Assessing the non-attendance of preschooling among children under ICDS scheme in India: Insights from National Family Health Survey, 2019–21

Margubur Rahaman, Avijit Roy and Pradip Chouhan

Evaluation and Program Planning, 2025, vol. 111, issue C

Abstract: India is well known for its Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), which provide comprehensive support for children's overall development. Although the level of receiving nutritional supplements from ICDS is well-researched, the utilization of preschooling services from ICDS is under-researched. Therefore, the present study aims to contextualize the level and predictors of preschooling service in India. Using the fifth round of NFHS (2019–21) and applying logistic regression, chi-square tests, the present study measured the proportion and predictors of non-attendance in preschooling among children aged 2–4 years. About 49 % of sampled children were not attending preschooling in India. However, state-level variation is noteworthy. Mother's education and household wealth quintile were found to be negatively associated with non-attendance in preschooling. Significant variations were also observed based on religion and caste. Additionally, the place of residence played a significant role. The present study concludes that the high prevalence of non-attendance in preschooling is a serious concern in India. At the same time, significant socio-demographic and residential variations in non-attendance in preschooling highlight the need to understand these drivers to revisit the existing policies and program to promote preschooling in India.

Keywords: Preschool attendance; ICDS; Factors; NFHS (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:epplan:v:111:y:2025:i:c:s0149718925000564

DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2025.102589

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