Ministry of Women and Child Development launched 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 on 9 September 2026 at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
Theme: “Hamari Anganwadi Hamari Jimmedari”
The month-long nationwide campaign places Anganwadi Centres at the centre of community-led nutrition, healthcare and early childhood development. It will be conducted across all States and Union Territories (UTs) through activities at Anganwadi centres, schools, panchayats and households.
Five Focus Areas of Poshan Maah 2026
| Focus area | Major initiatives |
| Dietary diversity & protein | Healthy-recipe demonstrations using affordable, locally available ingredients; Poshan Melas and promotion of protein-rich foods |
| Fresh hot-cooked meals | Weekly menu rotation using millets, pulses and seasonal vegetables, with community participation in demonstrations and tasting |
| Community ownership & accountability | Operationalisation of Anganwadi Management Committees (AMCs); at least one AMC meeting at every centre during Poshan Maah |
| Nutrition & early childhood development | Home visits and responsive caregiving for 0–3-year-olds; monitoring of 34 developmental milestones; play-based learning and Aadharshila activities for 3–6-year-olds |
| 10 years of PMMVY | 100% saturation drive to enrol eligible pregnant and lactating women and speed up Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) |
Key Measures
Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) Menu Boards will be displayed at Anganwadi Centres to improve transparency about daily menus and entitlements.
The launch programme began with a Poshan Mela walkthrough by dignitaries and lighting of the lamp.
For children aged 0–3 years, Anganwadi Workers will conduct home visits, encourage responsive caregiving and track 34 developmental milestones. For 3–6-year-olds, centres will promote early learning through Aadharshila, play-based activities and ECCE Day under Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).
The campaign will also mark 10 years of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) through a saturation drive covering all eligible pregnant and lactating women, along with faster DBT delivery. A PMMVY Toolkit will also be introduced for localisation by States and UTs.
Poshan Abhiyaan and Vision of Suposhit Bharat
Poshan Abhiyaan, launched in 2018, made nutrition a central part of India’s development agenda. Rashtriya Poshan Maah is observed every September as a nationwide Jan Andolan.
The 2026 campaign seeks to advance the vision of a “Suposhit Bharat” as the foundation of Viksit Bharat 2047, reinforcing the idea that ensuring proper nutrition and child development is a shared responsibility.