History of ECCE Policy in India
by Vasudha Arabandi | 27th August, 2024
India is home to 13.7 crore children under the age of 61. This accounts for nearly 13.12% of the total population of India. Apart from being a significant portion of the population, these children also make up a significant part of the demographic dividend of India, which is often touted as a critical component of India’s growth story.
The first recorded formal ECCE center in India can be traced back to Tarabai Modak, who established the first Gram Bal Shiksha Kendra in 19452. The center was the inspiration for the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) established in 1974. The scheme is the largest public system for early childhood education in the world, introduced in order to lay the foundation of holistic development for children under the age of 6 2.
It was under this scheme that the Anganwadi Centre model was developed, which focused on providing children between the age of 3-6 with a nurturing environment, adequate nutrition, and non-formal pre-primary education.
Further, in accordance with article 45 of the constitution of India that states that “the state of India will provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete age of 6 years” the government introduced policies such as the National Policy for Children (1974), the National Policy for Education (1986), the National Nutrition Policy (1993), the National Health Policy (2002), and more. In line with these policies, the Right to Education was also introduced under Article 21 of the Constitution in 2009, and the National ECCE Policy (2013).
The government has also recently taken progressive measures to solidify ECCE, bringing it into the continuum of education, with the National Education Policy (2020), and the National Curriculum Framework NCF-FS for Foundational Stage, through the Ministry of Education.
The Ministry of Women and Child Development constituted the ECCE Task Force 2022, and based on its recommendations, has released the National Curriculum for Early Childhood Care and Education 2024 for Children from three to six years (Aadharshila) and National Framework for Early Childhood Stimulation 2024 for Children from Birth to Three Years (Navchetana). Implementation of these documents through the Poshan Tracker and other means will help improve ECCE delivery for the 8+ crore children under 6 years who are registered with the Anganwadi system.
India is also a signatory to the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child which states that the state shall “ensure that the child has access to information and material aimed at promotion of his or her social, spiritual and moral well being and physical and mental health.” India is also a member of the UNESCO Global Partnership Strategy for ECCE, and is making efforts towards meeting its international commitments.
1 Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India (2020). Report of the Technical Group of Population Projection (2011-2036). New Delhi
2“Early Childhood Care and Education in India.” Accessed June 18, 2024. https://www.educationforallinindia.com/early-childhood-care-and-education-in-india.pdf.