The Ministry of Women and Child Development has announced the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah, or National Nutrition Month, to be launched on September 9, 2026, in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. This month-long campaign aims to strengthen nutrition awareness and behaviour change among pregnant women, nursing mothers, children, adolescents and their families. The initiative operates under Mission Poshan 2.0, the government’s unified national nutrition mission.
What the campaign focuses on
The 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah carries the central theme “Hamari Anganwadi Hamari Jimmedari,” placing Anganwadi centres at the core of community-driven nutrition action. The campaign emphasises five key priorities:
- Promoting dietary diversity with emphasis on adequate protein intake from both plant and animal sources, including pulses, nuts, seeds, milk products and eggs
- Ensuring fresh, diverse and hygienic hot cooked meals at Anganwadi centres through weekly menu rotation and quality assurance measures
- Strengthening community ownership through newly formed Anganwadi Management Committees and display of meal menu boards for transparency
- Linking nutrition to early childhood cognitive development, emphasising how proper nutrition supports brain development in children aged 0 to 6 years
- Expanding coverage of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), which marks 10 years as India’s flagship maternity cash transfer scheme providing income support and promoting maternal health-seeking behaviours
The campaign will include activities such as recipe demonstrations using locally available foods, Poshan Melas showcasing nutritious local produce, quality testing of meals in collaboration with food safety authorities, and community tasting sessions at Anganwadi centres. States and union territories will be encouraged to operationalise weekly menu rotations and conduct at least one Anganwadi Management Committee meeting during Poshan Maah.
What this means for you
If you are a mother, a caregiver or have young children, this campaign affects you through your local Anganwadi centre. Improved meal diversity, transparent menus and community involvement mean better nutrition services for your children and family. If you are a pregnant or nursing woman eligible for PMMVY, the month-long saturation drive will help identify and enrol eligible beneficiaries to receive cash transfers. Communities will also gain more awareness about affordable ways to add protein-rich foods to daily diets and the link between nutrition and early child development.