Building the Viksit Bharat Generation: Why Early Childhood Care Is India’s Most Critical Investment

When Indians imagine the country in 2047, the centenary of Independence, the picture is often dominated by gleaming infrastructure, high-speed connectivity and a $40-trillion economy. But the real foundation of a Viksit Bharat will not be built only with steel and concrete. It will be built in the minds of children who are being born today — the citizens who will be in their early twenties in 2047. How India invests in the first six years of their lives will largely determine whether that economic vision becomes reality.

Why the first six years matter more than we think

Science leaves little room for ambiguity: nearly 85% of brain development happens before the age of six. These years shape cognitive ability, emotional regulation, social skills and lifelong learning capacity. Economists, too, make a compelling case. Studies show that every rupee invested in early childhood development yields returns of up to thirteen rupees through higher future earnings and productivity.

Beyond economics lies a moral imperative. A child’s life chances should not be determined by where they are born or how much their parents earn. Yet, this is precisely what happens when early learning and care are inadequate or inaccessible.

India’s silent advantage: the anganwadi network

Over the past five decades, India has quietly created one of the world’s largest childcare systems through the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). More than 25 lakh anganwadi workers and helpers — a workforce comparable in size to the Army and the Railways combined — serve over 10 crore mothers and children under six.

Despite this scale, anganwadis are still widely perceived as “porridge centres”. Nutrition is essential, but it is only one part of early childhood development. As household incomes rise and more women join the workforce, expectations from the system have evolved. Parents increasingly want safe, full-day spaces where children can learn, play and grow — and where mothers can work without anxiety.

The cost of inaction: children entering school unprepared

The gap between aspiration and reality is stark. Nearly one crore children aged three to six are not enrolled in any early learning system. Many enter Class 1 unable to recognise letters or numbers, putting them at a permanent disadvantage. By the time these learning gaps become visible, it is often too late to fully reverse them.

This failure undermines not only individual potential but also the broader ambition of building a skilled, productive workforce for the future economy.

Reimagining anganwadis as ‘Bhavishya Bhavans’

India does not need to build a new system from scratch; it needs to upgrade the one it already has. The proposal is to transform anganwadi centres into ‘Bhavishya Bhavans’ — literal creators of the future — by launching a National Mission on Early Childhood Development, Care and Education (ECDCE).

Such a mission would expand anganwadis into seven-hour, full-day childcare and learning hubs. Workers would be rebranded and retrained as early childhood educators and advisors, equipped with modern tools, better pay structures and professional recognition. The focus would shift from survival alone to holistic development — cognitive, social, emotional and physical.

Proof that it can work

This vision is not hypothetical. States such as Telangana have already piloted extended-hour anganwadi models with encouraging results. At the national level, the Ministry of Women and Child Development has begun laying the groundwork through initiatives like Poshan Bhi Padhai Bhi and play-based curricula such as Navchetana and Aadharshila.

These efforts show that reform is possible — and scalable — if backed by political will and sustained investment.

The “triple dividend” of early childhood investment

A robust ECDCE system delivers what economists describe as a triple dividend. First, it restores dignity and aspiration to the 25 lakh women who power the anganwadi network. With better training, full-day employment and recognition as educators, this workforce can become a transformative grassroots force.

Second, it gives every child — regardless of geography or income — a strong foundation for life. Early stimulation shapes not just academic outcomes but also emotional resilience and social behaviour.

Third, it strengthens the care economy. Reliable childcare enables women to participate in the labour force, raises household incomes and fuels local economic growth. Countries that invested early in childcare — from Sweden to South Korea — also built more inclusive and resilient economies.

From survival to thriving: the next phase

For decades, India’s early childhood programme focused rightly on reducing malnutrition and mortality, saving millions of lives. The next challenge is to ensure children do more than survive — that they thrive.

This requires investment in both hardware and software. Child-friendly classrooms, inclusive infrastructure, playgrounds, learning materials and indigenous toys must be paired with continuous mentoring for educators and parents. Technology platforms such as WhatsApp and the Poshan Tracker can support training, monitoring and parental engagement at scale.

Why trust and community engagement are crucial

Ultimately, no reform will succeed without trust. Parents must believe that their local anganwadi is safe, caring and capable. Communities must see these centres as institutions of pride. This calls for a nationwide movement — through public campaigns, local events and peer networks — to normalise early enrolment, just as vaccination has been normalised.

The message is simple but powerful: early learning is as essential as early nutrition.

A national priority for a national ambition

Given its transformative potential, the ECDCE Mission must be treated as a national priority — anchored by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, led from the highest political level, and coordinated across health, education, nutrition and labour.

The Viksit Bharat generation is already here. Whether India realises its 2047 vision will depend on a choice made today: to invest decisively in the earliest years, and to recognise that the strongest economy begins with the youngest minds.