Annpurna Devi to Launch 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah

Key facts

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, will launch the 9th Rashtriya Poshan Maah 2026 on 9th September 2026 at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.
• Union Minister Annpurna Devi will launch the month-long campaign in the presence of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Minister of State Savitri Thakur, and Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Baby Rani Maurya.
• The 9th edition is themed 'Hamari Anganwadi Hamari Jimmedari', urging citizens to take shared ownership of Anganwadi Centres.
• Poshan Maah 2026 draws on revised Supplementary Nutrition Programme (SNP) Guidelines under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, which for the first time define Hot Cooked Meals, mandate SNP Menu Boards, and include guidelines for Anganwadi Management Committees.
• The first theme, Dietary Diversity and Adequate Protein, includes live recipe demonstrations, Poshan Melas and a 'Protein-Rich Foods' campaign.
• The second theme promotes Fresh Hot Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centres with weekly menu rotation using millets, pulses and seasonal vegetables.
• The third theme, Community Ownership and Accountability, drives constitution of Anganwadi Management Committees per Ministry guidelines issued on 25th June 2026, with at least one AMC meeting at every Anganwadi Centre during the month.
• The fourth theme, Nutrition, Early Stimulation and Education for Childhood Development, includes a drive to record developmental milestones of children aged 0–3 years against 34 milestones and celebration of ECCE Day for children aged 3–6 years.
• The fifth theme celebrates Ten Years of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) with a 100% saturation drive, expedited Direct Benefit Transfers, and a PMMVY Toolkit for States and UTs.
• Poshan Abhiyaan was launched in 2018, and Rashtriya Poshan Maah is observed every September as a Jan Andolan.