**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Women and Child Development has implemented a Facial Recognition System (FRS) within the Poshan Tracker Application to monitor the last-mile distribution of Take-Home Rations (THR). This initiative, under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, aims to ensure benefits reach intended beneficiaries while eliminating leakages and ghost entries through Aadhaar-based identification. As of February 2026, the program achieved a 97.01% completion rate for e-KYC and face capture among registered beneficiaries.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**System Implementation and Objectives**
* **Facial Recognition Integration:** FRS is integrated into the Poshan Tracker App to track THR distribution.
* **Leakage Prevention:** Aadhaar-based tracking is utilized to identify beneficiaries accurately, prevent leakages, and remove ghost entries from the system.
* **Program Scope:** Mission Poshan 2.0 serves children under 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls (ages 14–18) in Northeastern States and Aspirational Districts.
**Statistical Progress**
* **Initial Adoption:** As of July 31, 2025, approximately 68.98% (3.51 crore) of beneficiaries had completed e-KYC and face capture.
* **Current Status:** By February 2026, adoption increased to 97.01%, representing 4.63 crore beneficiaries out of a total of 4.77 crore.
**Training and Capacity Building**
* **Worker Support:** The National e-Governance Division (NeGD) provides regular FRS training and instructional videos to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) through state coordinators.
* **Master Trainers:** Under the "Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi" initiative, the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD) trains State Level Master Trainers (SLMTs).
* **Training Volume:** As of March 18, 2026, 3,901 SLMTs have been trained to provide field-level instruction to AWWs.
**Operational Responsibility**
* **State/UT Role:** While the central ministry provides the framework, the responsibility for service delivery and implementation of activities lies with individual States and Union Territories.
**Impact Analysis**
**Beneficiaries**
**Impact**
They must undergo digital verification to receive rations, ensuring that benefits are not diverted to unauthorized individuals.
**Action Required**
Complete e-KYC and face capture registration within the Poshan Tracker Application.
**Anganwadi Workers (AWWs)**
**Impact**
Their workflow now includes digital tracking and facial recognition protocols for distributing rations.
**Action Required**
Participate in regular training sessions provided by NeGD and SLMTs, and utilize training videos to master the FRS interface.
**State and Union Territory Governments**
**Impact**
They are the primary entities responsible for the ground-level execution of the Poshan 2.0 scheme and its technological components.
**Action Required**
Manage the delivery of services and ensure the effective implementation of the Poshan Tracker system within their jurisdictions.
**State Level Master Trainers (SLMTs)**
**Impact**
They serve as the critical link in the knowledge transfer chain between the Ministry and field workers.
**Action Required**
Undergo training by SPNIWCD and subsequently train Anganwadi Workers in the field on the use of FRS.
Key Entities Referenced
Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0: The overarching umbrella scheme for nutrition and child development under which the digital tracking systems are implemented.
Poshan Tracker Application: The digital platform used for real-time monitoring of nutrition service delivery and the identification of beneficiaries.
Facial Recognition System (FRS): A technological tool integrated into the Poshan Tracker for last-mile tracking of Take-Home Ration distribution and beneficiary authentication.
Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB): An initiative under which training is provided to personnel, including State Level Master Trainers, on the implementation of the tracking system.
Ministry of Women and Child Development
Facial Recognition System developed in Poshan
Tracker Application for last mile tracking of Take-
Home Ration distribution
Posted On: 25 MAR 2026 3:39PM by PIB Delhi
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and
Poshan 2.0 has developed Facial Recognition System (FRS) in Poshan Tracker Application. For last mile
tracking of Take-Home Ration distribution and to ensure that benefit is given only to the intended
beneficiary registered in the application. The Aadhaar based tracking has also enabled proper
identification of beneficiaries, prevention of leakages and eliminating ghost entries.
As on 31st July 2025, out of total 5,10,24,888 beneficiaries, 3,51,97,271 (68.98%) had completed e-KYC
and face capture. While, as of February 2026, out of total 4,77,88,108 beneficiaries, 4,63,58,376 (97.01%)
had completed e-KYC and face capture.
Regular training is being provided to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) by National e-Governance Division
(NeGD) through state coordinators on FRS. Training videos are also shared with Anganwadi Workers
(AWWs) to support their learning. Further, under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi (PBPB), training is being
conducted by the Savitribai Phule National Institute of Women and Child Development (SPNIWCD,
MoWCD) to State Level Master Trainers (SLMTs) who in turn train Anganwadi Workers in the field. As
of 18.03.2026, 3901 State Level Master Trainers (SLMTs) have been trained.
The Mission Poshan 2.0 is a universal self-selecting umbrella scheme, open to all eligible beneficiaries,
i.e. children under 6 years of age, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls (14-18 years of
age in Northeastern States and Aspirational Districts of the country). The responsibility for
implementation of various activities, including delivery of services lies with the States and UTs.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Women and Child Development Smt. Savitri
Thakur in Rajya Sabha in reply to a question.
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SS
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