Content

1. Poshan Maah
2. Drone Economy Takes Flight

Poshan Maah

Why in News?

• The Government of India launched the 8th Poshan Maah (17 Sept–30 Sept 2025) along with the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan (SNSPA).
• Focus areas include obesity awareness, early childhood care & education (Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi), infant & young child feeding (IYCF), and men’s involvement in nutrition.

Relevance

• GS2 (Governance, Welfare Schemes): Poshan Abhiyaan, PM POSHAN, ICDS, WCD Ministry.
• GS2 (Health & Social Justice): Malnutrition, anaemia, obesity.
• GS3 (Environment): EK Ped Maa Ke Naam, Poshan Vatikas.

Basics

• What is Poshan Abhiyaan?
  • Launched: March 8, 2018, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan.
  • Full form: Prime Minister’s Overarching Scheme for Holistic Nourishment (POSHAN).
  • Objective: Convergence-based mission targeting malnutrition in children (0–6 yrs), adolescent girls, pregnant & lactating women.
  • Strategy: Jan Andolan (people’s movement) + technology-driven monitoring.
  • Tools: Poshan Tracker App (since 2021), Anganwadi-led service delivery, awareness campaigns.
• What is Poshan Maah?
  • Observed: September (annually).
  • Purpose: Mass awareness + community mobilization on nutrition.
  • Coincides with PM Modi’s birthday month, reflecting political symbolism and personal commitment.
  • Complementary events: Poshan Pakhwada (March/April).
• 2025 Update (8th Poshan Maah)
  • Launched: September 17, 2025, along with Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan (SNSPA).
  • Coverage: 14,02,248 Anganwadi Centres, 9.14 crore beneficiaries registered on Poshan Tracker.
  • Financial Outlay: ₹1,30,794.90 crore (2021-26) for PM POSHAN Scheme.

Achievements & Data Insights

• NFHS-5 (2019–21):
  • Stunting (U-5): ↓ from 38.4% → 35.5%.
  • Underweight: ↓ from 35.8% → 32.1%.
  • Wasting: ↓ from 21.0% → 19.3%.
• Iron & Folic Acid Supplementation (Q2 FY 2024-25): 15.4 crore children/adolescents covered.
• Institutional Coverage: Over 13 lakh Anganwadi Centres functioning, integrated with ICDS, NHM, SBM.
• Community engagement: Events like Poshan Vatika, nutrition literacy rallies, annaprashan ceremonies.

Objectives of POSHAN Abhiyaan

1. Reduce stunting, undernutrition, and low birth weight (0–6 yrs).
2. Reduce anaemia in children (6–59 months), adolescent girls, and women (15–49 yrs).
3. Focus on first 1000 days (conception to 2 yrs) to break intergenerational malnutrition.
4. Integrate nutrition + health + WASH (water, sanitation, hygiene) + early education.
5. Promote exclusive breastfeeding, dietary diversity, complementary feeding.

Themes of 8th Poshan Maah (2025)

1. Obesity Awareness: Reduce sugar & oil consumption.
   1. PM’s call: “Use 10% less oil in cooking.”
   1. Context: Rising obesity epidemic (1 in 3 projected to be obese in future).
2. Early Childhood Care & Education (ECCE) / Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi:
   1. Linked to NEP 2020.
   1. Anganwadi Centres → preschool hubs integrating nutrition + learning.
3. EK Ped Maa Ke Naam:
   1. Tree plantation drive linking environmental sustainability with nutrition.
4. Infant & Young Child Feeding (IYCF):
   1. Promotion of breastfeeding & optimal feeding practices in 0–2 yrs.
5. Men’s Involvement in Nutrition:
   1. Encourage male caregiving roles → breaking stereotype of nutrition as only women’s duty.

Technology: Poshan Tracker App

• Launched: March 1, 2021, Ministry of Women & Child Development.
• Functions:
  • Real-time monitoring of growth (stunting, wasting, underweight).
  • Beneficiary-focused data for pregnant women, children, lactating mothers.
  • Performance tracking of Anganwadi workers.
• Scale: 14 lakh Anganwadis + 9.14 crore beneficiaries registered.
• Role: Strengthens e-governance in nutrition delivery.

PM POSHAN Scheme

• Successor of Mid-Day Meal Scheme (under NFSA, 2013).
• Coverage: Classes I–VIII, Government & aided schools.
• Beneficiaries: 11.80 crore children, across 11.20 lakh schools.
• Financials:
  • ₹1.3 lakh crore outlay (2021–26).
  • 9.5% hike in material cost (2025) → additional ₹954 crore burden.
• Provisions:
  • Food grains @ NFSA rates (100g/child/day for primary, 150g for upper primary).
  • Cooking cost (₹4.97 primary, ₹7.45 upper primary per child/day).
  • Coverage extended to Balvatika (pre-primary).
  • Summer meals in drought/disaster zones.

Innovative Awareness Tools

• Children Nutrition Park (Ekta Nagar, Gujarat):
  • Edutainment model → Nutri Train, interactive stations, nutrition-themed games.
  • Focus: Linking play, fun, and healthy habits.
• Poshan Pakhwada (April 2025):
  • Focused on first 1000 days, maternal nutrition, breastfeeding, and indigenous diets.

Significance & Relevance

• Public Health: Tackles India’s “triple burden of malnutrition” – undernutrition, micronutrient deficiencies, and obesity.
• Women Empowerment: Nutrition linked to Swasth Nari, Sashakt Parivar → healthier women = empowered families.
• Economic Impact: Improved nutrition = better learning outcomes, higher productivity, reduced health burden.
• Global Alignment: Supports SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) & SDG 3 (Good Health & Well-being).
• Governance Innovation: Combines community mobilization + digital monitoring + inter-ministerial convergence.

Challenges

• Persisting regional disparities (e.g., high stunting in Bihar, Jharkhand, UP).
• Implementation gaps in Anganwadi services (infrastructure, training, workloads).
• Gender & social factors: Early marriage, poverty, intra-household food distribution bias.
• Obesity transition: While tackling undernutrition, India faces rising lifestyle-related obesity.
• Data quality: Poshan Tracker needs robust validation; NFHS periodicity limits timely tracking.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Anganwadi infrastructure (Saksham Anganwadi model).
• Scale-up Poshan Vatikas & kitchen gardens for local nutrition security.
• Focus on tribal & high-burden districts with tailored interventions.
• Deepen male participation in nutrition & caregiving.
• Regular mid-course evaluations using real-time Poshan Tracker data.
• Link nutrition with climate resilience (millets, local crops).

Drone Economy Takes Flight

Why in News?

• 56th GST Council Meeting (3rd Sept 2025):
  • GST on drones (with/without cameras) cut from 18% / 28% → uniform 5%.
• Objective: Encourage domestic drone manufacturing, reduce classification disputes, boost adoption across agriculture, defence, logistics, mining, and disaster management.
• Significance: Key push towards Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, and India’s Drone Hub 2030 vision.

Relevance

• GS2 (Governance): Policy reforms, DigitalSky platform, Drone Rules 2021.
• GS3 (Economy, Tech, Defence): GST reform, Make in India, PLI scheme, defence modernisation.
• GS1 (Society): Women empowerment via Namo Drone Didi.

From Basics

• What are drones?
  • Drones = Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) controlled remotely or autonomously.
  • Used in surveillance, agriculture, mapping, logistics, defence, disaster relief.
• Drone Policy Ecosystem in India:
  • Drone Rules, 2021: Liberalised norms, eased permissions.
  • DigitalSky Platform: Single-window online approvals for flying, registration, tracking.
  • PLI Scheme (2021): ₹120 crore outlay for drones/components (boost indigenous manufacturing).
  • Drone Shakti (Budget 2022-23): Promotes Drone-as-a-Service (DrAAS) startups.
  • Skill Development: DGCA-approved training institutes for drone pilots/operators.
  • Awareness: Events like Bharat Drone Mahotsav showcase innovations.
• Flagship Government Schemes Using Drones:
  • Namo Drone Didi (2023): Women SHGs trained to provide agri-drone services.
  • SVAMITVA Scheme: Drone-based land mapping in rural India.
  • Defence Uses: Terrier Cyber Quest 2025, Army and DRDO initiatives for ISR & combat drones.

Overview

GST Reform: Uniform 5%

• Before: 18% (normal drones) / 28% (camera-fitted drones).
• Now: 5% for all drones – eliminates classification disputes.
• Policy Certainty: Reduces litigation, creates a predictable tax regime.
• Affordability: Makes drones cheaper → accelerates adoption.

Sectoral Impact

1. Agriculture
   1. Precision farming, crop monitoring, pesticide/fertilizer spraying.
   1. Reduces input costs, boosts productivity.
   1. Namo Drone Didi → gender empowerment + agri-tech penetration.
2. Petroleum & Mining
   1. Inspection of pipelines, rigs, mining sites.
   1. Enhances safety + efficiency, reduces human risk.
3. Infrastructure & Urban Planning
   1. Land surveying, GIS mapping, smart city projects.
   1. Faster, accurate project execution.
4. Logistics & E-commerce
   1. Last-mile delivery (medicine, essential goods).
   1. Potential to revolutionize rural connectivity.
5. Defence & Security
   1. Border surveillance, intelligence gathering, counter-terror ops.
   1. Strategic edge in modern warfare.
6. Disaster Management
   1. Search & rescue, flood mapping, relief supply drops.
   1. Crucial for climate-related emergencies.

Economic & Employment Impact

• Domestic Drone Market Growth: GST cut boosts affordability → larger customer base.
• Job Creation:
  • Manufacturing/Assembly (hardware components, electronics).
  • Software/Data Analytics (AI, image processing, GIS).
  • Field Operations/Maintenance (pilots, technicians).
• Startup Ecosystem: Drone-as-a-Service (DaaS) and agri-tech startups to benefit.

Strategic Significance

• Global Drone Hub by 2030: Policy shift aligns with India’s ambition to rival US/China in drone economy.
• Make in India push: Reduced GST complements PLI scheme for domestic manufacturing.
• Defence Preparedness: Enhances indigenous ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) capabilities.
• Social Empowerment: Drones for SHGs and rural entrepreneurs bridge digital & gender divides.

Challenges Ahead

• Regulatory Issues: Ensuring safe airspace integration with civil aviation.
• Cybersecurity Risks: Potential misuse for espionage/terror.
• Skilling Gap: Need for trained drone pilots, technicians, data analysts.
• Infrastructure: Charging, repair, and maintenance hubs lacking in rural areas.
• Market Penetration: High initial costs despite tax cut may deter small farmers/SHGs.

Way Forward

• Strengthen Drone Testing & Certification ecosystem (National Test House role).
• Scale-up Drone Didi program nationwide.
• Promote Drone-as-a-Service to lower upfront costs for farmers/MSMEs.
• Integrate drones with AI, IoT, and GIS for smart applications.
• Develop drone corridors & dedicated airspace management systems.
• Incentivize export-oriented manufacturing to tap global markets.