Mission POSHAN Abhiyaan and Mission Poshan 2.0

Why in News?

The Poshan 2.0 has been a significant milestone in ensuring the better health and nutrition to the children and women in India.

What is POSHAN Abhiyaan?

• POSHAN Abhiyaan – Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN).
• It is India’s flagship National Nutrition Mission aimed at improving nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls.
• Funding mechanism – It is a centrally sponsored scheme.
• Initially, it involved a 50:50 sharing ratio between the Center and States.
• Later modified to 60:40 for states, 90:10 for special category states, and 100% for UTs without legislatures, making it a centrally sponsored program.
• Launched on – 8 March 2018.
• Approach – It represents a paradigm shift from a welfare-oriented approach to a comprehensive, lifecycle-based strategy.
• This approach recognises nutrition as a key driver of human capital development, economic growth, and achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
• Key goals – The mission places special emphasis on the first 1,000 days—from conception to 2 years—as a critical window for ensuring optimal physical and cognitive development.

What is the background and policy framework?

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), 1975 – Provided a foundation for supplementary nutrition, health services, and early childhood care through Anganwadi Centres.
• Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), 2017 – Introduced maternity benefits through direct cash transfers to support maternal health.
• National Nutrition Strategy, 2017 (NITI Aayog) – Emphasised convergence, monitoring, and community engagement.
• POSHAN Abhiyaan, 2018 – Brought multiple ministries together under a unified framework with measurable targets.
• Mission Poshan 2.0 (2021–22) – Consolidated various schemes into a single integrated structure to improve efficiency and outcomes.
• This framework reflects a shift towards convergence across sectors such as health, sanitation, education, and women’s empowerment.

What are the key features of POSHAN Abhiyaan?

• Convergence Approach – Integrates efforts of over 26 ministries and departments.
• Lifecycle and Preventive Strategy – Focus on maternal, infant, and adolescent nutrition.
• Technology-Driven Monitoring – Use of Poshan Tracker for real-time data collection.
• Jan Andolan (People’s Movement) – Community mobilisation through campaigns like Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada.
• Targeted Interventions – Focus on reducing stunting, wasting, anaemia, and low birth weight.
• Focus on First 1,000 Days – Critical period for child development.

What are the Key structural reforms in Poshan 2.0?

• Poshan 2.0 – It is announced in the Union Budget 2021–22.
•  It aims to streamline and strengthen nutrition delivery by subsuming:
  • Anganwadi Services
  • Scheme for Adolescent Girls
  • POSHAN Abhiyaan
• Unified Framework – Integration of multiple schemes for better coordination.
• Improved Nutritional Norms – Shift from calorie-centric to balanced, diverse diets rich in micronutrients.
• Focus on Quality and Outcomes – Emphasis on maternal nutrition, IYCF practices, and management of SAM/MAM.
• Infrastructure Strengthening – Upgradation of Anganwadi Centres into Saksham Anganwadis.
• Integration of AYUSH Practices – Promoting holistic wellness.

What are the major components of mission Poshan 2.0?

• Nutrition Support – Supplementary nutrition for children (6 months–6 years), pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls as per NFSA, 2013.
• Revised norms (2023) ensure diet diversity, quality protein, healthy fats, and essential micronutrients.
• Special provisions for Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children, including referral to Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs).
• Community-Based Management of Malnutrition (CMAM) for children without medical complications.
• Establishment of Poshan Vatikas (nutri-gardens) to promote local, nutritious food.
• Growth monitoring, screening, and home-based care by Anganwadi Workers.
• Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) – Aligned with National ECCE Policy (2013) and NEP 2020 (5+3+3+4 framework).
• Focus on play-based, activity-based learning for children aged 3–6 years.
• Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi initiative to improve ECCE quality through infrastructure and training.
• Capacity building:
  • Over 41,000 State Level Master Trainers.
  • Over 10 lakh Anganwadi Workers trained.
• Key frameworks:
  • Navchetana (0–3 years) – Early stimulation through caregiver engagement.
  • Aadharshila (3–6 years) – Curriculum with 130+ activities based on developmental domains.
• Integration with Poshan Tracker for digital content delivery (videos, voice notes, PDFs).
• Introduction of Vidyarambh ECCE certificates for school readiness.
• Co-location of Anganwadi Centres with primary schools for smooth transition.
• Saksham Anganwadi – Upgradation of Anganwadi Centres with modern infrastructure:
  • LED screens, smart learning tools, water purifiers.
  • Nutri-gardens and improved facilities.
• Around 2 lakh centres sanctioned for strengthening.
• Over 2.9 lakh centres co-located with schools to ensure continuity in education.

What is the significance of the programme?

• Human Capital Development – Improved nutrition leads to better health, learning, and productivity.
• Reduction in Malnutrition – Targeted reduction in stunting, wasting, and anaemia.
• Women Empowerment – Focus on maternal health and nutrition.
• Early Childhood Development – Integration of nutrition with education enhances cognitive outcomes.
• Community Ownership – Jan Andolan approach ensures behavioural change.
• Support to SDGs: Contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Health), and SDG 4 (Education).
• Governance Innovation:
  • Poshan Tracker (2021) – Real-time monitoring of over 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres and ~9 crore beneficiaries.
  • Tracks attendance, nutrition delivery, and ECCE activities.
  • Aadhaar Integration & Facial Recognition System (FRS) – Ensures transparency and prevents leakages.
  • Home Visit Scheduler (2026) – Automated scheduling of 23 structured visits for pregnant women and children (0–3 years).
  • Provides customised counselling and activity-based guidance.
• Grievance Redressal Mechanism:
  • Helpline (1515) available in multiple languages.
• Recognition:
  • Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration (2024).

What are the achievements and challenges?

• Achievements
  • Near real-time monitoring of service delivery.
  • Coverage of millions of beneficiaries through Anganwadi network.
  • Massive community mobilisation with over 150 crore activities under Jan Andolan.
  • Improved convergence across ministries and schemes.
  • Strengthened ECCE framework and school readiness initiatives.
• Challenges
  • Persistent malnutrition indicators in certain regions.
  • Implementation gaps across states due to capacity constraints.
  • Digital divide affecting effective use of Poshan Tracker in remote areas.
  • Behavioural change remains slow in areas like dietary practices and hygiene.
  • Infrastructure gaps in some Anganwadi Centres.
  • Hidden Hunger – Micronutrient deficiency despite adequate calories
  • Intergenerational Cycle of Malnutrition – Undernourished mother leds to low birth weight child leads to lifelong disadvantage.

What steps could be taken further?

• Strengthen Last-Mile Delivery – Focus on capacity building of Anganwadi Workers and infrastructure gaps.
• Enhance Behavioural Change Strategies – Deepen community engagement and awareness.
• Leverage Technology Further – Improve digital access and data utilisation for policy decisions.
• Focus on Quality of Nutrition – Ensure consistent supply of diverse and fortified foods.
• Inter-sectoral Convergence – Strengthen coordination across health, education, and sanitation sectors.
• Targeted Interventions – Focus on high-burden districts and vulnerable populations.
• Monitoring and Evaluation – Continuous assessment for evidence-based policy refinement.

What lies ahead?

• POSHAN Abhiyaan and its evolution into Mission Poshan 2.0 represent a comprehensive and integrated approach to tackling malnutrition in India.
• By combining nutrition, health, education, technology, and community participation, the mission lays a strong foundation for building a healthy and productive population.
• Sustained efforts in convergence, governance innovation, and behavioural change will be crucial in achieving the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” by 2047.
• Since it is a centrally sponsored scheme the success depends on the state capacity and, local governance.
• There should be competitiveness and cooperative federalism among the states.
• Nutrition is not just a health issue, but a multi-dimensional development issue.
• It is linked with poverty, gender inequality, sanitation, and food systems.

Reference

PIB| Mission Poshan Abhiyaan

Scarborough Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc)

Why in News?

Recent satellite imagery confirms China’s deployment of floating barriers and a naval blockade at the entrance of Scarborough Shoal, escalating tensions in the South China Sea.

Scarborough Shoal

• Feature – It is a triangular-shaped coral atoll formed on an underwater volcanic mount.
• Classification– It is defined as a high-tide feature (not an island), consisting of a chain of reefs and rocks surrounding a central lagoon.
• With a shallow lagoon it is the largest atoll in the South China Sea, covering around 150 sq. km
• Location – Situated in the eastern South China Sea, it lies approximately 120 nautical miles (within the EEZ) west of Luzon, Philippines, and roughly 470 nautical miles from mainland China.
• Nomenclature – Locally known in the Philippines as Bajo de Masinloc and in China as Huangyan Island.

Territorial Claims

• Philippines – Claims sovereignty based on proximity and its position within its 200-nautical-mile Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
• China – Claims the shoal as historical territory via the controversial "Nine-Dash Line" (often cited now as "historical rights").
• It is known as Huangyan Island (China) and Panatag Shoal / Bajo de Masinloc (Philippines)
• Taiwan – Maintains a claim similar to China’s. Hence a disputed Area.
• 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) Ruling – The tribunal ruled that China’s "historical rights" lacked legal basis and the blockade violated international law. However, China maintains de facto control since the 2012 standoff.

Strategic Concerns

• Militarization – China utilizes its Maritime Militia (armed fishing trawlers) and Coast Guard to maintain a persistent presence and install floating barriers.
• Legal Pretext – The establishment of a "national nature reserve" by China is viewed as a precursor to permanent occupation and potential artificial island construction.
• Defense Treaties – The shoal is a critical flashpoint that could invoke the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty in the event of an armed attack on Philippine assets.

Socio-Economic Impact

• Fisheries – It is a traditionally rich fishing ground. The blockade has led to significant economic distress for Filipino fishing communities in provinces like Zambales.
• Geopolitics – Persistent blockades test the limits of the Manila-Washington alliance, especially during periods of global geopolitical distraction.

Reference

The Hindu| Scarborough Shoal

Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system

Why in News?

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has directed banks issuing FASTags to verify and correct vehicle registration numbers to enable the rollout of the Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system.

• It is an advanced facility that allows vehicles to pass through toll gates at high speeds, without stopping or slowing at toll plazas.
• It will replace traditional physical toll booths.
• Process - The MLFF or barrier-less tolling system does not have boom barriers.
• Technology – The toll is collected with
  • Satellite-based GPS technology,
  • High-performance Radio Frequency Identification FASTag readers - Detects tags mounted on windshields,
  • Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras - Captures front/back images to recognize license plates (using India-optimized OCR) and
  • Laser/Sensor Technology - Performs automatic vehicle classification (AVC).
• Mandatory VRN Linkage - In the absence of human intervention in this process, a mismatch in the VRN linked to the FASTag could see commuters pass without paying the fee.
• Thus, Accurate VRN mapping with FASTag is critical for MLFF tolling.
• So, the NHAI has directed banks to blacklist FASTags found linked to incorrect or invalid VRNs.
• Benefits of MLFF
  • Uninterrupted Travel - No slowdowns or physical barriers.
  • Reduced Congestion - High-speed travel increases traffic throughput.
  • Improved Efficiency - Saves fuel and reduces vehicle emissions due to no idling.
  • Enhanced Revenue - Lower risk of leakage and improved compliance.
• Enforcement actions- Before the MLFF system is made fully operational, NHAI and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) are taking a series of steps to prevent misuse, especially concerning the user fee.
• Issuance of electronic notices to vehicles for non-payment of the user fee.
• Operationality - The MoRTH has awarded the tender for 16 toll plazas to implement barrierless tolling.
• The Choryasi fee plaza in Gujarat will be the first barrier-free toll plaza in India.

Reference

The Indian Express | Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) tolling system

Recent International Monetary Fund Projections of India’s GDP Growth

Why in News?

India slipped to become the world’s 6^th-largest economy in 2025, dropping one rank from the previous year, according to the latest World Economic Outlook (WEO) released by the IMF.

• The Indian economy is estimated at $3.92 trillion in 2025.
• IMF calculates its rankings in US dollar terms; it uses two data points
  1. A country’s GDP in the local currency and
  2. The exchange rate with the dollar to arrive at a dollar figure.
• On both these counts, India has suffered significant setbacks in the last 12 months.
• GDP Global Comparison

• Nominal growth - The drop in ranking comes despite India logging around 9% nominal growth in rupee terms during the year.
• Reasons for slowdown - Revision of base year - India updated its GDP estimates with a new base in February-end.
• The new GDP estimates essentially showed that the previous GDP series was overestimating India’s GDP.
• In rupee terms, India’s GDP for 2025-26 was rolled back from Rs 357 trillion (or lakh crore) to Rs 345 trillion.
• Impact of Dollar Strength - A stronger dollar and downward revisions to GDP under the new series slowed India’s rise in dollar-denominated GDP terms.
• Since global economic rankings are measured in dollars, currency depreciation has weighed heavily on India’s position.
• IMF projections show the rupee weakening from around 84.6 per dollar in 2024 to 88.5 in 2025, with further depreciation expected over the medium term.
• IMF Forecasts - By 2027, India is forecast to overtake the UK and return to being the 4^th-largest economy, with GDP rising to $4.58 trillion.
• India is then expected to surpass Japan in 2028, when its economy is projected at $5.06 trillion, compared with Japan, making India the world’s 3^rd-largest economy in nominal terms.
• However, under the revised IMF trajectory provided, India appears to move decisively into third position only by 2031, when GDP is projected at $6.79 trillion, well above Japan.
• Fastest Growing Economy - Despite the ranking shift, India remains the fastest-growing major economy and is expected to expand consistently above 6% over the medium term.

References

1. Money Control | GDP growth of India
2. News 18 | GDP growth of India

Cyrtodactylus jayadityai

Why in News?

A team of researchers has described a new species of bent-toed gecko from Tripura.

• It is a new bent-toed gecko species discovered in Tripura.

Geckos are small, mostly carnivorous lizards known for their incredible climbing skills and unique vocalizations.

• Nomenclature - Named after their Assam-based herpetologist mentor Jayaditya Purkayastha.
• Genus - Cyrtodactylus, commonly known as bent-toed geckos, widely distributed across Asia.
• Closest relative - Cyrtodactylus tripuraensis, based on mitochondrial DNA data.
• Habitat - Inhabits lowland forest patches in North Tripura district, occupying a highly restricted range of 8-12 square km.
• Behaviour - It is primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage and retreating into burrows and crevices during the day.
• Classification - The researchers categorised the gecko as ‘data deficient’ due to limited data on its distribution and exposure to habitat disturbance.
• Threats -Increasing human activity and environmental degradation.

Reference

The Hindu | Cyrtodactylus jayadityai

Hubble Tension

Why in News?

An international team of astronomers has achieved the most precise direct measurement of the Universe’s expansion rate, determining the Hubble constant with just over 1% precision.

• Definition – It refers to the discrepancy between two independent methods of calculating the Hubble constant (H₀), the rate at which galaxies move apart due to cosmic expansion.
• The difference is about 9%; both methods are now so precise that the gap cannot be explained by a simple measurement error.
• This statistical significance, often cited at the 5-sigma level or higher, means there is less than a 1 in 3.5 million chance the results are the same.

Key Concepts

• Standard Candles – Celestial objects with a known intrinsic brightness.
• By comparing how bright they look to how bright they are, astronomers calculate distance using the Inverse Square Law.
  • Cepheid Variables – Stars that pulsate periodically; their pulsation period is directly linked to their luminosity (Leavitt’s Law).
  • Type Ia Supernovae – Exploding white dwarf stars that always reach nearly the same peak brightness, allowing for measurements across billions of light-years.
• Redshift – The phenomenon where light from receding objects is stretched into longer (redder) wavelengths.
• This is the primary observational evidence for an expanding universe.
• Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) – Often called the "afterglow" of the Big Bang.
• It is the oldest light in the universe (380,000 years after the Big Bang) and provides a "snapshot" of the early universe.
• The CDM Model (Standard Model) - The tension is a direct challenge to the ΛCDM model, which is the current "standard model" of cosmology. The 3 pillars to support the model are –
  • Λ (Lambda) – Represents the Cosmological Constant or Dark Energy, which causes the universe's expansion to accelerate.
  • CDM – Stands for Cold Dark Matter, which provides the gravitational pull needed to form galaxies.
  • "Cold" means the particles move much slower than the speed of light.
  • Ordinary Matter – The baryonic matter (atoms) that makes up everything we can see, which is only about 5% of the universe.
• Measuring Units
  • Light Year – Distance light travels in a year (~9.46 trillion km).
  • Parsec – Approximately 3.26 light years; used for inter-stellar distances.
  • Megaparsec (Mpc) – One million parsecs; used for intergalactic distances and calculating the Hubble Constant.
• Significant Missions to Remember
  • Planck Satellite (ESA) – Known for the most precise mapping of the CMB.
  • James Webb Space Telescope (NASA/ESA/CSA) – Crucial for observing very distant Cepheids and validating that the "tension" is real physics, not a telescope error.
• Significance - The discrepancy is now at high statistical significance (not a fluke).
• Many researchers call it a Hubble Crisis, as it challenges the Standard Model of Cosmology (ΛCDM).
• Resolving it is crucial for refining our understanding of cosmic expansion and fundamental physics.

References

1. The Hindu | Hubble Tension
2. Scientific American | Hubble Tension