Scheme for Adolescent Girls is a central government scheme that helps out-of-school girls stay healthy and return to formal education. The scheme now runs under Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, and eligible girls get nutrition support and health services through their local Anganwadi centre.
Under the current rules, the scheme covers adolescent girls in the age group of 14 to 18 years who are out of school and live in aspirational districts or the North-Eastern states. For the financial year 2026-27, the government has set aside ₹23,100 crore for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, the umbrella mission under which this scheme works.
Scheme for Adolescent Girls - Introduction
Scheme for Adolescent Girls helps out-of-school adolescent girls improve their nutritional and health status. In the financial year 2021-22, the government merged Anganwadi services, Poshan Abhiyaan and the Scheme for Adolescent Girls into one mission called Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, and this scheme is now delivered as a part of that mission.
The mission gives six services to eligible girls: supplementary nutrition, pre-school education, nutrition and health education, immunization, health check ups and referral services. Anganwadi workers identify eligible girls through home visits, register them and keep a record of their health on the Poshan Tracker app. The whole mission is delivered through Anganwadi services under Poshan 2.0, which work under the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) umbrella.
As of May 2026, more than 8.93 crore people are registered on the Poshan Tracker as scheme users across all 28 states and 8 Union Territories. The government also runs other schemes for women and children like Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, and the same Anganwadi network is used to reach families.
Key Information
| Key | Details |
|---|---|
| Scheme Name | Scheme for Adolescent Girls |
| Level | Central |
| Scheme For | Individual |
| Beneficiary States | Aspirational districts and North-Eastern states for the adolescent girls component; the umbrella mission runs in all states and UTs |
| Category | Health and Wellness, Social Welfare and Empowerment, Women and Child |
| Benefit Type | In Kind |
| DBT Scheme | No |
| Nodal Ministry | Ministry of Women and Child Development |
| Implementing Agency | Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) under ICDS |
| Umbrella Mission | Mission Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 |
| Budget 2026-27 | ₹23,100 crore for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0 |
| Open Date | Launched in 2010; part of Poshan 2.0 since 2021-22 |
Benefits
Nutritional Support:
Eligible girls receive either a take home ration or a hot cooked meal. This support is given for 300 days in a year and provides roughly 600 calories and 18 to 20 grams of protein per day, as per the nutrition norms under the National Food Security Act. The base cost norm for this support is ₹9.50 per day, and in the Union Budget 2025-26 the government announced that these cost norms will be increased. The programme gives nutritional support to more than 8 crore children, 1 crore pregnant women and lactating mothers, and about 20 lakh adolescent girls in aspirational districts and the north-east region.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Daily Cost Norm | ₹9.50 (base norm; enhanced rates announced in Budget 2025-26) |
| Duration | 300 days per year |
| Nutrition Value | 600 calories and 18 to 20g protein |
Other Support Services:
Girls registered under the scheme get more than just food. The main services are listed below.
- IFA supplementation: Iron and Folic Acid tablets are given to prevent anemia.
- Regular health check ups and referral services: girls are checked at the Anganwadi centre or the nearby health centre.
- Nutrition and health education: sessions on food habits, hygiene and healthy living.
- Counseling on family welfare and life skills: guidance on personal development and daily life skills.
Benefit distribution is tracked on the Poshan Tracker app. Take home ration is given only after Aadhaar-based verification, and a girl can nominate a family member to collect it if she cannot come to the centre. If there is any problem, the toll-free Poshan helpline number 1515 can be used to register a complaint.
Eligibility
To get the benefit of this scheme, a girl must meet the criteria given below.
- She should be a girl.
- Her age should be between 14 and 18 years.
- She should be out of school.
- She should live in an aspirational district or a North-Eastern state.
For example, if Meena is 16 years old, out of school and lives in an aspirational district, she is eligible to enroll through her local Anganwadi centre.
Exclusions
There are no specific exclusions beyond the age, school and location rules. Girls who attend school regularly or who live outside aspirational districts and the North-Eastern states are not covered under the adolescent girls component of this mission. Earlier, the scheme covered out-of-school girls in the 11 to 14 age group, but under Poshan 2.0 the coverage has been revised to girls in the 14 to 18 age group.
Application Process
There is no online application form for this scheme. Eligible girls are found through a house to house survey done by Anganwadi workers. The process is explained below.
STEP 1 - Anganwadi workers in your area conduct a house to house baseline survey to find out-of-school girls in the 14 to 18 age group. They visit homes and collect basic details.
STEP 2 - The family gives the required information during the survey. The girl is then registered as a scheme user on the Poshan Tracker app with Aadhaar-based verification.
STEP 3 - After registration, the girl can get take home ration or hot cooked meal, health check ups and other services from the Anganwadi centre. A Kishore Health Card is kept at the centre to track her weight, height and growth.
Documents
Only basic documents are needed for verification. Keep the following ready when the Anganwadi worker visits.
- Aadhaar card
- Proof of age or date of birth certificate
Definitions
Adolescent: in general use, an adolescent is a person who has completed 15 years but has not yet completed 18 years. For this scheme, the age group of girls covered under the scheme is 14 to 18 years, and they must be out of school.
References
Lok Sabha reply on Mission Poshan 2.0, March 2026
PIB release on Poshan Tracker, July 2026
Budget 2026 allocation for Saksham Anganwadi and Poshan 2.0, Outlook India
FAQ's
What is IFA supplementation?
IFA supplements are Iron and Folic Acid tablets given to prevent iron deficiency anemia. Anganwadi workers also teach girls about iron rich foods and how to include them in the daily diet.
When are health check ups organized?
Health check ups for girls are held at least once every three months, often during the Kishori Diwas event at local health centres.
What is a Kishore Health Card?
It is a health record card kept at the local Anganwadi centre. It tracks health indicators like weight, height and body mass index of the girl.
Which age group is covered under the scheme?
Currently the scheme covers out-of-school girls in the 14 to 18 age group who live in aspirational districts or the North-Eastern states.
I am a 16 year old out of school girl, can I join?
Yes. If you live in an aspirational district or a North-Eastern state and you are not attending school, you fall in the covered age group and can get the benefit.
Can sisters apply together?
Yes, if all sisters in the family meet the age, school and location rules, each of them can get the benefit.
Is there any fee for this scheme?
No, the whole process is free and you should not pay anyone for these services.
What if I do not get the benefit?
Call the toll-free Poshan helpline number 1515 and register a complaint. You can also contact the nearest Anganwadi centre or the district women and child development office.
Is my Aadhaar data safe?
Yes, your information is handled with consent and is password protected to keep your privacy.