Naresh Kumar Vaid, Director , Vaids ICS

The Prime Minister is not amused. "There is a strong evidence that the ICDS has not led to any substantial improvement in the nutritional status of children under 6". The Planning Commission has remarked, "The issue of missing targets is very vexing and must be urgently addressed". The latest World Bank report has questioned the efficacy of national schemes in existence to tackle malnutrition. According to World Bank, "National Nutritional policy remains on paper, ICDS suffers a mismatch between intentions and implementation and mid-day meal scheme is not helping the cause. In these circumstances the government represented by Women & Child Development minister Ms Krishna Tirth announced the launch of two more flaf-ship schemes, other than the eight already in progress, on Children's day, Nov. 14. The government will siphon out Rs. 4500 crores, now onwards for two new schemes namely Rajiv Gandhi Sabla Scheme and Indira Gandhi Matritva Scheme, in addition

UPSC has recommended to the government to replace Prelims with Administrative Aptitude Test. Though the Chairman, UPSC did not reveal much, he only said that the two papers of Prelims - one on GS and another on Optional - would be replaced by the two tests with emphasis on "testing the aptitude of candidates for demanding life in civil service, as well as on the ethical and moral dimensions of decision making". Basically, the move is to pre-ement the practice and selection of those aspirants with the habit of memorizing and encouraging those who can face the situation without dictation. It must be a welcome step but many of the coaching institutes, surviving on Prelims coaching, may have to shut their shops. UPSC is also inclined to reduce the number of attempts as also reduction in the maximum age limit but these issues may have political overtones. Besides, UPSC is also inclined to conduct all the 10 exams it holds, on line, but it is not feasible presently.