Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 has provisioned Supplementary Nutrition - 7th August 2026 - Ministry of Women and Child Development - Gazette Notification PDF
Issued by Ministry of Women and Child Development
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Women and Child Development on 7th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary & Key Takeaways
Executive Summary Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 has introduced comprehensive guidelines to enhance the quality, diversity, and acceptability of supplementary nutrition for children, women, and adolescent girls. These guidelines transition from calorie-specific norms to a diet-diversity model emphasizing protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients. Key action items include the formulation of state-specific recipes by States/UTs and the mandatory conduct of monthly community-based events by Anganwadi Workers.
Key Points / Main Content
Nutrition Norms and Delivery
- Revised Standards: Nutrition norms (revised January 2023) have shifted from being calorie-specific to comprehensive, focusing on diet diversity including quality protein, healthy fats, and micronutrients (Calcium, Zinc, Iron, Folate, and Vitamins A, B6, and B-12).
- Delivery Formats: Supplementary nutrition is provided through Take-Home Ration (THR), Morning Snacks, and Hot Cooked Meals (HCM).
- Special Provisions: Severely Acute Malnourished (SAM) children (6 months to 5 years) receive additional nutrition in the form of THR.
State Flexibility and Local Integration
- Menu Design: States and UTs are granted full flexibility to design menus based on local food habits, cultural preferences, and the availability of indigenous ingredients.
- Ingredient Focus: Encouragement of the use of locally available cereals, millets, pulses, vegetables, and nuts to improve beneficiary acceptance.
- Technical Consultation: States are advised to consult nutrition experts and institutes like ICMR-NIN and Agricultural Universities to formulate regional recipes.
Health Education and Awareness
- Dietary Guidelines: Programs focus on reducing consumption of edible oils, salt, and sugars, aligning with the ICMR-NIN Dietary Guidelines for Indians, 2024.
- Caregiver Counseling: Guidelines emphasize educating caregivers on age-appropriate complementary feeding practices.
- Community Mobilization: Behavioral change is driven through "Jan Andolans" (Poshan Maah and Poshan Pakhwada) and Community Based Events (CBEs).
Impact Analysis
States and Union Territories Impact They are responsible for the local implementation and customization of the nutritional program to ensure maximum acceptability. Action Required Consult with technical institutes and nutrition experts to formulate state-specific recipes using indigenous ingredients.
Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) Impact AWWs serve as the primary drivers for community mobilization and reporting. Action Required Mandated to conduct two Community Based Events (CBEs) every month and report them via the Poshan Tracker.
Caregivers Impact Caregivers are the primary targets for health education and behavioral change initiatives. Action Required Participate in counseling sessions regarding age-appropriate feeding and adopt dietary changes to reduce oil, salt, and sugar intake.
Beneficiaries (Children, Pregnant/Lactating Women, Adolescent Girls) Impact Directly affected by the shift toward a more balanced, micronutrient-rich, and culturally appropriate diet. Action Required Adopt improved nutritional habits and consume the diverse food options provided under the revised guidelines.