described as being expanded to all 640 districts through a November 2017 Cabinet decision.
    • Swachh Bharat: A nationwide cleanliness mission that was launched from the beginning with national coverage rather than being described via the '640 districts' expansion phrasing.
    • Skill India: An umbrella campaign with many sub-schemes, but the specific pan-India district expansion phrasing aligns with BBBP, not Skill India.


Common Pitfalls:
Some candidates may confuse different flagship schemes or assume that any mission can be associated with an 'all-district' expansion. Another pitfall is overlooking the date and the specific numeric clue of '640 districts'. To minimise such confusion, it helps to link each major social mission with a small set of key facts—launch year, nodal ministry, primary objective and major expansion milestones—so that when you see a clue like '640 districts', you immediately recall Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.


Final Answer:
On 22 November 2017, the Union Cabinet approved the expansion of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao mission to cover all 640 districts of India.

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