Key facts

  • 2 October 1975: Integrated Child Development Services was launched to provide a package of health, nutrition and early childhood services through anga...
  • 2005: The National Rural Health Mission introduced ASHA as the community health activist, strengthening the link between households, anganwadi centres...
  • 2013: The National Food Security Act gave legal backing to nutritional support for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers through anganwadi-li...
  • 2017: Supplementary Nutrition Rules under the National Food Security Act specified norms for nutrition support under ICDS, including take-home ration...
  • 8 March 2018: POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched at Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, to improve nutrition outcomes through convergence, behaviour change and technology...

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    2 October 1975: Integrated Child Development Services was launched to provide a package of health, nutrition and early childhood services through anganwadi centres.

  2. 2

    2005: The National Rural Health Mission introduced ASHA as the community health activist, strengthening the link between households, anganwadi centres and health facilities.

  3. 3

    2013: The National Food Security Act gave legal backing to nutritional support for children, pregnant women and lactating mothers through anganwadi-linked services.

  4. 4

    2017: Supplementary Nutrition Rules under the National Food Security Act specified norms for nutrition support under ICDS, including take-home ration and hot cooked meals.

  5. 5

    8 March 2018: POSHAN Abhiyaan was launched at Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan, to improve nutrition outcomes through convergence, behaviour change and technology-based monitoring.

  6. 6

    2021: Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 brought anganwadi services, POSHAN Abhiyaan and nutrition support under an integrated nutrition programme.

  7. 7

    1 March 2021: The Poshan Tracker became the central digital platform for anganwadi-level service monitoring, beneficiary records, growth tracking and supply reporting under Poshan 2.0.

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Anganwadi Centre as the Service Point

The anganwadi centre is the frontline delivery unit of Integrated Child Development Services. It is not only a feeding point; it is a local service platform for children below 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls where applicable under the programme design. Its core services are supplementary nutrition, pre-school non-formal education, nutrition and health education, immunisation support, health check-up and referral services. Immunisation and health check-up are delivered in coordination with the health department, while the anganwadi worker maintains beneficiary contact and prepares the household-level base for service delivery.

For an objective exam, the most important point is the difference between direct ICDS services and linked services. Supplementary nutrition, pre-school education and nutrition education are directly associated with the anganwadi worker and the centre. Immunisation, antenatal care and treatment are health-sector services supported by the anganwadi platform through mobilisation, listing, follow-up and referral. In Rajasthan, a village or urban ward anganwadi centre may also become the visible point for Poshan Maah activities, community meetings and growth monitoring days.

Remember this distinction: the anganwadi centre is a convergence point, not a miniature hospital or school.

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