Upgradation of Two Lakh Anganwadi Centres into Saksham Anganwadis under Mission Poshan 2.0

Key Facts

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development approved the upgradation of two lakh Anganwadi Centres across India into Saksham Anganwadis under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0.
• Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 integrates Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission), and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls to provide improved nutrition, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), and service delivery.
• Target beneficiaries include children under 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers, and adolescent girls aged 14-18 years, especially in Aspirational Districts and the North-Eastern region.
• Infrastructure advancements in Saksham Anganwadis include LED screens for educational content, water filtration systems, Poshan Vatikas (nutrition gardens), ECCE materials, and educational paintings known as Building as Learning Aid.
• ICT tools such as the Poshan Tracker application enable real-time monitoring of Anganwadi Centres, workers, and beneficiaries. The scheme also employs Aadhaar-based verification and Facial Recognition System-based distribution of Take-Home Rations to ensure transparency and efficiency.
• As of 25 March 2026, 1,04,403 Anganwadi Centres have been upgraded to Saksham Anganwadis.
• Financial allocation of Rs. 21,960 crores was made for Mission Poshan 2.0 in the financial year 2025-26.
• Over 10 lakh Anganwadi Workers were trained under the Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi initiative by 16 March 2026 to improve service delivery quality.
• State-wise approvals for Saksham Anganwadi upgradation include Madhya Pradesh (24,662 centres), Uttar Pradesh (23,697), Karnataka (17,732), Jharkhand (16,775), Odisha (12,140), and Jammu & Kashmir (338).
• NITI Aayog conducted third-party evaluations and impact assessments of the scheme in 2020 and 2025 to monitor effectiveness.

Background & Context

Anganwadi Centres are village-level childcare and nutrition centres under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) framework in India, providing supplementary nutrition, non-formal pre-school education, and basic healthcare services to children below six years, pregnant women, and lactating mothers. To strengthen these services, the Ministry launched Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, integrating the earlier standalone schemes of Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls.

The upgradation to Saksham Anganwadis aims to improve infrastructure and learning environments, leveraging technology and enhanced service delivery mechanisms. Key innovations include use of ICT tools such as the Poshan Tracker application for real-time data collection and monitoring, Aadhaar-based beneficiary verification, and facial recognition technology to ensure effective distribution of nutrition.

Why This Matters for Exams / Exam Relevance

Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is a contemporary example of integration and enhancement in social welfare schemes focused on child development, nutrition, and women empowerment. Competitive exams often ask about flagship government schemes, their objectives, beneficiaries, implementing ministries, associated technologies, budget allocations, and evaluation mechanisms. Awareness of this scheme reflects understanding of recent policy initiatives and their multi-sectoral approaches in health and education.

Points to Remember

• Saksham Anganwadi upgradation approved for two lakh centres across India, with over one lakh completed as of March 2026.
• It integrates Anganwadi Services, Poshan Abhiyaan, and Scheme for Adolescent Girls into a single comprehensive mission.
• Focuses on children below 6, pregnant and lactating women, and adolescent girls aged 14-18 years, especially in Aspirational Districts and North-Eastern states.
• Infrastructure upgrades include LED screens, water filtration, nutrition gardens (Poshan Vatikas), ECCE materials, and educational wall painting; all enhance learning and nutrition environment.
• Use of ICT for monitoring — Poshan Tracker app, Aadhaar authentication, and facial recognition for ration distribution — ensures transparency and accountability.
• Significant financial allocation of Rs. 21,960 crore for FY 2025-26.
• Training of over 10 lakh Anganwadi workers under Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi program improves quality of service delivery.
• Evaluations by NITI Aayog in 2020 and 2025 help assess scheme impact and inform policy adjustments.