The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) on August 12, 2026, notified regarding the Anganwadi cum Creches under Palna for providing day care creche facilities in a safe and secure environment to children.
The following has been stated:
• The Ministry introduced Anganwadi-cum-Crèches (AWCCs) under the Palna Scheme with effect from April 01, 2022, to provide safe and secure day-care facilities for children aged 6 months to 6 years, irrespective of their mothers’ employment status. The facilities also provide nutritional support, health and cognitive development services, growth monitoring, immunization and education. Palna is a component of the Samarthya vertical of Mission Shakti and is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme funded in a 60:40 ratio between Centre and States/UTs with legislature, 90:10 for North-Eastern and Special Category States, and 100% by the Centre for UTs without legislature. Funds are released through the Single Nodal Agency (SNA)/SNA-SPARSH mechanism under PFMS. Presently, 4,172 AWCCs are operational across the country.
• The Maternity Benefit Act, 1961, has been subsumed under the Code on Social Security, 2020, which came into effect on November 21, 2025. Section 67 of the Code provides for crèche facilities in establishments having 50 or more employees. Enforcement for establishments under the State Sphere is the responsibility of the respective State Governments, while the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) is the designated enforcement authority for maternity benefit provisions in establishments under the Central Sphere.
[Press Release ID: 2298270]
