Seven states and UTs seek to add breakfast to midday meals, Centre weighing costs, Pg7.

Key Highlights:

• Seven states and UTs including Rajasthan, Kerala, and Delhi have requested the Centre to include breakfast in the PM-POSHAN scheme.
• The proposal aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendation to provide breakfast alongside midday meals.
• The Ministry of Education sought suggestions from states/UTs in September regarding the scheme's extension up to Class 12.
• The Ministry of Finance previously rejected a similar breakfast proposal in 2021-22 due to cost concerns.

Detailed Insights:

• NEP 2020 emphasizes that providing a nutritious breakfast can enhance cognitive functions, making morning hours more productive for studying demanding subjects.
• In addition to the breakfast proposal, 11 states/UTs have requested the extension of the PM-POSHAN scheme up to Class 12.
• The estimated additional cost to include breakfast in the PM-POSHAN scheme could reach approximately ₹6,000 crore.
• Under the PM-POSHAN scheme, the central government provides foodgrains and shares material costs with states/UTs in a 60:40 ratio, and 90:10 for northeastern and Himalayan states.
• Tamil Nadu pioneered the breakfast program for primary school students in government schools, starting in 2022.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PM-POSHAN: A scheme to provide cooked midday meals to students in government and government-aided schools.
• National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: A comprehensive framework to transform the education system in India.