Key Terms & Concepts — UPSC Mains
POSHAN 2.0
"India's umbrella nutrition programme launched in 2021, integrating ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, National Creche Scheme, and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls under the Ministry of Women and Child Development."
POSHAN 2.0 (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman) is the flagship national nutrition programme launched in 2021 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). It consolidates four earlier schemes into a single convergent framework: 1. POSHAN Abhiyaan (National Nutrition Mission) — launched 2018, aimed to reduce stunting, wasting, undernutrition, and anaemia among children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through behaviour change, technology, and community mobilisation. 2. Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) — India's largest child development programme since 1975; provides supplementary nutrition, health checkups, immunisation, pre-school education, and health referrals through ~14 lakh Anganwadi Centres (AWCs). 3. National Creche Scheme — day-care for children of working mothers. 4. Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG/SABLA) — nutrition and life-skills for adolescent girls. Key delivery mechanism: Anganwadi Centres (~14 lakh nationwide) staffed by Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and Helpers — the frontline of India's child nutrition response. Targets: POSHAN 2.0 aims to reduce stunting by 2% per year, wasting by 2% per year, low birth weight by 2% per year, and anaemia in children and women by 3% per year. Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month): September; Poshan Pakhwada (Nutrition Fortnight): April — both are mass outreach campaigns under POSHAN 2.0. India's nutrition burden (NFHS-5, 2019-21): 35.5% children stunted, 19.3% wasted, 32.1% underweight, 67.1% anaemic (children 6-59 months).
Highly relevant for UPSC GS2 (Social Justice, Government Schemes) and GS1 (Population, Women). Prelims: launch year (2021), full name (Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman), constituent schemes (ICDS, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Creche, SAG), delivery through AWCs. Mains: India's nutrition paradox (economic growth but high malnutrition), Anganwadi as frontline institution, first 1,000-day window, NFHS-5 data, and convergence approach to nutrition. Poshan Pakhwada 8th edition (April 2026) had theme: 'Maximising Brain Development in the First Six Years of Life.'
- 1 Launch year: 2021 (POSHAN Abhiyaan launched 2018; POSHAN 2.0 replaced it in 2021)
- 2 Full name: Pradhan Mantri Poshan Shakti Nirman
- 3 Ministry: Women and Child Development (MoWCD)
- 4 Integrates: ICDS + POSHAN Abhiyaan + National Creche Scheme + Scheme for Adolescent Girls
- 5 ~14 lakh Anganwadi Centres nationwide — primary delivery network
- 6 Targets: 2% annual reduction in stunting and wasting; 3% annual reduction in anaemia
- 7 NFHS-5 baseline: 35.5% stunted, 19.3% wasted, 67.1% children anaemic
- 8 Poshan Maah: September; Poshan Pakhwada: April — mass community campaigns
The 8th edition of Poshan Pakhwada (April 9–23, 2026), conducted under POSHAN 2.0, focused on the theme 'Maximising Brain Development in the First Six Years of Life' — drawing attention to the first 1,000 days (conception to age 2) as the most critical window for nutrition intervention. Anganwadi workers across India conducted community events, growth monitoring, and nutrition counselling during the fortnight.
