How Poshan Abhiyaan Is Transforming Nutrition In India

Every child deserves a healthy start, every mother deserves proper nourishment, and every family deserves access to nutritious food. Yet, for millions in India, malnutrition remains a silent crisis—one that affects not just individuals but the very future of the nation. Recognizing the need for transformative action, the government launched Poshan Abhiyaan on March 8, 2018—a flagship program aimed at improving nutritional outcomes for women and children through a holistic approach. One of its key initiatives, Poshan Pakhwada, has emerged as a powerful platform to raise awareness and promote community participation in addressing malnutrition.

From metro streets to village lanes, Poshan Pakhwada 2025 brought India together in a spirited celebration of nutrition and well-being from 8th to 22nd April 2025. In its 7th edition, the campaign focused on maternal and child nutrition, digital access for beneficiaries, and tackling childhood obesity. Driven by collective action from anganwadi centres to schools, from government to grassroots—this year’s Pakhwada turned nutrition into a nationwide mission powered by technology, creativity, and care. Let’s take a visual journey across India to witness the spirited activities that brought Poshan Pakhwada 2025 to life.

Poshan Abhiyaan was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on March 8, 2018 in Jhunjhunu district of Rajasthan. The focus of Abhiyaan is to lay emphasis on nutritional status of adolescent girls, pregnant women, lactating mothers and children from 0-6 years age. The programme, through use of technology, convergence and community involvement with a targeted approach strives to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anaemia and low birth weight in children, as also focus on adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers, thus holistically addressing malnutrition.

Objectives

• Prevent and reduce stunting in children (0- 6 years)

• Prevent and reduce under-nutrition (underweight prevalence) in children (0-6 years)

• Reduce the prevalence of anaemia among young children (6-59 months)

• Reduce the prevalence of anaemia among women and adolescent girls in the age group of 15-49 years

• Reduce Low Birth Weight (LBW)

Poshan Abhiyaan programme priorities

To accelerate improvements in nutrition, POSHAN Abhiyaan prioritises on:

The first 1000 days – A critical window of opportunity: The initial 1,000 days, from conception to a child's second birthday, play a crucial role in ensuring optimal nutrition and healthcare for both mother and baby, laying the foundation for long-term health and development.