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UP increases monthly honorarium for PM Poshan cooks

Source:free-press-journal ↗

Why It Matters

The PM POSHAN scheme is a vital social sector initiative targeting child nutrition and educational retention. For UPPSC Prelims, facts such as the renaming of the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to PM POSHAN, the funding ratio between the Centre and States, and state-specific welfare implementations are highly testable.

Summary

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a ₹1,000 increase in the monthly honorarium for 3.86 lakh cooks employed under the PM POSHAN (formerly Mid-Day Meal) scheme. The hike raises their monthly remuneration to ₹3,000, with the state government bearing the complete additional financial burden of ₹385 crore per year. This welfare measure directly supports school staff while facilitating the nutritional needs of 1.46 crore students across the state.

Key Points

  • The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet approved a ₹1,000 hike in the monthly honorarium for cooks working under the PM POSHAN scheme, raising their pay from ₹2,000 to ₹3,000.
  • The decision benefits approximately 3.86 lakh cooks across the state and impacts over 1.46 crore children studying in 1.40 lakh basic education council and recognized schools.
  • The additional annual financial burden of ₹385 crore resulting from this increment will be borne entirely by the Uttar Pradesh state government.
  • The Mid-Day Meal Scheme, which is jointly funded by the Central and State governments, was officially renamed as the PM POSHAN scheme in 2021.

Important Terms

PM POSHAN Scheme

A centrally sponsored scheme providing daily hot cooked meals to students from pre-primary to Class VIII in government and aided schools. It replaced the Mid-Day Meal Scheme to comprehensively tackle child malnutrition and improve school attendance.

UPSC context

GS Paper 2 (Welfare Schemes). Tests knowledge of government interventions addressing child poverty, hunger, and human resource development.

Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Launched in 1995 as a national feeding program, it historically mandated hot cooked meals for school children. It was restructured and renamed PM POSHAN in 2021 to expand coverage and focus heavily on nutritional outcomes.

UPSC context

GS Paper 2 (Social Justice). Relevant for evaluating the historical evolution of India's nutritional policies and rights-based welfare frameworks.

Basic Education Council

Formed in 1972, this administrative body manages primary education in Uttar Pradesh. It dictates curricula, conducts exams, and oversees mass teacher recruitments for state-run primary and upper primary schools to improve local learning infrastructure.

UPSC context

UPPSC GS Papers 5 & 6 (UP Specific). Tests familiarity with state-level educational governance, administrative bodies, and policies addressing local schooling challenges.

Prelims Trap

The ₹1,000 honorarium hike for PM POSHAN cooks in UP is funded jointly by the Centre and State.

Although PM POSHAN is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with shared funding, this specific ₹1,000 honorarium hike is borne entirely by the UP state government.

Static Concepts Connected

Polity & Governance

What is the difference between Centrally Sponsored and Central Sector Schemes?

  • Funding Ratio: Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) have shared funding (e.g., 60:40). Central Sector schemes are 100% funded by the Union government.
  • Implementation: CSS are implemented by State governments, whereas Central Sector schemes are directly executed by central ministries.
  • State Top-ups: States can independently allocate extra funds from their own budgets to enhance CSS benefits, as seen in UP's cook honorarium hike.
Welfare Schemes

What are the core features of the PM POSHAN Scheme?

  • Evolution: Replaced the Mid-Day Meal Scheme in 2021, shifting the focus from basic caloric intake to comprehensive child nutrition.
  • Coverage Extension: It extends hot cooked meals to pre-primary 'Balvatika' children alongside Class I-VIII students in government and government-aided schools.
  • Community Involvement: Encourages 'Tithi Bhojan' (community provision of special food on festivals) and the development of School Nutrition Gardens.

Cross-Topic Patterns

  • Nutrition schemes + Rural female workforce

    Since the vast majority of PM POSHAN cooks are rural women, this honorarium hike links child nutritional welfare directly to female workforce empowerment and rural poverty alleviation.

  • Fiscal Federalism + CSS State Top-ups

    UP bearing the entire ₹385 crore burden illustrates how states use their own exchequers to augment Centrally Sponsored Schemes, asserting regional welfare priorities within federal structures.

Expect a multi-statement question on PM POSHAN blending its core features (Balvatika inclusion) with UP-specific state top-up funding.

Linked PYQs · 2

Linked PYQs · 2

  • 2023UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    In which year, Mid-day Meal Scheme was renamed as P.M. Poshan Scheme ?

  • 2010UPPSC_PRELIMSGS1

    Mid-day Meal Scheme is financed and managed by