Noon-day Schools have been established to-

Noon-day Schools have been established to- Options: (a) increase number of schools in rural areas (b) provide good education in rural areas (c) complete 'Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan' (d) check wastage of education in rural areas ✅ Correct Option: (d) check wastage of education in rural areas Explanation: Noon-day Schools are primarily intended to reduce dropout rates and prevent wastage of education in rural and underprivileged areas. Option (d) is correct because these schools provide mid-day meals, incentives, and supportive learning environments, encouraging children to attend school regularly. While options (a), (b), and (c) are related to rural education, they are secondary objectives. The mid-day meal scheme motivates students from economically disadvantaged families to stay in school, directly addressing absenteeism and dropout, thus reducing wastage of educational resources. Noon-day Schools are part of government initiatives like Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, which aim to achieve universal elementary education, ensure retention, and provide equal opportunities for children in rural areas. 10 PPSC-Related Facts: 1. Noon-day schools reduce dropout rates. 2. Mid-day meals encourage attendance. 3. Targets rural and underprivileged children. 4. Supports retention in primary education. 5. Reduces wastage of educational resources. 6. Part of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. 7. Promotes inclusive education. 8. Improves health and nutrition of students. 9. Encourages regularity and participation. 10. Strengthens literacy and learning outcomes.