PM POSHAN
- Context: A Parliamentary Standing Committee has proposed adding breakfast to the PM POSHAN Scheme and extending its benefits to students up to Class 12.
About PM POSHAN
- Previously called the Mid-Day Meal Scheme (MDMS), it was renamed PM POSHAN (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) in 2021.
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- The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Education and is approved for the period from 2021–22 to 2025–26.
- It is a centrally sponsored programme, meaning both the central and state governments share its funding.
- Currently, it provides one hot cooked meal to students in government and government-aided schools from primary level up to Class 8.
- The scheme is designed to tackle hunger by ensuring children receive sufficient nutrition, while also improving educational indicators such as school attendance, retention, and overall learning outcomes.
Krishi Sakhi Initiative
- Context: The Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited has introduced the Krishi Sakhi Initiative with the objective of empowering women engaged in farming.
About the Initiative
- Krishi Sakhi is a nationwide programme designed to strengthen the role of women farmers by increasing their awareness, encouraging their participation, and building their skills in agriculture and crop insurance.
- It is implemented by the Agriculture Insurance Company of India Limited.
Aim
- To increase the involvement of women in agriculture and insurance-related activities
- To support inclusive and gender-responsive growth in the agricultural sector
- To acknowledge and promote the contribution of women in enhancing India’s farming system
Key Features
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- Planned campaigns such as videos, walkathons, and workshops conducted across 2026
- On-ground sessions to educate women farmers about crop insurance schemes and their advantages
- Initiatives focusing on sanitation, hygiene, and rural awareness, especially targeting women in farming communities
Current Facts
- Maternity Benefit Act, 1961
Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme- Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Small Hydro Power (SHP) Development Scheme for the period from FY 2026–27 to FY 2030–31.
About the Scheme
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- The programme seeks to add around 1,500 MW of small hydropower capacity within five years, especially in identified priority regions.
- It mainly promotes run-of-the-river projects, particularly suited for remote, hilly, and North Eastern areas.
- Nodal Ministry: The scheme is administered by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
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- Financial support is provided through Central Financial Assistance (CFA) based on a graded subsidy structure.
- North Eastern states and districts along international borders are eligible for up to ₹3.6 crore per MW or 30% of the total project cost, whichever is lower.
- Other states can receive up to ₹2.4 crore per MW or 20% of the project cost, whichever is lower.
- To avail of financial assistance, projects must exclusively use domestically manufactured equipment and machinery, in line with the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
- The scheme helps reduce dependence on long-distance power transmission, lowers energy losses, and contributes to India’s goal of achieving 500 GW of non-fossil fuel-based capacity by 2030.
Coconut Promotion Scheme- Context: The Union Budget 2026–27 introduced a Coconut Promotion Scheme aimed at boosting production and improving productivity in the coconut sector.
About the Scheme
- It is a Central Sector scheme under the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare (MoA&FW).
- Nodal Agency: The programme will be implemented by the Coconut Development Board (CDB), a statutory organization headquartered in Kochi, Kerala.
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- The scheme emphasizes the removal of old, unproductive, and diseased coconut trees and their replacement with improved varieties that are high-yielding, early-maturing, and resilient to climate variations.
- Technology Integration: Farmers will be linked to Bharat-VISTAAR, a multilingual AI-based platform that offers real-time guidance on pest control and nutrient management.
Current Facts
- Vainava Uraivalam, an authority on the Vaishnavite tradition written by T. Gnanasundaram.
India’s Coconut Production- India is the world’s largest coconut producer, contributing around 30.37% of global output, and ranks second in terms of productivity.
- The country cultivates coconuts on approximately 2.16 million hectares out of the global 12.39 million hectares.
- The sector supports the livelihoods of nearly 30 million people, including about 10 million farmers.
- Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh together account for more than 90% of India’s total coconut production.
Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation (RELIEF) Scheme- Context: To assist exporters affected by maritime disruptions in West Asia, the Government has approved the ‘RELIEF’ (Resilience and Logistics Intervention for Export Facilitation) scheme under the Export Promotion Mission.
About RELIEF
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- RELIEF is a time-bound financial and risk mitigation intervention implemented under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM), aimed at supporting Indian exporters facing logistics disruptions, cost escalations, and geopolitical risks in West Asia.
- Approved in March 2026 under the framework of the Export Promotion Mission.
- Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
- Implemented by the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India (ECGC Ltd.).
