Key facts

  • ICDS was launched on 2 October 1975 by the Government of India as an integrated early childhood development programme.
  • ICDS targets children below 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers and, through linked components, adolescent girls.
  • Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is the umbrella nutrition and Anganwadi strengthening framework of the Ministry of Women and Child Developmen...

Key Points at a Glance

  1. 1

    ICDS was launched on 2 October 1975 by the Government of India as an integrated early childhood development programme.

  2. 2

    The Ministry of Women and Child Development is the nodal Union ministry for ICDS and Anganwadi Services.

  3. 3

    ICDS targets children below 6 years, pregnant women, lactating mothers and, through linked components, adolescent girls.

  4. 4

    The six ICDS services are supplementary nutrition, immunization, health check-up, referral services, pre-school non-formal education, and nutrition and health education.

  5. 5

    Anganwadi Centres are the service delivery points, while Anganwadi Workers and Anganwadi Helpers are the key frontline functionaries.

  6. 6

    Immunization, health check-up and referral services depend on convergence with the public health system under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

  7. 7

    Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 is the umbrella nutrition and Anganwadi strengthening framework of the Ministry of Women and Child Development.

MAHILA SUPERVISOR study hubView study packs

Origin and basic idea of ICDS

Integrated Child Development Services, commonly called ICDS, is one of India's most important welfare programmes for child development and maternal support. It was launched on 2 October 1975 to respond to malnutrition, poor early childhood care, low health awareness and weak access to basic services among young children and mothers. The word "integrated" is central: ICDS does not treat nutrition, health, learning and counselling as separate concerns, but brings them together through one local platform.

For an objective exam, the first fact to remember is the institutional identity of the scheme. ICDS is a centrally sponsored programme administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, with implementation through States and Union Territories. Its field identity is the Anganwadi Centre, usually located close to the community. In Rajasthan, as in other states, Anganwadi Centres form the local contact point for nutrition, early childhood activities, health awareness and basic linkage with health services.

The exam-ready takeaway is this: ICDS is a 1975 integrated child development programme delivered mainly through Anganwadi Centres under the Women and Child Development system.

Open the complete note

This public page shows the first available section. The study pack opens the complete topic with all revision material.

7 more sections in the complete note

Open study pack