Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: India's Integrated Nutrition Mission

Last updated: 2026-11-13 · MockMentor

Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, launched in 2021-22, is India's integrated nutrition mission. It merged three schemes, ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services), POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018) and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls, to tackle malnutrition among young children, pregnant women, new mothers and adolescent girls.

In one line: better food, better Anganwadis and real-time tracking to cut stunting, wasting and anaemia.

At a glance

Item Details
Launched 2021-22
Period 2021-22 to 2025-26
Merged ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Scheme for Adolescent Girls
Funding 60:40; 90:10 for North-Eastern and Himalayan States; 100% for UTs without legislature
Saksham Anganwadis 2 lakh centres upgraded, 40,000 a year
Events Poshan Maah in September, Poshan Pakhwada in March

Four pillars

  1. Supplementary nutrition: Take-Home Ration (6 months to 3 years, mothers) and hot cooked meals (3 to 6 years).
  2. Early childhood care and education for children aged 3 to 6.
  3. Better Anganwadi infrastructure, with water, toilets, learning aids, nutri-gardens and solar power.
  4. POSHAN Abhiyaan for technology, convergence and behaviour change.

Nutrition norms

Group Calories Protein
Children (6 to 72 months) 500 kcal 12 to 15 g
Severely underweight children 800 kcal 20 to 25 g
Pregnant women and mothers 600 kcal 18 to 20 g
Adolescent girls (14 to 18) 600 kcal 18 to 20 g

The Poshan Tracker monitors the height and weight of nearly 10 crore children. Fortified rice and millets are used in meals.

Possible exam questions

  1. Why does child stunting remain high in India despite food security? Assess Poshan 2.0.
  2. How can Anganwadis be strengthened as centres of early childhood development?

Complete notes in our courses: this page gives the essentials. The Super-Elite and Elite courses carry the full chapter with every update merged in, plus practice MCQs. Compare the courses.

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