8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah & Nutrition Initiatives

• PM Modi launched the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah with the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyan, highlighting nutrition as a foundation for national progress.

• Poshan Abhiyaan, started in 2018 at Jhunjhunu (Rajasthan), continues to fight malnutrition through healthy diets, breastfeeding promotion, and community involvement.

• Celebrated every September, Poshan Maah aligns with the PM’s birthday month and underlines the role of health and nutrition in development.

• This year integrates nutrition with early learning under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi initiative, supporting the National Education Policy 2020.

• Focus areas include eco-friendly practices with the Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam plantation drive and encouraging men’s participation in family nutrition.

• Key schemes like Poshan Tracker App (9.14 crore beneficiaries) and PM POSHAN Scheme (meals for 11.8 crore students in 11.2 lakh schools) ensure better nutrition and education outcomes.

• With a ₹954 crore hike in allocation for FY 2025-26 to counter food inflation, initiatives like Poshan Pakhwada and Gujarat’s Children Nutrition Park further stress the importance of the first 1,000 days of life and healthy food habits.

PM Modi initiates development projects and welfare programmes in Dhar, MP

• Prime Minister Modi laid the foundation stone for major projects and rolled out new health and tribal welfare programmes in Dhar, Madhya Pradesh.

• He offered tributes to Goddess Vagdevi at Bhojshala and praised artisans and craftsmen for their role in building the nation.

• The ‘Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar’ campaign was launched, ensuring free health check-ups for women.

• The PM also inaugurated the 8th Rashtriya Poshan Maah, underlining nutrition as a pillar of development.

• He highlighted the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, noting ₹19,000 crore support given to 4.5 crore women, including 15 lakh from Madhya Pradesh.

• In a major health push, the one-crore Sickle Cell Screening and Counselling Card was distributed in the state.

• Modi inaugurated India’s largest textile hub – the PM MITRA Park in Dhar, spanning 1,300 acres, expected to create 3 lakh jobs with ₹23,140 crore investment, and launched the Adi Seva Parv to empower tribal communities.

NECA 2025: New Award for Digital Creators & Influencers

• The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), Ministry of Power, has introduced a fresh category in the National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2025 for content creators and influencers.

• This step aims to leverage digital platforms to promote awareness on energy saving, sustainability, and efficient lifestyles.

• The initiative supports the Mission LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) vision championed by the Prime Minister.

• NECA, established in 1991, has long recognized achievements in energy efficiency across various sectors.

• To participate, creators must have 10,000+ followers on a major social platform and submit 90-second original videos in Hindi or regional languages with transcripts.

• Suggested themes cover energy-saving practices, AC usage at 24°C, 5-star appliances, green buildings, and eco-friendly celebrations.

• The winners will be honored by the President of India on 14 December 2025 in New Delhi; BEE, founded in 2002, continues its mission to lower India’s energy intensity under the Energy Conservation Act, 2021.

GST Rate Revision: Updated Advisory by Consumer Affairs

• The Department of Consumer Affairs has issued fresh guidelines under Rule 33 of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules, 2011, following the GST rate revision effective 22 September 2025.

• Businesses can voluntarily use revised price stickers on unsold stock made before the GST change, but the original MRP must remain visible and not be hidden.

• The earlier rule requiring firms to publish revised MRPs in newspapers has been scrapped; now, companies only need to share updated price lists with wholesalers, retailers, and Legal Metrology authorities.

• Companies may continue using old packaging materials printed before the tax revision until 31 March 2026 or until stocks are cleared, with corrections allowed through stickers, stamps, or online printing.

• The advisory eases compliance while ensuring consumers benefit from reduced GST, striking a balance between business convenience and consumer protection.

• Businesses are urged to inform dealers, retailers, and consumers about the new GST rates using print, electronic, and social media platforms.

• These relaxations support the ease of doing business, minimize paperwork, and guarantee that tax benefits reach end consumers.