Government adopting a whole-of-government approach to ensure convergence in the implementation of initiatives related to Early Childhood Care and Education

• ECCE = holistic development of children aged 0–8 years spanning nutrition, health, stimulation and pre-primary learning; NEP 2020 makes it the Foundational Stage of the new 5+3+3+4 school structure.
• Convergence happens primarily between MoWCD (Anganwadi system) and MoE/DoSEL (school system), supported by MoHFW, MoPR and AYUSH.
• High-stakes UPSC topic: links Cooperative Federalism (GS-II), Human Capital & Demographic Dividend (GS-III), and Vulnerable Sections/Education (GS-II).