**Policy Summary: Anganwadi cum Crèche (AWCC) Initiative**
As of August 1, 2025, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) has approved 14,599 Anganwadi cum Crèches (AWCCs) based on proposals received from various States and Union Territories (UTs). This initiative extends childcare services through existing Anganwadi centers, aiming to provide essential care and support to children at the last mile.
The AWCC initiative builds upon previous childcare schemes. The Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme (RGNCS), a central sector scheme launched on January 1, 2006, was discontinued on December 31, 2016, due to inadequate monitoring and supervision. From January 1, 2017, to March 31, 2022, the National Crèche Scheme (NCS) provided crèche services through NGOs, with state and UT involvement for improved monitoring.
Currently, the "Palna" scheme, introduced on April 1, 2022, under the "Samarthya" vertical of Mission Shakti, is a centrally sponsored scheme that aims to provide quality crèche facilities in a safe and secure environment for children aged 6 months to 6 years. Palna is implemented with a funding ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and State Governments/UTs with legislatures, and 90:10 for North East Special Category States. UTs without legislatures receive 100% funding from the central government.
As of July 23, 2025, 2,448 AWCCs have been made operational by 23 States and UTs. The Minister of State for Women and Child Development, Smt. Savitri Thakur, provided this information to the Lok Sabha. (SSMS Release ID: 2151467)
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Women and Child Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for policies related to women and children.
Rajiv Gandhi National Crche Scheme: A central sector scheme for children of working mothers, also known as RGNCS.
Central Social Welfare Board: An organization (CSWB) that implemented the Rajiv Gandhi National Crche Scheme.
Indian Council for Child Welfare: A voluntary organization (ICCW) that implemented the Rajiv Gandhi National Crche Scheme.
Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh: A voluntary organization (BAJSS) that implemented the Rajiv Gandhi National Crche Scheme.
National Crche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers: A centrally sponsored scheme, also known as NCS, that provided crèche services.
Mission Shakti: Umbrella scheme under which Palna scheme was launched.
Palna scheme: A centrally sponsored scheme implemented under Samarthya vertical of Mission Shakti, to provide quality crèche facility.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
14,599 Anganwadi cum Creches approved by the
Ministry of Women and Child Development as per
proposals received from various States and UTs
Posted On: 01 AUG 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi
Rajiv Gandhi National Crèche Scheme (RGNCS) for the Children of Working Mothers was launched as a
st
central sector scheme w.e.f. 1 January 2006 by merging the National Crèche Fund with the Scheme of
Assistance to Voluntary Organizations for crèches for Working/Ailing Women’s Children. The Scheme was
implemented through the Central Social Welfare Board (CSWB) and two voluntary organizations, namely
Indian Council for Child Welfare (ICCW) and Bhartiya Adim Jati Sevak Sangh (BAJSS) in States and UTs.
The fund sharing pattern of the scheme between Centre and Implementing Agency was in a ratio of 90:10.
State Governments and UT Administrations were not the stakeholders in the scheme, so monitoring and
st
supervision were inadequate. Subsequently, RGNCS was discontinued w.e.f. 31 December 2016.
From 01.01.2017 to 31.03.2022, the Crèche services were provided by the Ministry of Women and Child
Development through the erstwhile ‘National Crèche Scheme for Children of Working Mothers’ (NCS), a
Centrally Sponsored Scheme, wherein Stand-alone Crèches were being operated through NGOs as
implementing agencies, with the added feature of States’ share and UTs’ share to ensure better local
monitoring.
The Ministry introduced Palna scheme under Samarthya vertical of umbrella Mission Shakti w.e.f.
01 April 2022, to provide quality crèche facility in safe and secure environment for children (from
ages 6 months – 6 years). Palna is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme and is implemented with a
funding ratio of 60:40 between Centre and State Governments and UTs with legislature except
North East & Special Category States where ratio is 90:10. For UTs without legislature, 100%
funding is provided by the central government.
Anganwadi centres are the world's largest childcare institutions dedicated to providing essential care and
support to children ensuring delivery of care facilities to the last mile. In a first of its kind approach, Ministry
has extended the services of childcare through Anganwadi cum Crèches (AWCCs).
As on 23.07.2025 a total of 14,599 AWCCs have been approved by the Ministry as per proposals received
from various States and UTs, out of them 2448 AWCCs have been made operational by 23 States and UTs.
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.
****
SS/MS
(Release ID: 2151467)