2 weeks ago
India expands Anaemia Mukt Bharat to combat adolescent anaemia
Many children in India have a health problem called anaemia, which means their blood doesn't have enough iron and they feel very tired.
The Indian government has a big program called Anaemia Mukt Bharat, which means 'India free from anaemia.'
Recently, the government added babies born too small, under 2.5 kilograms, to this program.
The government also released new rules in June 2026 to help teenagers who have anaemia.
Almost six out of ten girls and one out of three boys in India have this problem.
Teenagers with anaemia may feel tired, do worse in school, and stop playing sports.
The new plan says doctors will test students at school and give them special iron tablets.
It also teaches families to eat healthy food with lots of iron.
The program wants to help teenagers now so that when they grow up and become parents, their babies will be healthy too.
Many doctors say this is a great way to help children and families stay healthy.
India's Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan added low birth weight babies (under 2.5 kg) to the programme for the first time.
Revised operational guidelines were released in June 2026 by Union health and family welfare minister J.P. Nadda.
Nearly six in ten adolescent girls and one in three adolescent boys in India are affected by anaemia.
The programme's 6x6x6 strategy becomes 7x7x7, and the T3 approach (Test, Treat, Talk) expands to T4 by adding Track.
New measures include school-based screening via RBSK Mobile Health Teams, IFA Blue tablet treatment, an 'Eating Right' intervention, and community participation.
The Indian Academy of Paediatrics, led by president Dr Neelam Mohan, welcomed the revised guidelines.
- Who
- Union health and family welfare minister J.P. Nadda released the revised guidelines; the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, led by president Dr Neelam Mohan, welcomed them.
- What
- India revised the Anaemia Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan operational guidelines, adding low birth weight babies to the programme and strengthening the focus on adolescent anaemia with screening, treatment, nutrition and tracking measures.
- Where
- India
- When
- June 2026
- Why
- To break the cycle of anaemia affecting adolescents and pregnant women, which harms maternal health, birth outcomes and future generations.
Key facts
- Programme
- Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Abhiyaan
- Guidelines release
- June 2026
- Key official
- J.P. Nadda, Union health and family welfare minister
- Low birth weight threshold
- Under 2.5 kg
- Low birth weight babies in India
- Nearly 1 in 5
- Anaemic pregnant women in India
- 1 in 2
- Anaemic adolescents in India
- Nearly 6 in 10 girls; 1 in 3 boys
- Strategy change
- 6x6x6 becomes 7x7x7; T3 (Test, Treat, Talk) becomes T4 (adds Track)









