In the context of welfare schemes in India, the abbreviation STEP refers to a programme designed primarily to help which group?

Introduction / Context:
This question comes from social welfare schemes in India and checks familiarity with important abbreviations. STEP is a government programme that aims to improve the economic status of women by providing training and employment support. Recognising the target group of such schemes is essential for exams on social issues and public policy.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• STEP is the short form of a welfare programme.
• The full form of STEP is Support to Training and Employment Programme.
• The options list different groups of beneficiaries: children, women, farmers, senior citizens and unemployed youth.
• The question asks which group the programme is meant to help primarily.

Concept / Approach:
The Support to Training and Employment Programme is designed to provide skills, training and employment opportunities to women, particularly those from marginalised and weaker sections. It aims to make women economically independent through group based income generation activities. Therefore the correct approach is to link the abbreviation STEP with women empowerment and not with children, farmers or other groups.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Expand the abbreviation STEP as Support to Training and Employment Programme.Step 2: Recall that this scheme is implemented by the Ministry dealing with women and child development, with a strong focus on women empowerment.Step 3: Understand that the primary objective is to provide training and employment support to women so that they can earn a livelihood.Step 4: Among the options, identify the group that matches this objective.Step 5: Select women as the main beneficiary group.

Verification / Alternative check:
Official scheme descriptions and exam guides describe STEP as a programme for women that assists them with skills and employment generation. It is regularly listed among schemes for women empowerment, not under schemes for farmers, children or senior citizens. This consistent classification verifies that women are the intended beneficiaries.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Children are beneficiaries of many other schemes such as midday meals and education programmes, but STEP focuses on economic participation of women rather than child welfare directly.
Farmers receive support through schemes on agriculture credit, insurance and subsidies, not through the STEP programme.
Senior citizens are covered by pension and social security schemes; they are not the core target of STEP.
Urban unemployed youth are addressed through skill development missions and employment exchanges, which are distinct from this programme for women.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to guess based purely on the word training and to assume the programme is for youth in general. Another error is to mix up various acronyms of similar sounding schemes. Remembering that STEP appears in lists under women specific schemes and has the word employment in its full form helps keep the association clear.

Final Answer:
The STEP welfare programme is primarily designed to help women through training and employment support.