CURRENT AFFAIRS
CURRENT AFFAIRS
Description
The Government of India has sanctioned a 9.5% increase in the material cost component of the PM-POSHAN Scheme, set to take effect from May 1, 2025. This revision will lead to an additional expenditure of Rupees 954 crore by the central government for the financial year 2025–26, with the goal of improving meal quality and nutritional outcomes for school children.
About PM-POSHAN Scheme
The Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM-POSHAN) Scheme, formerly known as the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, is a flagship centrally sponsored program operated by the Ministry of Education. Its primary objective is to ensure that one nutritious, hot cooked meal is provided each school day to approximately 20 crore children studying in Balvatikas (pre-primary) and Classes 1 to 8 in over 10.36 lakh government and government-aided schools across the country.
Goals Of Scheme
The scheme focuses on two main aims:
Enhancing the nutritional intake of children from underprivileged and economically weaker sections.
Boosting enrollment, attendance, and retention rates in schools by addressing hunger and malnutrition.
Revised Daily Meal Cost Per Student
As per the newly approved rates:
For Balvatika and Primary students: Rupees 6.78 per day (up from Rupees 6.19)
For Upper Primary students: Rupees 10.17 per day (up from Rupees 9.29)
These amounts serve as the minimum required contribution, although States and Union Territories have the option to allocate additional funds to further enrich the nutritional quality of meals provided.
Nutritional Guidelines
Meals under PM-POSHAN are designed to meet specific nutrition standards:
Balvatika and Primary students: 20 grams of pulses, 50 grams of vegetables, 5 grams of edible oil
Upper Primary students: 30 grams of pulses, 75 grams of vegetables, 7.5 grams of edible oil
These components are selected to support physical and cognitive development among children and help in maintaining daily energy requirements.
Monitoring Price Inflation
To maintain cost-effectiveness, the Labour Bureau under the Ministry of Labour and Employment provides regular updates on price fluctuations for meal components. This data is sourced from the Consumer Price Index for Rural Labourers (CPI-RL), derived from surveys conducted in 600 rural villages across 20 states.
Related Nutrition Initiatives
POSHAN Abhiyan
Managed by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, POSHAN Abhiyan focuses on improving nutrition levels among:
Children (0–6 years)
Adolescent girls
Pregnant women
Lactating mothers
Mission POSHAN 2.0
Launched in 2021, Mission POSHAN 2.0 combines the earlier POSHAN Abhiyan and Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) to create a streamlined and integrated framework for targeted nutritional interventions.
Funding Structure
The cost-sharing pattern for POSHAN Abhiyan follows a tiered approach:
60:40 split between the Centre and State governments for most States and Union Territories with legislatures.
90:10 for Northeastern and Himalayan states.
100% central funding for Union Territories without legislatures.
This revision reflects the government’s ongoing commitment to child welfare, nutrition security, and educational development, especially among the country's most vulnerable populations.
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