Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 Key Highlights
9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah is being observed throughout September 2026 under the overarching theme: “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari” (Our Anganwadi, Our Responsibility)
The major shift this year is towards making the Anganwadi Centre a community-owned hub for nutrition, early childhood care and development, rather than viewing nutrition merely as food supplementation.
It is conducted under the broader framework of Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0 / POSHAN Abhiyaan, using the Jan Andolan approach for community mobilisation and behaviour change.
5 key focus areas
- Dietary Diversity & Adequate Protein
- Promote diverse diets using cereals/millets, pulses, fruits & vegetables, nuts/seeds and milk/animal-source foods.
- Special emphasis on adequate protein intake.
- Fresh & Diverse Hot Cooked Meals (HCM)
- Improve quality and diversity of Hot Cooked Meals under Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP)at Anganwadi Centres.
- Encourage menu rotation, locally available foods, hygiene and quality assurance.
- Community Ownership & Accountability
- Strengthen Anganwadi Management Committees (AMCs).
- Greater community participation in monitoring Anganwadi services.
- SNP Menu Boards to improve transparency regarding meals and nutrition entitlements.
- Nutrition + Early Childhood Development
- Stronger linkage between nutrition, cognitive development, early stimulation and ECCE.
- Reinforces the principle that “what a child eats” influences “how a child grows and learns.”
- Builds on Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi and the importance of early childhood.
- 10 Years of PMMVY
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) completes 10 years.
- Focus on maternity benefits, maternal nutrition, health-seeking behaviour and support during pregnancy.
- Links maternal nutrition with the critical first 1,000 days of life.
