Question

The National Family Planning Programme was renamed the National Family Welfare Programme after:

• A. The Emergency
• B. The Bangladesh War of 1971
• C. The New Economic Policy
• D. The Third Five Year Plan

Hint:

The Emergency period is strongly associated with forced sterilization campaigns and major changes in India's population policy.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

India was the first country in the world to launch an official Family Planning Programme in 1952. The main aim of the programme was to control rapid population growth and improve the standard of living. During the Emergency period (1975--1977), the family planning programme became highly controversial because of:
• Forced sterilization campaigns
• Coercive population control measures
• Political misuse of administrative authority Large numbers of people, especially poor and rural populations, were subjected to compulsory sterilization drives. This created widespread public anger and distrust toward the term "Family Planning." After the Emergency ended, the new government attempted to restore public confidence by changing both the approach and the name of the programme. Thus:
• The programme was renamed as the National Family Welfare Programme.
• Greater emphasis was placed on voluntary participation.
• Focus shifted toward maternal and child welfare along with reproductive health. Option analysis:
• Option (A): Correct because the name change occurred after the Emergency.
• Option (B): Incorrect because the Bangladesh War had no relation to this change.
• Option (C): Incorrect because the New Economic Policy came much later in 1991.
• Option (D): Incorrect because the Third Five Year Plan is unrelated to the renaming. Therefore, the correct answer is: \[ \boxed{\text{(A)}} \]