International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research

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Evaluating ICDS Performance in Maternal Health and Child Nutrition: Use Trends, Equity Aspects, and Sustainable Development Goal Conformity in India

Author(s) Dr. Astha Pathak, Ms. Simol Jain, Mr. Adarsh Patel
Country India
Abstract The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) initiative serves as India's main institutional framework aimed at enhancing maternal health, child nutrition, and early childhood development via Anganwadi centres. The ICDS offers preschool education, monitors growth, supplies supplementary nutrition, and delivers health-related services to those who require assistance. These fundamental activities play a crucial role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims to lessen hunger and malnutrition, as well as SDG 3, which focuses on enhancing maternal and child health. In addition to these direct influences, the ICDS also supports various other SDGs in an indirect manner, such as SDG 4 (early childhood education), SDG 5 (advancing gender equality in health and nutrition), SDG 8 (developing human capital), and SDG 10 (mitigating regional and socio-economic inequalities in development results). The 'Integrated Child Development Services' (ICDS) initiative serves as the main institutional framework in India for advancing maternal health, child nutrition, and early childhood development. These fundamental activities play a crucial role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2, which aims to lessen hunger and malnutrition, as well as SDG 3, which focuses on enhancing maternal and child health. In addition to these direct influences, the ICDS also supports various other SDGs in an indirect manner, such as SDG 4 (early childhood education), SDG 5 (advancing gender equality in health and nutrition), SDG 8 (developing human capital), and SDG 10 (mitigating regional and socio-economic inequalities in development results). The 'Integrated Child Development Services' (ICDS) initiative serves as the main institutional framework in India for advancing maternal health, child nutrition, and early childhood development.
This research investigates the development and usage trends of the ICDS over the past three decades, drawing from data gathered in a national survey. The results show that the program’s reach and scale have consistently grown, with a notable increase in the consumption of supplementary nutrition among young children, breastfeeding mothers, and pregnant women in recent years. Nevertheless, inequalities remain in the access to services like growth monitoring, nutrition counselling, and pre-school education, particularly across different socio-economic and geographic groups, with more educated mothers while rural and disadvantaged communities depend on it significantly. There are significant differences among Indian states in terms of program priorities, administrative capacities, and dietary requirements. Overall, the findings indicate that the ICDS is essential for achieving both general human development goals and Indian’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to nutrition and health to make this program more effective and align it with the established agenda, it is crucial to expand outreach in urban area, foster coordination across various sectors, and strengthen services quality and monitoring systems. There are significant disparities among India’s states regarding program priorities, administrative capacities, and nutritional needs. Strengthening intersectoral coordination and service is crucial, as is extending its reach to metropolitan areas. All things considered, the data shows that the ICDS is essential for accomplishing the SDGs pertaining to health and nutrition in India as well as the overall human development goals.
Keywords Keywords: Maternal Health, Child Nutrition, SDGs, ICDS, Inequality, Early Childhood Development.
Published In Volume 8, Issue 5, September-October 2026
Published On 2026-10-10
DOI https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i05.89436
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