In the question given below, a passage/statement is given followed by three statements which may or may not strengthen/weaken the assertion made in the passage. Answer the question as per the individual direction given. Passage: India’s mid-day meal scheme, which provides free lunches to school children on working days, has been credited with improving nutritional levels and increasing school attendance, especially in rural areas. The scheme has also contributed to reducing caste-based discrimination as children from different backgrounds sit together to eat. Critics, however, point to irregularities in quality and delays in implementation in certain regions. Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the argument in favor of the scheme’s positive impact? I. In many villages, parents cite the mid-day meal as one of the primary reasons for sending their children to school. II. Independent studies have shown an increase in the Body Mass Index (BM

• I of children in schools covered under the scheme. III. In some districts, there have been complaints about poor food quality and unhygienic kitchens.