Building futures
Anganwadis are the frontline delivery mechanism of India's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and are central to questions on child nutrition, cognitive development, and social justice. The theme of holistic early intervention connects to schemes like POSHAN Abhiyaan and the National Education Policy 2020's emphasis on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE). UPSC frequently tests linkages between nutritional outcomes, cognitive development, and India's human capital formation.
Key facts
- Anganwadis are community-level centres under the ICDS scheme, launched in 1975, targeting children 0-6 years.
- India has approximately 1.4 million Anganwadi centres serving over 100 million beneficiaries.
- NEP 2020 mandates universal access to quality Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) by 2030.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan (2018) targets stunting reduction to 25% and underweight to 29% by 2022 among children under 5.
- Studies show interventions in the first 1,000 days (conception to age 2) have the highest return on human capital investment.
- Saksham Anganwadi initiative under Mission POSHAN 2.0 aims to upgrade Anganwadis into vibrant early childhood development hubs.
The article discusses the importance of early childhood development and how Anganwadis can help boost cognitive development through holistic early intervention.
Concepts to know
Launched in 1975, ICDS is one of India's flagship programmes delivering nutrition, health, and education services to children under 6, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through Anganwadi centres.
Also called National Nutrition Mission (2018), it aims to reduce stunting, undernutrition, anaemia, and low birth weight among children, adolescent girls, and pregnant/lactating women through a convergence approach.
ECCE refers to holistic development of children from birth to age 8 covering cognitive, social, emotional, and physical dimensions. NEP 2020 emphasises universal ECCE as foundational to lifelong learning.
Launched in 2021 by merging ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and National Crèche Scheme under the Umbrella ICDS to strengthen nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and outcomes.
An initiative under Mission POSHAN 2.0 to upgrade Anganwadi centres with better infrastructure, digital tools, and trained workers to make them vibrant ECCE hubs.
The process of improving the quality of human resources through education, health, and nutrition; early childhood investment is considered the highest-return investment in human capital as per economists like James Heckman.
Linked previous-year questions
The UPSC questions this story connects to.
Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy: 1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women. 2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of child-birth. 3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents. 4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four
- a.Only one
- b.Only two
- c.Only three ✓
- d.All four
Current Affairs · UPSC 2023With reference to Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, consider the following statements: 1. It is the flagship scheme of the Ministry of Labour and Employment. 2. It, among other things, will also impart training in soft skills, entrepreneurship, financial and digital literacy. 3. It aims to align the competencies of the unregulated workforce of the country to the National Qualification Skill Framework. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) 1 and 3 only (b) 2 only (c) 2 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
- a.1 and 3 only
- b.2 only
- c.2 and 3 only ✓
- d.1, 2 and 3
Economy · UPSC 2018Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana: 1. It is a safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments. 2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women. 3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women. 4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age. How many of the statements given above are correct? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) Only three (d) All four
- a.Only one
- b.Only two ✓
- c.Only three
- d.All four
Current Affairs · UPSC 2023In the context of India's preparation for Climate-Smart Agriculture, consider the following statements: 1. The 'Climate-Smart Village' approach in India is a part of a project led by the Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS), an international research programme. 2. The project of CCAFS is carried out under the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) headquartered in France. 3. The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in India is one of the CGIAR's research centres. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) 1 and 2 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1 and 3 only (d) 1, 2 and 3
- a.1 and 2 only
- b.2 and 3 only
- c.1 and 3 only
- d.1, 2 and 3 ✓
Environment · UPSC 2021Consider the following pairs: Provision in the Constitution of India --- Stated under I. Separation of Judiciary from the Executive in the public services of the State --- The Directive Principles of the State Policy II. Valuing and preserving of the rich heritage of our composite culture --- The Fundamental Duties III. Prohibition of employment of children below the age of 14 years in factories --- The Fundamental Rights How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? (a) Only one (b) Only two (c) All the three (d) None
- a.Only one
- b.Only two
- c.All the three ✓
- d.None
Polity · UPSC 2025Consider the following statements about 'PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana': 1. It targets installation of one crore solar rooftop panels in the residential sector. 2. The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy aims to impart training on installation, operation, maintenance and repairs of solar rooftop systems at grassroot levels. 3. It aims to create more than three lakhs skilled manpower through fresh skilling, and up-skilling, under scheme component of capacity building. Which of the statements given above are correct? (a) I and II only (b) I and III only (c) II and III only (d) I, II and III
- a.I and II only
- b.I and III only
- c.II and III only ✓
- d.I, II and III
General Studies · UPSC 2025
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