National Nutrition Month 2026 Kickoff Focuses on Women, Children, Teens

Union Minister Annapurna Devi will preside over the inauguration of National Nutrition Month 2026 on September 9 in Varanasi. The ceremony at the Rudraksh International Cooperation and Convention Centre will feature Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, State Women and Child Development Minister Savitri Thakur and other officials.

Since 2018, the September‑long observance has turned into a nationwide mobilisation, encouraging better nutrition, health and care habits among women, children and adolescents.

The drive is anchored in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Well‑Nourished India’ vision, which aims to lay the groundwork for a developed India by 2047. It also commemorates ten years of the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), a programme that has supported maternal nutrition for a decade.

A key goal of the 2026 campaign is 100 % coverage: all eligible pregnant and lactating mothers will be linked to the scheme, direct benefit transfers will be expedited, and a PMMVY toolkit will be launched for state and UT execution.

The event will start with dignitaries inspecting a nutrition fair, lighting a ceremonial lamp and presenting videos of beneficiaries describing hot cooked meals, take‑home rations, door‑to‑door services and early‑childhood care and education. The Union Minister will then engage directly with Anganwadi workers.

The month will be celebrated across all states and union territories through Anganwadi centres, schools, panchayats and households, reinforcing that a well‑nourished child is a collective responsibility and the bedrock of a developed nation.