On which date was the central Pregnancy Aid Scheme launched to provide Rs 6000 financial assistance to pregnant women?

Introduction / Context:
This question belongs to the area of Indian government welfare schemes and focuses on the Pregnancy Aid Scheme, which aims to support pregnant women financially. Under this scheme, eligible women receive a cash incentive of Rs 6000 to help cover costs related to pregnancy, nutrition, and child care. Examinations frequently ask about launch dates of major schemes, as these dates help link policies with specific budgets, announcements, or events such as national addresses by leaders.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The scheme mentioned is popularly associated with direct financial support of Rs 6000 to pregnant women.
• The options list four close dates around the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017.
• We assume the question refers to the formal announcement of the scheme by the central government for national implementation.
• The task is to select the exact date on which the scheme was launched.

Concept / Approach:
The Pregnancy Aid Scheme, which later came to be associated with the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana framework, was announced by the Prime Minister in a national address toward the end of 2016. It was part of a package of measures focusing on financial inclusion and welfare. Specifically, the announcement was made on 31 December 2016. The other dates in December and early January may be associated with preparatory steps or separate schemes but do not match the nationally publicized launch announcement, so they are distractors.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the Pregnancy Aid Scheme for providing Rs 6000 to pregnant women was announced by the central government around the end of 2016. Step 2: Connect this announcement with the speech delivered by the Prime Minister on 31 December 2016, which included several welfare measures. Step 3: Compare the given options and identify 31 December 2016 as the date that matches the major public announcement. Step 4: Eliminate the other dates as they do not correspond to this widely reported announcement of the scheme.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official press releases and news reports relating to the Prime Minister's address at the end of December 2016 confirm that the Pregnancy Aid Scheme, offering Rs 6000 to pregnant women, was announced on 31 December 2016. Government documents describing the evolution of maternity benefit schemes also refer back to this announcement as the point from which this central initiative was expanded nationwide. These references reinforce 31 December 2016 as the correct launch date.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Options A and B, which give earlier dates in December 2016, may be tempting because they are close to the correct time frame, but they do not match the headline national announcement. Option D, 1 January 2017, is just one day later and might confuse those who think of the scheme as part of New Year measures; however, the announcement in the speech took place on 31 December 2016, not on the first of January. Therefore, these dates are incorrect in the context of the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Candidates often confuse the date of announcement with the date of actual implementation or subsequent renaming and integration of schemes. Another pitfall is misremembering whether the scheme was announced as a New Year measure on 1 January or as part of a speech the previous evening. Careful reading of the question and precise recall of current affairs reports are needed to avoid such small but important errors.

Final Answer:
The Pregnancy Aid Scheme offering Rs 6000 to pregnant women was announced on 31 December 2016.