Who started ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’?

Concept

Public programmes are attributed to the government that formally launches and implements them at the national level.

Related policies from earlier administrations do not make those leaders the initiators of a later scheme.

Application

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan was launched as a nationwide programme in 2001 during the prime ministership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Therefore, among the named individuals, Atal Bihari Vajpayee is the leader associated with starting the programme.

Contrast

• Indira Gandhi's terms as Prime Minister ended well before the programme's 2001 launch.

• P. V. Narasimha Rao served as Prime Minister from 1991 to 1996, also before this launch.

• More than one of the above would require at least two named leaders to share the attribution, whereas the launch is associated with one prime-ministerial administration.

• None of the above would require every named leader to be excluded, but the launch-period prime minister is present among the choices.

Result: Atal Bihari Vajpayee.