HEALTH

Poshan Pakhwada 2025: A Nation’s Commitment to Nutrition and Well-being

The 7th edition of Poshan Pakhwada is being celebrated across the country from April 8 to April 23, 2025, under the overarching vision of the Poshan Abhiyaan—India’s flagship initiative to improve nutritional outcomes for women and children by blending technology and tradition.

This year, the focus is on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, a crucial window for physical growth and brain development. The campaign promotes maternal and infant nutrition, community-based interventions, and digital access through tools like the Poshan Tracker.

Nourishing the Nation

Every child deserves a healthy beginning. Every mother, proper nourishment. Every family, access to nutritious food. Yet, malnutrition remains a pressing challenge across India. In response, the Government of India launched Poshan Abhiyaan on March 8, 2018, to adopt a life-cycle approach to nutrition—especially for women, children, and adolescents.

Poshan Pakhwada, introduced as part of this mission, has since become a powerful annual movement encouraging community participation and awareness on nutrition-related issues.

Poshan Pakhwada 2025: Themes and Focus

The 2025 edition centers around:

Maternal and child nutrition
Digital inclusion through the Poshan Tracker
Addressing childhood obesity
Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM)

This year’s activities aim to create sustainable impact by involving all levels of government, Anganwadi Centers, and local communities.

Key Activities During the Fortnight

Across ministries, departments, and Anganwadi Centers, the following initiatives are being carried out:

Promoting antenatal care, nutritious diets, and regular health checkups
Encouraging families to take a “Healthy Future” pledge
Spreading awareness about balanced diets and adequate hydration
Promoting self-registration on the Poshan Tracker App

The First 1,000 Days: A Window of Opportunity

From conception to the child’s second birthday, the first 1,000 days represent the foundation for lifelong health and development. A mother’s diet, healthcare, and emotional support during this time significantly influence her child’s physical, cognitive, and emotional growth.

This year, Poshan Pakhwada 2025 emphasizes educating families on:

Maternal nutrition
Breastfeeding practices
Traditional diets, particularly in tribal areas
Prevention of stunting and anemia

Technology Empowers Nutrition: The Poshan Tracker

The Poshan Tracker, launched in March 2021, has transformed how nutrition services are delivered and monitored in India. This AI-enabled, mobile-based platform offers real-time tracking of:

Attendance
Growth monitoring
Supplementary nutrition distribution
Early childhood education

As of 28 February 2025, all Anganwadi Centers nationwide are onboarded. For the first time, eligible beneficiaries—pregnant women, lactating mothers, adolescent girls, and children under six—can self-register via the Poshan Tracker Web App, improving accessibility and efficiency.

CMAM: Fighting Malnutrition at the Grassroots

In October 2023, the Community-Based Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) Protocol was introduced by MoWCD in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

It provides Anganwadi Workers with standardized tools to:

Identify malnourished children
Refer them for appropriate care
Monitor recovery at the community level

This Poshan Pakhwada, CMAM is being spotlighted to turn Anganwadi Centers into local nutrition hubs with routine appetite tests and timely referrals—all integrated into the Poshan Tracker.

Addressing the Growing Concern of Childhood Obesity

Malnutrition isn’t just about deficiency; obesity is an emerging concern. The NFHS-5 (2019–21) revealed a rise in the percentage of overweight children under five—from 2.1% in 2015–16 to 3.4% nationally.

To curb this trend, the MoWCD initiated a working group in 2015, recommending:

Ban on HFSS (High Fat, Salt, Sugar) foods in and around schools
Promotion of “green category” foods like fruits and vegetables in school canteens
Mandatory physical activity for school children
Complete elimination of hydrogenated oils
Replacement of carbonated beverages with nutritious options like juice, lassi, and flavored milk

The CBSE, in a 2012 circular, also directed schools to implement these guidelines.

A Collective Mission for a Healthier India

Poshan Pakhwada 2025 is more than just a campaign—it’s a movement to nourish India’s future, one meal, one child, one family at a time.

With the synergy of tradition and technology, empowered Anganwadi workers, and community participation, we are taking significant strides toward a malnutrition-free India.

But lasting change starts with us.
Whether it’s making healthier food choices, educating others, or ensuring that every eligible individual is registered on the Poshan Tracker—every effort counts.

This Poshan Pakhwada, let’s come together and take the pledge:
A Nourished India is a Stronger India.