Anganwadi System Reforms & Evolution
Social Justice & Development
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
The Anganwadi system is a flagship welfare program directly impacting millions of children and women, making its effectiveness and evolution critical for social justice, human resource development, and public policy analysis. Its reforms reflect evidence-based policy-making and adaptation to new understanding of child development.
The Anganwadi system, a cornerstone of India's Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) scheme, is a network of community-based centers providing supplementary nutrition, health services, and pre-school education to children aged 0-6 years, and health and nutrition education to women. It is crucial for addressing malnutrition and promoting child welfare in rural and urban areas.
Facts & tables
- Initial Focus
- Primarily on child survival, reducing under-five mortality, and providing supplementary nutrition, health, and immunization.
- Current Shift
- Evolving towards a holistic Early Childhood Development (ECD) approach, integrating early learning and psychosocial stimulation.
- Key Initiatives
- Rollout of national frameworks like Aadharshila (strengthening play-based preschool) and Navchetana (extending early stimulation into homes).
- Coverage
- Serves approximately eight crore children (ages 0-6 years) across India.
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Social Justice & Development |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Women and Child Development | Administers and oversees the anganwadi system and icds |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Part of ICDS, covers 0-6 years.
- Shift from nutrition-only to holistic ECD.
- Aadharshila: strengthens play-based preschool.
- Navchetana: extends early stimulation to home.
- Administered by M/o WCD.
Check if created by Constitution or by Parliament.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2019 | Conceptual understanding, Terminology-based question |
| 2019 | Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Social Justice & Development
Conceptual area
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Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2019
Conceptual understanding, Terminology-based question
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Prelims 2019
Statement-based questions, Conceptual understanding
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Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2026
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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The ‘seven-point IQ opportunity’ for Indian children
The Anganwadi system, a vital component of India's ICDS, is undergoing significant reforms, shifting from a primary focus on child survival and nutrition to a more holistic Early Childhood Development (ECD) model. This evolution incorporates early learning and psychosocial stimulation through new frameworks like Aadharshila, which strengthens play-based preschool, and Navchetana, which extends early stimulation to homes. These reforms aim to enhance cognitive outcomes and empower caregivers, aligning the system with contemporary understanding of child development for a 'Viksit Bharat'.
See also
Past papers
2016–2026 · 6 questions
In the news
The ‘seven-point IQ opportunity’ for Indian children
The Anganwadi system, a vital component of India's ICDS, is undergoing significant reforms, shifting from a primary focus on child survival and nutrition to a more holistic Early Childhood Development (ECD) model. This evolution incorporates early learning and psychosocial stimulation through new frameworks like Aadharshila, which strengthens play-based preschool, and Navchetana, which extends early stimulation to homes. These reforms aim to enhance cognitive outcomes and empower caregivers, aligning the system with contemporary understanding of child development for a 'Viksit Bharat'.
Try these PYQs
With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements:
1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
2. As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately.
3. It has seamless portability across the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to provide digital health IDs for all Indian citizens to help hospitals, insurance firms, and citizens access health records electronically when required. Statement 1 is incorrect. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has not made it mandatory for adoption by private and public hospitals. Its adoption so far would be voluntary. Participation in ABDM is voluntary including for citizens. Participation of a healthcare facility or an institution is also voluntary and shall be taken by the respective management (government or private management). Statement 2 is incorrect. The aim of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is to facilitate the ease of access to medical records and it is not been mandated to have every citizen as its part though the facility is available to every citizen on a consent basis. Statement 3 is correct. ABDM will have a national footprint and will enable seamless portability across the country through a Health ID Personal Health Identifier.
Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?
1. Undernourishment
2. Child stunting
3. Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
All three indicators (1, 2, and 3) are used by IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) to compute the Global Hunger Index Report. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels. It's a peer-reviewed annual report, now jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. Purpose: To assess hunger severity and track progress towards ending hunger. Each country's GHI score is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger - Undernourishment - The share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient; - Child Stunting - The share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition; - Child Wasting - The share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition; and - Child Mortality - The share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments. Hence, option C is the correct answer.
In the context of any country, which one of the following would be considered as part of its social capitals?
Option A is incorrect: Proportion of literates in the population While education is important, it's an individual skill, not a measure of social interaction or trust.
Option B is incorrect: Stock of buildings This falls under physical capital, which refers to tangible assets like buildings and infrastructure.
Option C is incorrect: Size of population in the working age group This is a demographic factor and doesn't tell us anything about social connections or trust.
Option D is correct: Social capital refers to the intangible assets of a community or society. It's not about physical resources or demographics, but rather the quality of relationships and connections between people. Option D, the level of mutual trust and harmony, directly reflects this concept.
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana, consider the following statements:
1. The entry age group for enrolment in the scheme is 21 to 40 years.
2. Age specific contribution shall be made by the beneficiary.
3. Each subscriber under the scheme shall receive a minimum pension of ₹ 3,000 per month after attaining the age of 60 years.
4. Family pension is applicable to the spouse and unmarried daughters.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
With reference to the Pradhan Mantri Shram Yogi Maan-dhan (PM-SYM) Yojana, here's the breakdown of the statements: * Statement 1: Incorrect. The eligible age group for enrolment in the scheme is 18 to 40 years, not 21 to 40 years. This allows younger workers to join early and contribute for a longer period. * Statement 2: Correct. Beneficiaries are required to make age-specific monthly contributions, which increase with age. For instance, contributions start at ₹55 for an 18-year-old and go up to ₹200 for a 40-year-old. * Statement 3: Correct. Subscribers will receive a minimum pension of ₹3,000 per month after attaining 60 years of age. This provides social security for workers in the unorganized sector. * Statement 4: Incorrect. Family pension is available only to the spouse, who will receive 50% of the pension amount after the subscriber's death. Unmarried daughters are not eligible for this benefit.
Consider the following statements in the context of interventions being undertaken under Anaemia Mukt Bharat Strategy:
1. It provides prophylactic calcium supplementation for pre-school children, adolescents and pregnant women.
2. It runs a campaign for delayed cord clamping at the time of child-birth.
3. It provides for periodic deworming to children and adolescents.
4. It addresses non-nutritional causes of anaemia in endemic pockets with special focus on malaria, hemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
* Statement 1 is incorrect: Prophylactic Iron Folic Acid supplementation (not Prophylactic calcium) given to children, adolescents, women of reproductive age and pregnant women, irrespective of anaemia is a key continued intervention. * Statement 2 is correct: Promotion and monitoring of delayed clamping of the umbilical cord for at least 3 minutes (or until cord pulsations cease) for newborns across all health facilities will be carried out for improving the infants iron reserves up to 6 months after birth. Simultaneously, all birth attendants should make an effort to ensure early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth. * Statement 3 is correct: The Anaemia Mukt Bharat, also integrates deworming of women of reproductive age and for pregnant women as part of the NDD strategy. Bi-annual mass deworming for children in the age groups between 1-19 years is carried out on designated dates 10th February and 10th August every year under National Deworming Day (NDD) programme. * Statement 4 is correct: The Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy attempts to intensify awareness and integrate screening and treatment for non-nutritional causes of anaemia with special focus on malaria, haemoglobinopathies and fluorosis.
Show 3 more PYQs
Which of the following statements with regard to the persons with disabilities in India is/are correct ?
1. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, an Act passed by the Parliament of India in 2018, mandates reservation in education and employment, places a legal duty on Governments to ensure accessibility and non-discrimination.
2. The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains — built infrastructure, transport systems and information and communication technology.
3. The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a public sector organisation set up by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs as a not-for-profit company to promote entrepreneurship among Persons with Disabilities (PwDs).
Select the answer using the code given below :
Statement 1 is Incorrect: The Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act was passed by the Parliament of India in 2016, not 2018. It aligns with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and places a legal obligation on governments to ensure non-discrimination and accessibility. It also mandates reservations for PwDs, such as increasing the quota to 4% in government employment and 5% in higher education. Statement 2 is Correct: The Sugamya Bharat Abhiyan (Accessible India Campaign) was launched in 2015 by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). It focuses on achieving universal accessibility for Persons with Disabilities across three key domains: built infrastructure (barrier-free public buildings), transport systems (accessible railways, airports, and roads), and information and communication technology (accessible government websites and digital ecosystems). Statement 3 is Incorrect: The National Divyangjan Finance and Development Corporation (NDFDC) is a Central Public Sector Undertaking registered as a not-for-profit company to provide concessional financial assistance to promote entrepreneurship, self-employment, and higher education among PwDs. However, it was set up under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, not the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Therefore, the correct option is B.
With reference to land reforms in independent India, which one of the following statements is correct?
Land reform is a broad term: - It refers to an institutional measure directed towards altering the existing pattern of ownership, tenancy, and management of land. - It entails redistribution of the rights of ownership and/or use of land away from large landowners and in favour of cultivators with very limited or no landholdings. - At the time of independence, ownership of land was concentrated in the hands of a few. This led to the exploitation of the farmers and was a major hindrance towards the socio-economic development of the rural population. - Equal distribution of land was therefore an area of focus of Independent India's government. Laws for land ceilings were enacted in various states during the 50s & 60s, which were modified on the directives of the central government in 1972.
Consider the following in respect of ‘National Career Service’:
1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Career Service is not an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. It is actually implemented by the Directorate General of Employment, Ministry of Labour & Employment. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Career Service has indeed been launched in a Mission Mode, but it is not specifically targeted at improving the employment opportunities for uneducated youth of the country. It is a comprehensive platform providing a wide array of employment and career related services to all citizens of India, aiming to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers, candidates seeking training and career guidance, and agencies providing training and career counselling.