State of the World’s Children (SWOC) 2025 – UNICEF Report

The State of the World’s Children (SWOC) 2025, released by UNICEF, highlights the growing crisis of extreme child poverty and multidimensional deprivation, particularly affecting developing countries such as India. The report stresses that child poverty goes beyond income and reflects deprivation across multiple dimensions essential for a child’s overall development.

Key Findings of SWOC 2025

Global Scenario of Child Poverty

The report reveals that more than one billion children globally are living in multidimensional poverty. These children lack access to basic services such as education, healthcare, housing, nutrition, sanitation, and clean drinking water. This underscores that poverty is about quality of life and opportunities, not merely income levels.

Malnutrition and Child Mortality

Malnutrition continues to be a leading cause of child mortality worldwide. Millions of children suffer from stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These conditions severely impair physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term productivity.

Climate Change and Conflict Impact

The SWOC 2025 report highlights that four out of five children globally now face at least one extreme climate hazard each year, such as floods, heatwaves, or droughts. These environmental shocks threaten food security, access to water, healthcare, and safe shelter.

In addition, conflict has become a growing threat to childhood. In 2024, about 19% of the world’s children were living in conflict-affected areas, compared to around 9% in the mid-1990s. Armed conflicts disrupt education, increase displacement, and expose children to violence and exploitation.

Decline in Development Aid

The report warns that cuts in international development assistance could significantly worsen child outcomes. Reduced funding may lead to:

• 4.5 million additional deaths of children under five by 2030, and

• 6 million children being forced out of school by 2026.

Such trends threaten to reverse global progress towards child survival, education, and Sustainable Development Goals.

India’s Child Poverty Challenge

Extent of Deprivation in India

According to SWOC 2025, 206 million children in India experience at least one form of deprivation. Alarmingly, 62 million children face two or more deprivations, affecting key areas such as education, health, nutrition, housing, sanitation, and water.

Multidimensional Nature of Poverty

The report emphasizes that child poverty in India is multidimensional, extending beyond income poverty. It reflects inequality in access to essential services, safe living conditions, and developmental opportunities, which directly affect children’s well-being and future potential.

India’s International Commitment

India is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which recognizes the holistic development of children and guarantees their survival, protection, development, and participation rights. Addressing child deprivation is therefore a constitutional, moral, and international obligation.

India’s Policy Framework on Children

India has made notable efforts to improve child welfare through policy initiatives and budgetary support. However, recent evidence shows that progress remains uneven, with structural gaps, implementation challenges, and persistent inequalities limiting outcomes, especially in the context of rising child poverty highlighted by UNICEF’s SWOC 2025 report.

Budgetary Allocations: Limited Priority to Child Welfare

In the Union Budget 2025–26, the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) was allocated ₹26,890 crore, which includes:

• ₹21,960 crore for Saksham Anganwadi & POSHAN 2.0

• ₹1,500 crore for Mission Vatsalya

Despite these allocations, the Ministry’s share in total central expenditure has declined from 0.96% in 2015–16 to 0.5% in 2025–26, indicating that child welfare has not emerged as a higher policy priority, even as needs increase.

Evidence from ASER and NFHS-5

Children aged 0–18 years constitute nearly 40% of India’s population, underscoring the scale of the challenge.

• ASER 2023 reveals that around 40% of rural children aged 3–6 years are not enrolled in pre-schools or Anganwadi centres, affecting early childhood development.

• NFHS-5 reports persistent malnutrition:

  • 35.5% of children are stunted

  • 19.3% are underweight

These indicators point to serious deficits in nutrition, early education, and health outcomes.

Implementation Gaps in Child Welfare Programmes

Despite adequate policy design, systemic inefficiencies undermine outcomes. These include:

• Delays in upgrading Anganwadi centres

• Shortage of trained frontline workers

• Slow and uneven fund disbursement

Such gaps dilute the impact of budgetary allocations, reducing programme effectiveness at the grassroots level.

Urban Challenges and the Digital Divide

Urban slums represent a convergence of vulnerabilities, including:

• Malnutrition

• Unsafe housing

• Pollution

• Disrupted education

In addition, digital exclusion prevents millions of children from accessing online education and skill-building opportunities, thereby widening educational inequalities.

High Child Population and Persistent Inequities

India hosts the largest child population in the world, making its progress crucial for global child development goals.

However, children from marginalized communities—especially Dalits, Adivasis, rural populations, and those in conflict-affected regions—experience disproportionate deprivation, reflecting deep-rooted social and regional inequalities.

Government Efforts for Child Development

India has launched several initiatives aimed at child welfare, including:

• Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and Mid-Day Meal Scheme

• PM SHRI Schools

• Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) for tribal children

• PM YASASVI Scheme for OBCs, EBCs, and De-notified Tribes

While these programmes are significant, their impact depends on effective coordination and delivery.

Case Study: Kerala’s Decentralised Model

Kerala offers a successful example of community-led child welfare. Through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and community-based organisations (CBOs):

• Local committees actively engage with Anganwadis

• Community ownership improves accountability and service delivery

• Child rights and welfare outcomes show measurable improvement

This model highlights the value of decentralisation and local participation.

Way Forward

India must elevate child poverty eradication to a national mission, aligned with UNICEF’s five-point framework. Key priorities include:

• Universal digital access and inclusive education

• Stronger social protection systems

• Last-mile public service delivery

• Inter-ministerial coordination for integrated action

• Empowered frontline workers with real-time monitoring