As we work toward Viksit Bharat@2047, investing in early childhood is not just ethical — it is essential for economic growth. India must now move beyond survival to ensure every child receives the cognitive care needed to thrive in the future economy, write Rajib Kumar Sen and Vedeika Shekhar
India has the largest and youngest working population, with 164.5 million children aged 0–6 years, constituting about 13.6 per cent of the total population. Our working-age population is estimated to reach around 1.12 billion — the single largest workforce of any country globally.
As these children represent the collective human capital of tomorrow, our quest for Viksit Bharat@2047 rides on the shoulders of these future adults. This is a pivotal moment to harness this demographic dividend and invest in their human and cognitive development to prepare them to participate in the economy in their adulthood. A child’s educational, professional and skilled potential is determined by care, development and learning in the first six years of life. Over 80 per cent of brain development occurs before the child is three years old, and 85–90 per cent by six years of age.
Zero to six years — especially zero to three years, is a critical phase of rapid brain growth, laying the foundation for adult cognitive, psychomotor, educational and intellectual potential. It is thus a critical window of opportunity to shape and build a foundation for their future, particularly in terms of future learning, behaviour and health. Investing in early childhood yields substantial economic returns. Research by Nobel Laureate James Heckman demonstrates that every dollar invested in quality early childhood programmes from birth to age five can generate returns of $4 to $16.
These benefits manifest as higher high school graduation rates, increased personal income, and reduced costs related to welfare dependency and incarceration. The World Health Organisation estimates a $13 return for every dollar spent on early childhood development, while a World Bank study highlights that early investments enhance school readiness — with an additional year of primary education boosting future productivity by 20 per cent in India.
Conversely, neglecting these years can lead to significant learning gaps. The National Achievement Survey of 2021 revealed a decline in academic performance as children progress to senior classes, with mathematics scores dropping from 57 per cent in Class III to 32 per cent in Class X, underscoring the need for a strong early foundation. Recognising its importance, the Government of India is focusing on this area of cognitive development.
Guided by the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the “Poshan Bhi, Padhai Bhi” initiative, launched in 2022, aims to transform Anganwadi Centres (AWCs) into vibrant learning hubs equipped with quality infrastructure, play equipment and trained Anganwadi Workers (AWWs). To this end, two curriculum frameworks have been developed — “Navchetana” for children under three years, and “Aadharshila” for three- to six-year-old children. While this is a commendable step in the right direction, there is a need to further strengthen and energise it for transformative impact. Young minds require stimulation through engaging, age-appropriate activities to unlock their potential.
Some states are setting a path forward through pioneering efforts to strengthen Early Childhood Development Care and Education (ECDCE) within the Anganwadi framework by integrating health, nutrition and cognitive development. Maharashtra’s Aarambh programme, now scaled statewide, blends scientific child development principles with culturally relevant tools and strong community participation to empower frontline workers and families to deliver nurturing care for zero to three-year-old children. The programme has yielded significant results in improving health and nutrition outcomes and the development quotient (from mean 107 to 137 — up 30 points) amongst the beneficiaries. Similarly, Meghalaya’s ECD Mission leverages Self-Help Groups to deliver holistic care, while Odisha’s “Aami Kuni Pila” emphasises caregiver training, community-based crèches, and awareness campaigns — particularly for tribal communities. These initiatives demonstrate the potential for localised, evidence-based approaches to drive change. Globally, Jamaica’s Early Childhood Stimulation Programme for zero to three-year-old children offers lessons.
The programme provisioned weekly one-hour home visits by a community-based worker to improve nutrition and the quality of mother–child interactions to foster cognitive, language and psychosocial skills. The study estimated 25 per cent higher earnings in the treatment group at 22 years, demonstrating that investing in skill formation through home visits and empowering parents at early stages has long-lasting economic returns later in life.
To build on these efforts, India must adopt a comprehensive strategy for ECDCE within the existing framework. The overall vision is that every zero to six-year-old child attains the highest posible potential of cognitive and psychosocial–motor development through age-appropriate, evidence-based, culturally appropriate and play-based interventions and tools. For this, firstly, a dedicated and comprehensive focus should be placed on the development of zero to three-year-old children.
As this group are at home, with families/caregivers being the primary stakeholders, there is a considerable opportunity to comprehensively engage with the families through planned monthly AWW home visits and age — appropriate caregiver meetings at AWCs to promote responsive parenting and equip families to deliver early learning and stimulation. Skill and activity-based capacity building of AWWs on ECDCE, complemented by incentives, is crucial to deliver quality counselling and tutoring skills. Further, appropriate technology should be used as a conducting, monitoring, and outreach tool for ECDCE.
Combining these elements, NITI Aayog has initiated a pilot in 10 Aspirational Districts wherein AWWs are trained to conduct ECDCE activities through WhatsApp videos every day and given soft incentives. Frequent assessments of children will enable identification, tracking and referral of those with developmental delays. Strong community participation by bringing diverse stakeholders — critically SHGs — and conducting community-based events like Melas, coupled with Jan Andolan for mass awareness and behaviour change, is crucial for ECDCE to reach every household. Finally, the use of local, age-appropriate and affordable toys and conducting ECDCE activities in the local language cannot be over-emphasised to deliver sustained impact.
So far, India has focused on and achieved significant gains in maternal and child health. However, as we progress towards Viksit Bharat, shifting from helping children survive to enabling them to thrive by focusing on cognitive skills is essential. Sustainable Development Goals (SDG Target 4.2) and NEP 2020 have already provided a robust global and national framework for ECDCE to ensure children’s school readiness.
A whole-of-Government and whole-of-society approach is essential to establish the continuum of care from home (zero to three years) to AWCs (three to six years) and finally when the child reaches school. This will nurture these young minds to realise their intellectual capital, securing India’s demographic dividend. By strengthening AWCs today, we build a brighter, more prosperous tomorrow.
(Rajib Kumar Sen is Indian Economic Service Officer, NITI Aayog, and Vedeika Shekhar — Consultant Grade-II, NITI Aayog. Views are personal)
