Palna Scheme Statistics 2026: Anganwadi-cum-Creches by State and Funds
· 2 min read · 3 official sources
3,130 Anganwadi-cum-Creches were operational under the Palna scheme on 31 March 2026, according to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. This page shows how that count has grown since early 2025, which states run the most creches, and how much money the Centre allocated and released each year.
Palna (National Creche Scheme): key numbers
Infographic
Anganwadi-cum-Creches operational over time
Number of Anganwadi-cum-Creches running under Palna at three dates, as reported by the Ministry of Women and Child Development and in Parliament.
| As on | AWCCs operational |
|---|---|
| Feb 2025 | 1,761 |
| Dec 2025 | 2,820 |
| Mar 2026 | 3,130 |
Source: wcd.gov.in, as on 31 March 2026
Top 15 states by operational Anganwadi-cum-Creches (Dec 2025)
State and UT-wise operational AWCCs from the annexure to Lok Sabha unstarred question 2296, answered on 12 December 2025, when the national total was 2,820.
| State/UT | Operational AWCCs |
|---|---|
| Delhi | 502 |
| Haryana | 290 |
| Nagaland | 270 |
| Karnataka | 248 |
| Chandigarh | 210 |
| Chhattisgarh | 205 |
| Mizoram | 200 |
| Punjab | 144 |
| Kerala | 129 |
| Tripura | 114 |
| Bihar | 85 |
| Meghalaya | 84 |
| Jharkhand | 80 |
| Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu | 68 |
| Assam | 50 |
Source: sansad.in, as on 12 December 2025
Palna funds allocated and released by year
Central funds for Palna since the scheme began in 2022-23. The 2024-25 release figure is only up to 19 December 2024.
| Year | Allocated (Rs crore) | Released (Rs crore) |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 35 | 4.68 |
| 2023-24 | 85 | 64.15 |
| 2024-25 | 150.11 | 43.66 |
Source: static.pib.gov.in, as on 19 December 2024
How a child gets a place in a Palna creche
What the numbers show
Palna replaced the old National Creche Scheme in 2022 and moved most new creches into Anganwadi centres. An Anganwadi-cum-Creche keeps the existing Anganwadi worker and helper and adds a creche worker and a creche helper. The Ministry of Women and Child Development reports 3,130 AWCCs operational on 31 March 2026. In February 2025 the figure was 1,761, with 28,783 children enrolled.
Approved versus running
The gap between creches sanctioned and creches open is the main story in the data. By March 2025 the Ministry had approved 11,395 AWCCs in 34 states and UTs against a target of 17,000. Only a small share of those were running at that point. In its December 2025 answer in Lok Sabha, the Ministry said it keeps pressing states to make approved AWCCs operational at the annual Programme Approval Board meetings.
State differences
The December 2025 annexure lists operational AWCCs in 23 states and UTs. Delhi led with 502, followed by Haryana (290), Nagaland (270) and Karnataka (248). Small UTs such as Chandigarh (210) run more creches than most large states. Several large states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu, do not appear in that list at all, and Telangana shows only 8.
Funding
Palna is a centrally sponsored scheme, so the Centre shares the cost with states, 60:40 for most states and 90:10 for the North East and special category states. Central allocation rose from Rs 35 crore in 2022-23 to Rs 150.11 crore in 2024-25. Releases have been lower than allocations each year, which fits the slow pace at which approved creches have opened.
What the figures do not tell you
The counts are of creches, not of children. Recent child enrolment totals have not been published alongside the March 2026 count. The 2024-25 release figure is only up to 19 December 2024, so it understates the full year. Standalone creches inherited from the old scheme are counted separately from AWCCs.
Where to check the numbers
The Palna page on wcd.gov.in carries the latest operational count. State-wise figures appear in answers to Parliament questions on sansad.in, and the Ministry's PIB backgrounders give year-wise fund data.
Frequently asked questions
How many Anganwadi-cum-Creches are running under Palna?
3,130 Anganwadi-cum-Creches were operational on 31 March 2026, according to the Ministry of Women and Child Development. The count was 2,820 when the Ministry answered in Lok Sabha on 12 December 2025.
Which state has the most Palna creches?
Delhi had the most operational Anganwadi-cum-Creches in the December 2025 Lok Sabha data, with 502, followed by Haryana with 290 and Nagaland with 270.
How many Anganwadi-cum-Creches have been approved?
11,395 AWCCs across 34 states and UTs had been approved as of March 2025, against a target of 17,000 new AWCCs. Far fewer were actually running at that time.
How much money has the Centre released for Palna?
The Centre released Rs 4.68 crore in 2022-23 and Rs 64.15 crore in 2023-24. In 2024-25, Rs 43.66 crore had been released by 19 December 2024 against an allocation of Rs 150.11 crore.
Are standalone creches still part of Palna?
Yes. Besides Anganwadi-cum-Creches, 1,284 standalone creches were operational as of February 2025, with 23,368 children enrolled.
Eligibility, documents and how to apply: Palna (National Creche Scheme) full guide
Charts, data files and the infographic are free to download, share and embed with a link back to this page.
Sources
This guide was checked against these official pages:
- wcd.gov.in (wcd.gov.in/offerings/palna)
- static.pib.gov.in (static.pib.gov.in/WriteReadData/specificdocs/documents/2025/apr/doc202547535701.)
- sansad.in (sansad.in/getFile/loksabhaquestions/annex/186/AU2296_jH5Vmb.pdf?source=pqals)