Which of the following is not a social development scheme launched by the Government of India, but rather a foreign policy or strategic initiative?

Introduction / Context:
The Government of India implements many schemes that directly aim at social development, such as housing for the poor, rural electrification, and expansion of basic education. At the same time, the government also follows broad foreign policy strategies that guide relations with other countries, which are not social schemes. This question asks the learner to distinguish between social development schemes and a foreign policy initiative by identifying which item in the list is not a social scheme.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The options include Indira Awas Yojana, Kutir Jyoti Yojana, Look East Policy, Operation Blackboard, and Mid Day Meal Scheme.
• Indira Awas Yojana is known as a rural housing scheme.
• Kutir Jyoti focuses on providing electricity connections to poor households.
• Operation Blackboard aims at improving primary education facilities.
• Mid Day Meal Scheme provides cooked meals to school children to increase enrolment and nutrition.
• Look East Policy is a phrase usually associated with foreign policy and economic relations with East and Southeast Asia.

Concept / Approach:
Social development schemes target improvements in housing, education, health, nutrition, and basic amenities for citizens within the country. Indira Awas Yojana, Kutir Jyoti, Operation Blackboard, and the Mid Day Meal Scheme all clearly fit this category. In contrast, the Look East Policy is a strategic foreign policy initiative through which India seeks closer economic and political ties with East Asian and Southeast Asian nations. It is not a welfare or social scheme directed at domestic beneficiaries. Therefore, the correct approach is to identify Look East Policy as the option that is not a social development scheme.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Classify each option as either a domestic social scheme or a foreign policy initiative.Step 2: Recognise that Indira Awas Yojana provides financial assistance for rural housing and is a social welfare scheme.Step 3: Note that Kutir Jyoti Yojana aims at rural household electrification and is also a social development programme.Step 4: Understand that Operation Blackboard works to improve primary school infrastructure and is part of educational development.Step 5: Recall that the Mid Day Meal Scheme provides meals to school children to boost enrolment and nutrition, clearly a social scheme.Step 6: Identify Look East Policy as a diplomatic and economic strategy to strengthen ties with eastern neighbours, not a social development scheme.

Verification / Alternative check:
Descriptions of Indian government schemes in official publications and exam guides clearly list Indira Awas Yojana, Kutir Jyoti, Operation Blackboard, and the Mid Day Meal Scheme under social sector initiatives. In contrast, discussions under India foreign policy refer to the Look East Policy as a strategic approach directed at countries of East and Southeast Asia. This separation into domestic social schemes and external strategic policies confirms that Look East Policy is the item that does not belong in the social development category.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Indira Awas Yojana is a flagship rural housing programme for the poor. Kutir Jyoti Yojana is aimed at bringing electricity to rural households that lack access. Operation Blackboard is part of efforts to universalise elementary education by improving school facilities. The Mid Day Meal Scheme is one of the largest school feeding programmes in the world and has clear social and nutritional objectives. All four are therefore social development schemes and not the correct answer to the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Some learners may misread the question and look for a scheme instead of the out of place policy, or they may not be familiar with the details of Kutir Jyoti or Operation Blackboard and become confused. The key is to notice that Look East Policy does not follow the typical naming pattern of welfare schemes and is often discussed in the context of foreign relations rather than social welfare chapters.

Final Answer:
Look East Policy is not a social development scheme but a foreign policy and strategic initiative of the Government of India.