India broadens its fight against anaemia

📌 Summary:

• India''s anaemia response, traditionally centred on iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets, deworming campaigns and nutrition counselling, is being broadened
• Revised Operational Guidelines for the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) Abhiyaan represent a shift in approach
• New elements: (a) a new beneficiary group — low birth weight babies (0-6 months); (b) greater emphasis on dietary interventions — regular consumption of iron-rich and diversified diets; (c) digital tracking of patients
• The move signals a shift from a supplement-heavy strategy toward diet diversification plus data-driven monitoring

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 (Governance/Social Justice – Health; welfare-scheme design) — evolution of a flagship public-health mission and the shift toward preventive, diet-based and digitally tracked interventions

📝 Prelims Facts:

• Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) is implemented under the National Health Mission
• Classic AMB tools: iron-folic acid (IFA) supplementation, deworming, nutrition counselling
• New beneficiary group added: low birth weight babies aged 0-6 months
• Anaemia is commonly caused by iron deficiency

🔑 Key Term: Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) — India''s intensified national strategy to reduce anaemia across life-cycle groups through supplementation, testing, treatment and behaviour change