{"id":102188,"date":"2026-05-06T18:14:14","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:44:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=102188"},"modified":"2026-05-06T18:14:14","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T12:44:14","slug":"government-schemes-for-children-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/government-schemes-for-children-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Schemes for Children in India, Launch Year, Objective"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children constitute a vital section of India\u2019s population and are the foundation of the country\u2019s future human capital. Recognising this, the Government of India has introduced several schemes aimed at ensuring their health, nutrition, education, protection, and overall development.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These initiatives are based on constitutional provisions such as Article 21A (Right to Education), Article 24 (prohibition of child labour), Article 39(e) and 39(f) (protection and development of children), and Article 45 (early childhood care and education).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Nutrition and Health Schemes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nutrition and health schemes for children in India aim to ensure early-life nutritional security, reduce malnutrition, and improve overall physical and cognitive development, thereby strengthening human capital formation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Integrated Child Development Services Scheme<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme is a flagship government programme providing holistic development to children under six, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 1975<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ministry of Women and Child Development<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Type:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Centrally Sponsored Scheme<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aim<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To reduce malnutrition, mortality, and school dropout rates by providing six key services including supplementary nutrition and preschool education via local Anganwadi centers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Six Core Services Provided: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ICDS offers an integrated package of services delivered primarily through Anganwadi centres:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Supplementary Nutrition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Providing meals and food to bridge the nutritional gap.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pre-school Education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Non-formal education for children aged 3\u20136 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nutrition and Health Education<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Education for mothers and women (15-45 years).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Immunization<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Delivered in coordination with the health department.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Health Check-ups<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Regular monitoring of health status.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Referral Services<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Referring children or women with health issues to specialized care<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ICDS has now been revised and subsumed under <\/span><b>&#8216;Mission Saksham Anganwadi &amp; Poshan 2.0&#8217;.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<h3><b>POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/poshan-abhiyaan\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>POSHAN Abhiyaan<\/strong><\/a> is India\u2019s flagship national mission to improve nutritional outcomes for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2018<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ministry of Women and Child Development<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Type<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Centrally Sponsored Scheme<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Objectives:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prevent and reduce Stunting in children (0- 6 years)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prevent and reduce under-nutrition (underweight prevalence) in children (0-6 years)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce the prevalence of anemia among young Children(6-59 months)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce the prevalence of anemia among Women and Adolescent Girls in the age group of 15-49 years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Reduce Low Birth Weight (LBW)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Mission Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is an Integrated Nutrition Support Programme. It is a restructured scheme consisting of the following sub-schemes ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) and National Creche Scheme.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The scheme has been approved by the Government of India for implementation during the 15<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Finance Commission period 202l-22 to 2025-26.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ministry of Women and Child Development<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aim<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To address the challenges of malnutrition in children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers through a strategic shift in nutrition content and delivery and by creation of a convergent eco-system to develop and promote practices that nurture health, wellness and immunity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Objectives\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To improve the nutritional and health status of children in the age-group 0-6 years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To lay the foundation for proper psychological, physical and social development of the child<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To reduce the incidence of mortality, morbidity, malnutrition and school dropout<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To achieve effective co-ordination of policy and implementation amongst the various departments to promote child development\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>PM POSHAN Scheme (formerly Mid-Day Meal Scheme)\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It provides nutritional meals to each and every child of Bal Vatika (pre-primary or before class I) and the children studying in classes I to VIII.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Original Launch Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 1995 (Mid-Day Meal Scheme)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Renamed Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2021<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ministry of Education<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>main objectives of the PM POSHAN Scheme<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are to tackle two of the important issues for majority of children in India, hunger, and education, by:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving the nutritional status of eligible children in Government and Government aided schools.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encouraging the poor children, coming from the disadvantaged sections, to attend school more regularly and help them concentrate on classroom activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Providing nutritional support to the children of the elementary stage in drought-affected during summers as well as disaster affected areas.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) is a program to improve the overall quality of life of children and provide comprehensive care to all the children in the community.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: launched in February, 2013 under National Rural Health Mission.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This program involves screening of children from birth to 18 years of age for four Ds- Defects at birth, Diseases, Deficiencies and Development delays, spanning 32 common health conditions for early detection and free treatment and management, including surgeries at tertiary level.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Children diagnosed with identified health conditions are provided early intervention services and follow-up care at the district level.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The establishment of the District Early Intervention Centre (DEIC) is also one of the components of the RBSK.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The programme is monitored through the Health Management Information System of NHM and periodic visits to the states by central and state level teams.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Education-Focused Schemes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Education-focused schemes for children in India aim to ensure universal access to quality schooling, foundational learning, and inclusive development, in line with the Right to Education and the National Education Policy 2020.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A landmark legislation making education a fundamental right for children aged 6\u201314 years.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandates 25% reservation in private schools for disadvantaged groups<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures free and compulsory education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishes norms for teacher-student ratio and infrastructure<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Samagra Shiksha Scheme<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Samagra Shiksha scheme is an integrated scheme for school education covering the entire gamut from pre-school to class XII.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch Year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2018<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ministry of Education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aim<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To ensure that all children have access to quality education in an equitable and inclusive classroom environment which takes care of their diverse background, multilingual needs, different academic abilities and make them active participants in the learning process.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Objectives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Implementing the recommendation of NEP 2020;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supporting States &amp; UTs in implementing RTE Act, 2009;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on Early Childhood Care and Education;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Emphasis on Foundational Literacy and Numeracy;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thrust on Holistic, Integrated, Inclusive and activity based Curriculum and Pedagogy;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provision of quality education and enhancing learning outcomes of students;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bridging Social and Gender Gaps in School Education;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring equity and inclusion at all levels of school education;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthening and up-gradation of SCERTs\/SIE and DIETs;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensuring safe, secure and conducive learning environment and minimum standards in schooling provisions;<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promoting vocationalisation of education<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>NIPUN Bharat Mission<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Launch Year: 2021<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Education<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Objectives and Features:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To ensure foundational literacy and numeracy by Grade 3<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To strengthen early learning outcomes in primary education<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To improve reading, writing, and basic arithmetic skills<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To support competency-based learning at foundational level<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>PM SHRI Schools (2022)<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2022<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Type<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Centrally Sponsored Schemes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Implementation Tenure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Five years, from 2022-23 to 2026-27.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aim<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To upgrade over 14,500 existing schools to serve as model institutions showcasing the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Key Features of PM SHRI Schools: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM SHRI Schools are model schools under NEP 2020 with focus on:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smart infrastructure: smart classrooms, computer labs, science labs, Atal Tinkering Labs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Competency-based learning with real-life application of knowledge<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Green initiatives like solar energy, water conservation, and waste management<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experiential, inquiry-based, and learner-centred teaching methods<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS)<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 1997-98<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ministry of Tribal Affairs<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aim<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To provide free, quality residential education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) children from Class VI to XII in remote areas. The schools focus not only on academic education but on the all-round development of the students.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Objective<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To bridge the educational gap between tribal and non-tribal populations by offering CBSE-based instruction integrated with holistic development, including sports, culture, and skill training.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Target Population<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Blocks with &gt;50% ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Management<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Managed by the National Education Society for Tribal Students (NESTS).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Girl Child Empowerment Schemes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Girl child empowerment in India focuses on improving survival, education, and financial security of girls through targeted government schemes and social interventions.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: 2015\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It is a national initiative run jointly by the Ministry of Women &amp; Child Development (MoWCD), Ministry of Health &amp; Family Welfare (MoH&amp;FW) and Ministry of Human Resources Development (MoHRD)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aim<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: To address the declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), prevent gender-biased sex-selective elimination and promote the survival, protection and education of the girl child.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Objectives<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improve the child sex ratio<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure gender equality and women empowerment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prevent gender-biased, sex selective elimination<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensure survival and protection of the girl child<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage education and participation of the girl child<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>The scheme is divided into three components \u2013\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advocacy campaigns were launched to address the issue of declining CSR and SBR; (2)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Multi-sectoral interventions were planned and are being implemented in gender-critical districts across the country; and<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A financial incentive-linked scheme\u2014Sukanya Samriddhi scheme\u2014was launched to encourage parents to build a fund for female children.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<h3><b>Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Scheme (SSY)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a small deposit-saving scheme targeted at parents of girl children. It offers parents the option to open a savings account per girl child (under the age of 10 years) and allows parents to make deposits in the account for a period of 15 years. The girls can commence account operations at the age of 10 years and have the option of making withdrawals at the age of 18. The goal of this scheme is to challenge the burden mindset of parents and offer financial security to female children.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Launch year<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Launched in 2015 as part of the &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/upsc-exam\/beti-bachao-beti-padhao\/\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Beti Bachao Beti Padhao<\/strong><\/a>&#8221; campaign.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Nodal Ministry<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Key Features:\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Eligibility<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Parents or legal guardians can open an account for a girl child before she turns 10 years old.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Account Limit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Only one account per girl child is permitted, with a maximum of two accounts allowed per family (three in case of twins\/triplets).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Investment Tenure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Deposits are required for 15 years from the date of opening, although the account matures after 21 years.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Minimum\/Maximum Deposit<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Minimum \u20b9250 up to a maximum of \u20b91.5 lakh per financial year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Interest Rate: The government sets the interest rate quarterly, which is currently 8.2% per annum.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tax Benefits<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Deposits, interest earned, and maturity proceeds are tax-exempt under Section 80C and Section 10 of the Income Tax Act.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Withdrawal\/Closure<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Partial withdrawal up to 50% is allowed for higher education after the girl turns 18. The account can be closed after marriage if she is 18 or older, or upon turning 21.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Where to Open<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Accounts can be opened at any India Post office or authorized commercial bank branches<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Child Protection and Welfare Schemes<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Child protection in India is based on a rights-based framework, aiming to ensure safety, rehabilitation, and rehabilitation of children in vulnerable situations. These schemes are primarily implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in coordination with other stakeholders.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Mission Vatsalya (2022)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mission Vatsalya is a centrally sponsored scheme that replaced and restructured the earlier Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Key Features:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthens child protection services at district and state levels<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on prevention, rescue, protection, and rehabilitation of children in need of care and protection<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides both institutional care (Child Care Institutions) and non-institutional care (foster care, sponsorship, adoption)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishes a structured framework for Juvenile Justice system implementation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>CHILDLINE 1098<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">CHILDLINE 1098 is a 24\u00d77 emergency outreach helpline service for children in distress.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Key Features:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operates under the Ministry of Women and Child Development<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides immediate assistance to children facing abuse, exploitation, trafficking, neglect, or abandonment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Enables rescue and linkage to rehabilitation services through coordination with police, hospitals, and Child Welfare Committees<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>PENCIL Portal<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PENCIL Portal (Platform for Effective Enforcement for No Child Labour) is a national online platform to support the elimination of child labour.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Key Features:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Facilitates real-time monitoring and reporting of child labour cases<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Connects district administrations, NGOs, and citizens on a single platform<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supports enforcement of the National Child Labour Project and related legal provisions<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Promotes transparency and accountability in child labour eradication efforts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Bal Swaraj Portal (NCPCR)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bal Swaraj Portal is developed by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) to track children in need of care and protection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tracks rescue, rehabilitation, and restoration of children<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maintains a database of children in Child Care Institutions (CCIs)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Helps monitor post-rescue care, education, and reintegration into society<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Strengthens data-driven child protection governance<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>PM CARES for Children (2021)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">PM CARES for Children was launched to support children who lost both parents or legal guardians due to COVID-19.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Key Features:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides financial assistance for education and livelihood support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Covers health insurance under Ayushman Bharat scheme<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monthly stipend support during minority period<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A corpus fund is created for each child, accessible at the age of 18 years<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aims to ensure long-term rehabilitation and social security<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Child Labour Eradication Initiatives<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Child labour eradication in India is pursued through a comprehensive framework combining rehabilitation-based schemes, coordinated rescue operations, and international labour standards, aimed at ensuring both prevention and reintegration of affected children.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>National Child Labour Project (NCLP)<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">National Child Labour Project was earlier a dedicated scheme for rehabilitation but has now been integrated under Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (since 2021).<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Establishes Special Training Centres (STCs) for rescued children (9\u201314 years)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides bridge education, vocational training, and nutrition support<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aims to mainstream children into formal schooling system<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures holistic rehabilitation through education-based integration<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Operation Muskaan \/ Operation Smile<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These are time-bound rescue operations led by the Ministry of Home Affairs in coordination with state police.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Focus on rescuing missing, trafficked, and exploited children<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Often conducted as nationwide drives<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ensures immediate protection and linkage to child welfare services<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>International Commitments<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India has aligned its child labour framework with global standards through ratification of key ILO conventions:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>ILO Convention No. 138<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Sets minimum age for employment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>ILO Convention No. 182<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Prohibits worst forms of child labour, including slavery, trafficking, and hazardous work<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These commitments strengthen India\u2019s global accountability and policy convergence.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Government schemes for children in India cover health, nutrition, education, and protection, highlighting key initiatives for child welfare and overall development.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":102197,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[786],"tags":[7381],"class_list":{"0":"post-102188","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-general-studies","8":"tag-government-schemes-for-children-in-india","9":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102188"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102232,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102188\/revisions\/102232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102197"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}