Content :
- Teaching children to eat well must begin in school
- A chance for India’s creative ecosystem to make waves
Teaching children to eat well must begin in school
Global Context and Urgency
- N4G Summit & UNGA (2024): Renewed global commitment to end malnutrition by extending the UN Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016–2025) to 2030.
- Beyond access to food: Emphasis on how and why children eat — moving focus from food quantity to food literacy and behavior change.
Relevance : GS 2(Social Issues ,Health, Government Policies )
Practice Question :“While the first 1,000 days are crucial for child nutrition, the next 4,000 days offer a critical second window.” In this context, critically examine the role of schools in building food literacy among children. Suggest policy measures to institutionalize nutrition education.(250 Words)
Childhood Nutrition: Expanding the Window
- Critical windows: While focus on the first 1,000 days (conception to 2 years) is vital, the next 4,000 days (up to adolescence) are equally critical.
- Adolescence as second chance: Nutritional education can help adolescents overcome earlier growth deficits and prevent future disease risks.
Why Start in Schools?
- Changing food environment: Easy access to processed, unhealthy food via apps and media makes healthy eating decisions complex for children.
- Lack of awareness: Children often eat due to habit, peer pressure, or marketing — not based on health or cultural tradition.
- Schools as change agents: Structured, curriculum-based intervention in schools can build lifelong habits.
Alarming Trends in Child Nutrition
- Minimum Dietary Diversity (UN SDG 2 Indicator): A child should eat from at least 5 out of 10 food groups daily — rarely met in India.
- Poor diets → triple burden: Links to under-nutrition, obesity, and chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, mental health).
- 70% of adult diseases: Originate from unhealthy habits formed during childhood — early intervention is crucial.
Curriculum Gaps and Implementation Barriers
- Lack of structured food education: Nutrition lessons, if present, are outdated or superficial.
- Inadequate teacher training: No formal tools, training, or curriculum guidance provided to educators.
- Missing links: Disconnect between classroom learning and real-life food choices.
What Should a Food Literacy Curriculum Include?
- Comprehensive and age-appropriate: Starts from preschool, continues through adolescence.
- Beyond food groups:
- Human biology and food-body relationship.
- Environmental sustainability.
- Cultural identity and local food diversity.
- Bio-diverse diets:
- Encouraging local, seasonal, traditional foods.
- Supports nutrition, local farmers, and the planet.
Integration into Daily School Life
- More than awareness drives: Requires weekly classes, kitchen gardens, cooking sessions, food label reading.
- Infrastructure support:
- Healthier canteens.
- Nutrition-themed campaigns led by students.
- Weekly nutrition hour as part of academic calendar.
Policy Frameworks in India
- National Education Policy (NEP) 2020: Calls for holistic development, includes room for health education.
- School Health & Wellness Programme (by MoHFW & MoE): Framework exists, but needs proper curriculum and execution.
- Gap: Still no national-level mandate or uniform curriculum for food literacy.
Children as Agents of Change
- Ripple effect: Informed children can influence families and communities — asking for healthier meals, reducing food waste, spreading awareness.
- Holistic outcome: Promotes personal health, cultural respect, environmental awareness, and civic responsibility.
Conclusion :
- Food literacy is essential: It’s no longer a luxury — but a necessity in the face of rising NCDs, climate change, and cultural erosion.
- Call to action: Embed food and nutrition education into mainstream schooling — not tomorrow, but today.
A chance for India’s creative ecosystem to make waves
India as a Global Creative Powerhouse
- Resilient amidst global uncertainty: Despite trade tariffs and market volatility, India’s stable economy and youth-driven innovation offer a unique opportunity.
- Vision: “Create in India, Create for the World” — positioning India as a creative and storytelling hub across media and technology sectors.
Relevance :GS 3(Economy)
Practice Question : India’s creative economy holds transformative potential for both cultural influence and economic diversification. Discuss the significance of initiatives like WAVES 2025 in boosting India’s media and entertainment startup ecosystem.(250 Words)
Rise of Indian Creators on the Global Stage
- Success Stories:
- Namit Malhotra’s DNEG: Delivered Oscar-winning VFX for Dune 2 — symbol of India’s global creative potential.
- Young talent across domains: From film to AI, Indian youth are redefining global content creation.
WAVES 2025: A Game-Changer
- World Audio-Visual Entertainment Summit (WAVES):
- Scheduled May 2025, Mumbai.
- Focus on building the Media & Entertainment (M&E) startup ecosystem.
- WAVES Xcelerator (WAVEX):
- Startup accelerator within WAVES.
- Offers mentorship, funding, global exposure.
- Addresses key barriers: capital, access, and market visibility.
Sectoral Growth and Innovation Potential
- M&E industry size: Expected to grow from ₹2,422 billion (2023) to ₹3,067 billion (2027).
- Emerging areas:
- AI, AR/VR, gaming, metaverse.
- Animation, ed-tech, immersive media.
- Examples:
- Erucanavis Technologies: AI-driven ads.
- Offline Human Studios, Amaze Studios: Animation & VR.
- InscapeXR, Vision Impact: Immersive learning in education.
Inclusivity & Cultural Anchoring
- Women-led startups like Lapwing Studios and Vygr Media included — promoting diversity.
- Arts + Science synergy: Creativity as a shared space for both — storytelling in labs and studios alike.
- Cultural legacy: India’s classical traditions blend with digital innovation to tell global stories.
Economic and Social Impact
- Beyond profits:
- Investing in self-expression, storytelling, and cultural identity.
- Boosting creative economy alongside tech and biotech sectors.
- Strategic national value:
- Creativity as a tool for soft power, economic diversification, and employment generation.
Conclusion:
- India’s moment: A global creative revolution led by Indian creators is unfolding.
- WAVES 2025: Not just a summit, but a launchpad for a global storytelling future.
- Call to action: Embrace India’s demographic, cultural, and technological edge — to “Create in India, for the World”.
