The country’s 9th National Nutrition Month (Rashtriya Poshan Maah) begins today (September 9). This year, under the theme ‘Our Anganwadi, Our Responsibility,’ special emphasis will be placed on dietary diversity, adequate protein intake, maternal nutrition, early childhood development, and quality nutrition services at Anganwadi centres. The launch event will take place at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The campaign aims to strengthen nutrition, health, and care-related behaviours among pregnant women, lactating mothers, children, adolescents, and their families.
Anganwadi Centres to Become Hubs of Community Action
Under National Nutrition Month 2026, the goal is to transform Anganwadi centres into hubs for community-led activities focused on nutrition, care, and early childhood development. This year’s theme calls upon every citizen to foster a sense of shared responsibility and ownership regarding Anganwadi centres.
Focus on Five Key Priorities
The campaign will be driven by five key priorities: dietary diversity and adequate protein intake; the provision of fresh, hot, cooked meals at Anganwadi centers; community ownership and accountability; nutrition for early childhood development; and the promotion of maternal health through the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.
Emphasis on Local Foods and Protein
Dietary diversity initiatives will promote the consumption of adequate protein alongside cereals and millets, pulses, fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, and dairy products. Activities such as demonstrations of nutritious dishes made from local and affordable ingredients, nutrition fairs, and awareness campaigns regarding protein-rich foods will be organised at Anganwadi centres.
Promoting Produce from Nutrition Gardens (Poshan Vatikas)
Seasonal food produce from nutrition gardens will be showcased during the campaign. Families will be encouraged to incorporate these foods into their regular home meals and as complementary food for young children. The objective is to foster diverse and balanced dietary habits from an early age. Emphasis on the Quality of Fresh, Hot Meals at Anganwadi Centres
Special attention will be paid to providing fresh, diverse, and nutritious hot cooked meals to children and other beneficiaries under the Supplementary Nutrition Programme. States and Union Territories will be encouraged to implement a rotating weekly menu that incorporates local ingredients, millets, pulses, and seasonal vegetables.
Food Quality Checks in Collaboration with FSSAI
Nationwide quality testing will be conducted in ‘mission mode’ in collaboration with the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) to ensure the quality and safety of hot cooked meals. Live demonstrations regarding meal preparation, hygiene standards, and the composition of balanced meals will also be conducted at Anganwadi centres.
Community Monitoring of Meal Quality
Community-based ‘tasting sessions’ for hot cooked meals will be organised with the participation of parents, Panchayats, self-help groups, and Anganwadi Management Committees. The objective is to strengthen community oversight regarding meal quality, quantity, adherence to the menu, and the regularity of service delivery.
Activation of Anganwadi Management Committees
Emphasis will be placed on activating the Anganwadi Management Committees—constituted under the guidelines issued on June 23, 2026—during Poshan Maah (Nutrition Month). A target has been set to hold at least one committee meeting at every Anganwadi centre. These committees will assist in reviewing nutrition services, fostering community participation, and supporting campaign-related activities.
Enhanced Transparency through SNP Menu Boards
Emphasis will be placed on displaying Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) menu boards at all Anganwadi centres. This will inform beneficiaries about the daily menu for hot cooked meals and ‘Take-Home Rations,’ while also strengthening community monitoring of food quality and service delivery.
Focus on Nutrition and Brain Development in Early Years
The campaign will prominently highlight the deep interconnection between a child’s nutrition and their learning process. Adequate nutrition and responsive care during the first 1,000 days of life are crucial for optimal brain development. Anganwadi workers will provide counselling to families regarding early stimulation, developmental monitoring, and proper care.
Identification and Referral of Children with Developmental Delays
Emphasis will be placed on identifying children with developmental delays and referring them to appropriate health services in coordination with health systems and RBSK teams. Monitoring of developmental milestones for children aged 0 to 3 years and counselling on caregiving practices will be strengthened through a revised home visit schedule.
Special Campaign Marking 10 Years of PMMVY
The completion of 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) will be highlighted during the National Nutrition Month (Rashtriya Poshan Maah) in 2026. The scheme promotes maternal nutrition, health-related behaviours, and income support during pregnancy. A special drive will be conducted to identify and register all eligible pregnant and lactating women.
Awareness Regarding PMMVY Benefits
Public awareness campaigns will be conducted regarding PMMVY eligibility, benefits, instalments, and the application process. There will also be a focus on expediting the processes of verification, approval, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) by reviewing pending cases. Efforts will be made to promote and disseminate the content of the PMMVY toolkit across various languages.
Emphasis on transforming nutrition into a ‘Jan Andolan’ (people’s movement)
The objective of the Poshan Abhiyaan is to transform nutrition improvement into a Jan Andolan rather than limiting it to a mere government program. Community participation is considered crucial for bringing about lasting behavioural changes regarding infant feeding, dietary diversity, prenatal care, hand hygiene, and the demand for institutional health services.
8th Poshan Pakhwada held in April
The 8th Poshan Pakhwada (Nutrition Fortnight) of 2026 was organised from April 9 to April 23. Its central theme was ‘Optimal brain development during the first six years of life.’ The campaign went beyond the basic concept of nutrition for health to emphasise the interlinkages between nutrition, early childhood care, and optimal brain development.
14.33 crore activities conducted in 2025
The 8th National Nutrition Month (Rashtriya Poshan Maah) was launched on September 17, 2025, from Dhar, Madhya Pradesh. During this period, emphasis was placed on topics such as nutrition literacy, healthy lifestyles, maternal nutrition, infant and young child feeding, early childhood care and education, and reducing the consumption of sugar and oil. A total of 14.33 crore activities were organised across the country with the collaboration of more than 20 ministries.
Real-time monitoring via Poshan Tracker
Launched on March 1, 2021, the Poshan Tracker is a key digital platform for monitoring Anganwadi services and the nutrition delivery system. It provides near real-time data on the opening of Anganwadi centres, daily attendance of children, early childhood care and education activities, and growth monitoring.
Network of 13.99 lakh Anganwadi centres
As of July 31, 2026, there are approximately 13.99 lakh Anganwadi centres in the country, staffed by 13.30 lakh Anganwadi workers. This network reaches approximately 8.94 crore beneficiaries. This includes over 72 million children aged six months to six years, while the number of pregnant women and lactating mothers stands at approximately 11 million.
Goal: A Healthy Family and a Malnutrition-Free India
Through Rashtriya Poshan Maah (National Nutrition Month), large-scale community participation and technology-based monitoring are being advanced simultaneously. Under Mission Poshan 2.0, the campaign aims to address gaps in nutrition services, promote dietary diversity, and move towards a healthy, malnutrition-free India by prioritising nutrition and development during a child’s early years.
