Increased Funding for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 Scheme in Union Budget 2025

In the Union Budget 2025-26, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced a significant increase in funding for the Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 schemes, aimed at improving the nutritional support for vulnerable sections of society. The enhanced funding was highlighted during Sitharaman’s eighth consecutive budget presentation on Saturday, February 1, 2025.

The Finance Minister emphasized that these schemes are crucial for providing nutritional support to more than 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant and lactating women, and around 20 lakh adolescent girls, especially in aspirational districts and the North Eastern region of India.

Sitharaman said that the cost norms for these programs would be appropriately increased, reflecting the government’s continued commitment to improving the health and well-being of the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

The funding for these programs will see an increase in the next financial year. The Revised Estimate (RE) for the fiscal year 2024-25 stands at Rs 20,070.90 crore, and the Budget allocation for 2024-25 was Rs 21,200 crore. However, the Union Budget for 2025-26 has earmarked Rs 21,960 crore for the scheme, marking a substantial rise.

Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0 were launched as part of India’s nutrition support framework during the 15th Finance Commission period, which spans from 2021 to 2026. These programs aim to address the persistent issue of malnutrition in the country and contribute to human capital development.

The key objectives of the Poshan 2.0 programme are to combat malnutrition, promote awareness about healthy eating habits, and address nutrition-related deficiencies. It is designed to bring sustainable health and wellbeing to the nation’s children, women, and adolescent girls, particularly in rural and underdeveloped areas.