Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 Launched with Dietary Diversity Focus

The Union Ministry of Women and Child Development launched the 9th edition of Rashtriya Poshan Maah on 9 September 2026. The month-long campaign will run from 9 September to 8 October 2026 and focuses on dietary diversity, protein intake, and community-led nutrition delivery through Anganwadi Centres.

Rashtriya Poshan Maah

Rashtriya Poshan Maah is a national nutrition campaign observed under the Poshan Abhiyaan framework. The 2026 edition uses the theme “Hamari Anganwadi, Hamari Jimmedari”, which places Anganwadi Centres at the centre of nutrition awareness, early childhood care, and maternal health services.

Anganwadi Centres and Nutrition Services

India has over 14 lakh Anganwadi Centres that provide health and nutrition services to more than 7.5 crore children and 1.10 crore pregnant and lactating women. Anganwadi Centres function under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) system and deliver supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, health referral support, and nutrition counselling. In Uttar Pradesh, Anganwadi Workers use smartphones for real-time data entry on hot cooked meals. Digital monitoring in nutrition programmes is used for recording service delivery, meal distribution, and beneficiary-related data at the local level.

Supplementary Nutrition Programme and Dietary Diversity

The Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) provides food support to children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers through Anganwadi Centres. New directives require Anganwadi Centres to display SNP Menu Boards, which list daily meal allocations and entitlements under the programme. The 2026 campaign places emphasis on dietary diversity, which includes millets, pulses, seeds, milk, and animal-source foods. Protein intake is a key nutrition indicator in child and maternal health programmes because protein is required for growth, tissue repair, and body maintenance.

Important Facts for Exams

• Rashtriya Poshan Maah is observed every year in India as a national nutrition campaign.
• Anganwadi Centres operate under the Integrated Child Development Services scheme.
• The Supplementary Nutrition Programme is linked to nutrition support for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers.
• Millets, pulses, seeds, milk, and animal-source foods are part of dietary diversity in nutrition planning.

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

The campaign framework links nutrition initiatives with the 10th anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. The scheme has disbursed ₹21,000 crore to 4.65 crore mothers over the past decade.