**Executive Summary**
This report outlines the progress of Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 as of March 2026, focusing on the operation of 14.03 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) serving 8.98 crore beneficiaries. The mission emphasizes digital tracking via the ‘Poshan Tracker,’ the implementation of new early childhood curriculum frameworks, and extensive capacity building for field workers. Key mandates include the monthly conduct of Community Based Events and the institutionalization of the "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" training model.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Infrastructure and Educational Frameworks**
* 14.03 lakh AWCs are operational nationwide, providing supplementary nutrition and Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
* Two new curriculum frameworks were launched in 2024: “Navchetana” for children aged 0–3 and “Aadharshila” for children aged 3–6.
* The mission aims to ensure optimal learning for all children, including Divyang (specially-abled) students.
**Digital Monitoring and Transparency**
* The ‘Poshan Tracker’ application enables near real-time monitoring of AWC activities, worker performance, and beneficiary nutritional indicators.
* A public dashboard is available for tracking measurable improvements in nutritional levels.
* The application serves as a service delivery tool, offering counseling videos on breastfeeding, postnatal care, and birth preparedness.
**Training and Capacity Building**
* The “Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi” (PBPB) cascading model has been established to train field-level workers.
* As of March 16, 2026, over 41,000 State Level Master Trainers and over 10.35 lakh Anganwadi Workers have completed Round 1 training.
* Regular field-level workshops are conducted to ensure proficiency in using the Poshan Tracker application.
**Community Engagement and Behavioral Change**
* Anganwadi Workers are required to conduct two Community Based Events (CBEs) every month to promote better nutritional practices.
* Jan Andolans (public movements) are held annually through Poshan Maahs (September) and Poshan Pakhwadas (March-April).
* Over 150 crore Jan Andolan activities and 9.8 crore CBEs have been recorded since 2018.
**Governance and Empowerment**
* The Ministry has issued "Streamlining Guidelines" covering quality assurance, procurement, and the integration of AYUSH concepts.
* 90.91 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM are engaged to reduce rural poverty and conduct health and nutrition awareness.
* The Ministry of Rural Development is focusing on the ‘Lakhpati’ initiative and bank linkages for the financial empowerment of SHG women.
**Impact Analysis**
**Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)**
**Impact**
AWWs are now integrated into a digital monitoring ecosystem and are responsible for delivering upgraded ECCE curricula.
**Action Required**
Must utilize the Poshan Tracker for daily activity logging, undergo PBPB training, and conduct two mandatory Community Based Events each month.
**State and Union Territory Governments**
**Impact**
States are responsible for the localized execution of sensitization activities and the reporting of Jan Andolan events.
**Action Required**
Must organize and report regular sensitization activities during designated Poshan Maahs and Poshan Pakhwadas.
**Self-Help Groups (SHGs)**
**Impact**
SHGs are being leveraged as a network for health and nutrition advocacy and financial empowerment.
**Action Required**
Engage in group meetings for nutrition and sanitation awareness, participate in the ‘Lakhpati’ initiative, and utilize upcoming online learning and monitoring systems.
**Registered Beneficiaries (Children and Mothers)**
**Impact**
Beneficiaries receive standardized early childhood stimulation and real-time tracking of their nutritional growth.
**Action Required**
Participate in AWC-led counseling sessions and engage with Community Based Events for improved health outcomes.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: An integrated nutrition support program providing early childhood care, education, and supplementary nutrition through a network of 14.03 lakh Anganwadi Centres.
Poshan Tracker: A digital application for real-time monitoring and tracking of Anganwadi activities, worker performance, and beneficiary nutritional improvements.
Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB): A cascading training initiative institutionalized to enhance early learning and uniform capacity building for Anganwadi Workers.
DAY-NRLM (Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Rural Livelihoods Mission): A mission that mobilizes Self-Help Groups to promote nutrition, health, and financial empowerment among rural women.
Navchetana and Aadharshila Frameworks: National curriculum frameworks developed for early childhood stimulation and education for children from birth to six years.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
14.03 lakh Anganwadi Centres operational under
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0
‘Poshan Tracker’ a digital application for near real time
monitoring and tracking of all activities in AWCs
Posted On: 23 MAR 2026 2:22PM by PIB Delhi
Under the Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, 14.03 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) are
operational in the whole country to provide Anganwadi Services, Early Childhood Care and Education
(ECCE), awareness on growth and development of children and benefits of Supplementary Nutrition to
nearly 8.98 crore registered beneficiaries. To ensure optimal learning for all children at AWCs including
Divyang, two curriculum frameworks have been developed- “Navchetana- National Framework for Early
Childhood Stimulation for Children from Birth to Three Years, 2024” and “Aadharshila- National
Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education for Children from Three to Six Years 2024”.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched ‘Poshan Tracker’ digital application for
near real time monitoring and tracking of all activities in the AWCs, Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and
beneficiaries on defined indicators. The details of measurable improvements in nutritional levels are
available in Poshan Tracker public dashboard at the given link: https://www.poshantracker.in/statistics.
The application also offers counselling videos on key behaviours and services which help disseminate
messages related to birth preparedness, delivery of child, post-natal care, breastfeeding and
complementary feeding. Regular field-level trainings and workshops are conducted for Anganwadi
Workers for using Poshan Tracker application.
Further under Mission Poshan 2.0, a cascading training model, Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB) has been
institutionalized. Under the initiative, to enhance early learning through the Anganwadi system, for
children from birth to 6 years, State Level Master Trainers (SLMTs) are trained by the Savitribai Phule
National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD). These Master Trainers, in turn, impart
training to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) at the field level, ensuring large-scale and uniform capacity-
building. As on 16th March 2026, a total of 41,645 SLMTs and 10,35,949 AWWs have been trained under
Round 1 and 3,641 SLMTs under Round II of the training programme.
Other major activities undertaken in the Mission Poshan 2.0 include Community Mobilization and
Awareness Advocacy to educate people on nutritional aspects, as adoption of good nutrition habits
requires sustained efforts for behavioural change. States and Union Territories are conducting and
reporting regular sensitisation activities under Jan Andolans during Poshan Maahs and Poshan Pakhwadas
celebrated in the months of September and March-April respectively. Community Based Events (CBEs)
conducted at Anganwadi Centres have served as a significant strategy in changing nutritional practices,
and all Anganwadi Workers are required to conduct two Community Based Events every month. More
than 150 crore Jan Andolan activities have been conducted since 2018 through 15 Jan Andolans in thecountry. Also, Community Based Events (CBEs) have served as a significant strategy in changing
nutritional practices. All Anganwadi workers are required to conduct two CBEs every month. A total of
9.8 crore CBEs has been conducted from 2018 to February 2026.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has issued Streamlining Guidelines on Quality
Assurance, Roles and Responsibilities of Duty Holders, procurement procedures, integration of AYUSH
concepts and data management and monitoring through Poshan Tracker for transparency, efficiency and
accountability in delivery of Supplementary Nutrition.
Further, third-party evaluation and impact assessments of Poshan Abhiyaan conducted by NITI Aayog in
2020 and also in 2025 for Mission Poshan 2.0 have found its relevance to be satisfactory for tackling
malnutrition in the country
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) under DAY-NRLM are to mobilize rural women into collectives to encourage
savings and take up multiple livelihoods opportunities to increase household income and thereby reduce
rural poverty. Thus, SHGs are not directly working on welfare of children. There are 90.91 Lakh SHGs
across 34 States and UTs (Except Delhi and Chandigarh) in the country.
To enhance the efficiency of SHGs, The Ministry of Rural Development under DAY-NRLM, is conducting
awareness activities on nutrition, health and sanitation amongst SHG households through group meetings,
community-based events, and mobilization to public health, nutrition and sanitation services with an aim
to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure on health and improve quality of life. The training material issued by
the line Ministries have been adapted in SHG context and are being used for discussions in the group
meetings. SHG network is also supporting various national nutrition, health and sanitation campaigns. The
IEC material shared by the host Ministry is circulated to the SHGs. Further, it is planned to develop an
online learning mechanism for easy access to learning material and an online monitoring system to track
progress.
For SHGs, Ministry of Rural Development is focusing on ‘Lakhpati’ initiative, bank linkage and
community funds for financial empowerment of SHG women. For awareness on nutrition, health and
sanitation, online learning and monitoring systems is being planned for strengthening quality standards
and community participation.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri
Thakur in Lok Sabha in reply to a question today.
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SS
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