India, March 16 -- The Centre has advised states and Union territories (UTs) to cut cooking oil usage by 10% in school meals under the Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman (PM POSHAN) scheme. The move aims to promote healthier eating habits among students amid growing concerns over childhood obesity.

The advisory issued by Sanjay Kumar, secretary, department of school education and literacy (DoSEL), ministry of education urges education departments, school authorities and other stakeholders to raise awareness among students about the benefits of reducing oil consumption. It recommends various initiatives, including informative sessions with nutrition experts on low-oil diets, quiz competitions on healthy eating habits, and encouraging reg...