Significant measures taken by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to improve nutritional outcomes under Mission Poshan 2.0

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has subsumed Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls under Mission Poshan 2.0 (Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0), a centrally‑sponsored mission implemented by all States and UTs. An allocation of Rs 21,960 crore was made for FY 2025‑26. The Ministry launched the ‘Poshan Tracker’ digital application to monitor Anganwadi centres, workers and beneficiaries, and to identify stunting, wasting and under‑weight prevalence among children under five; state‑wise data are publicly available on its dashboard. Supplementary nutrition (per Schedule‑II of the National Food Security Act) is provided to children, pregnant and lactating women and adolescent girls, with additional take‑home rations for severely acute malnourished children. Community mobilisation activities such as Jan Andolans (Poshan Pakhwada and Poshan Maah) and the establishment of Poshan Vatikas at Anganwadi centres aim to promote diet diversity and nutrition awareness. The Ministry, together with the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, issued a joint protocol for managing severe acute malnutrition, and highlighted related interventions under the RMNCAH+N strategy, including Anemia Mukt Bharat, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres, Mothers’ Absolute Affection, Lactation Management Centres, National Deworming Day and Village Health Sanitation and Nutrition Days.