Which central government scheme was launched specifically to create awareness about cleanliness and hygiene among children across India?

Introduction / Context:
In recent years, the Government of India has launched several flagship schemes with different objectives such as financial inclusion, girl child empowerment, and cleanliness. This question focuses on one such initiative aimed specifically at promoting cleanliness and hygiene habits among children. Recognising the right scheme and correctly associating it with its objective is a common type of question in general studies and current affairs examinations.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The question asks about a central government scheme focused on cleanliness of children and awareness regarding hygiene.
The options include Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Bal Swachhta Mission, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana.
You must select the scheme whose core theme is cleanliness and hygiene, especially among children.

Concept / Approach:
The strategy here is to recall the primary objectives of each listed scheme. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana promotes savings for the girl child's future. Jan Dhan Yojana focuses on financial inclusion by opening bank accounts for the unbanked. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aims at improving the child sex ratio and girl's education. Bal Swachhta Mission, on the other hand, was launched as part of the wider Swachh Bharat campaign to reinforce cleanliness and hygiene habits among children through activities in schools and communities. By matching objectives, it becomes clear that Bal Swachhta Mission is the scheme directly related to creating awareness about cleanliness among children.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Swachh Bharat Abhiyan is the overarching cleanliness mission launched by the Government of India. Step 2: Remember that within this framework, Bal Swachhta Mission was started to focus specifically on cleanliness and hygiene among children, especially in schools and anganwadis. Step 3: Consider Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana. Its core aim is to encourage parents to build a fund for the girl child's education and marriage, not cleanliness. Step 4: Consider Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, which is mainly about financial inclusion and ensuring at least one bank account per household. Step 5: Consider Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, which focuses on preventing female foeticide, improving child sex ratio and promoting girls' education. Step 6: Only Bal Swachhta Mission directly fits the description of a scheme to create awareness about the cleanliness of children.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this from government publicity campaigns and news articles about Swachh Bharat, where Bal Swachhta Mission is often mentioned as a component concentrating on children. Activities like cleanliness drives in schools, hand-washing campaigns, personal hygiene sessions and drawing competitions were organised under this mission. The other schemes are regularly covered in financial and social policy contexts but are not associated with cleanliness themes, confirming that Bal Swachhta Mission is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: This is a small savings scheme to secure the financial future of the girl child, with tax benefits and a special account, not a cleanliness campaign. Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana: This scheme is about universal access to banking facilities, zero balance accounts, and financial literacy, unrelated to hygiene awareness for children. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana: This programme aims to protect the girl child, improve the girl child sex ratio, and encourage girls' education. It is a social and gender campaign, not a cleanliness scheme.

Common Pitfalls:
Because many schemes were launched around the same time and carry catchy names, students sometimes mix them up. Another pitfall is to assume that any scheme mentioning children or girls must be about health or cleanliness, which is not always true. To avoid confusion, link each scheme with a clear keyword: Sukanya with savings, Jan Dhan with bank accounts, Beti Bachao with girl child protection, and Bal Swachhta with cleanliness for children.

Final Answer:
The scheme specifically launched to create awareness about cleanliness among children is the Bal Swachhta Mission.