free government services
Free Government Child Development Services: RBSK, DEIC & Anganwadi
Yes — India offers free government child-development services: Anganwadi/ICDS for neighbourhood nutrition and early care, RBSK for free developmental screening (birth–18), and DEIC for early intervention after a positive screen. Access them via your Anganwadi worker, ASHA or government PHC. These work alongside specialist therapy, not instead of it.
Yes — India has a real, free public system for child development, and knowing the names unlocks the doors.
In short
Yes, absolutely. India runs several free government services for child development, and your family has every right to use them. The main ones are RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram — free health and developmental screening for children), DEIC (District Early Intervention Centres, where children who screen positive get further assessment and therapy), and the Anganwadi network under ICDS, which offers nutrition, growth monitoring and early-childhood care in your neighbourhood. These work alongside private and specialist care — not instead of it.How the free system fits together
Think of it as a connected pathway:- Anganwadi (ICDS) — your local first point of contact for growth monitoring, immunisation support, nutrition and early stimulation for under-6s. Your Anganwadi worker can flag a developmental concern.
- RBSK — government teams screen children (birth to 18) for the 4 Ds: defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays/disabilities. Screening happens at Anganwadis, schools and health facilities, free of cost.
- DEIC — when a child screens positive, RBSK refers them to a District Early Intervention Centre for fuller evaluation and early-intervention services, again free.
To access these, speak to your nearest Anganwadi worker, ASHA, or the medical officer at a government Primary Health Centre — they can route your child into RBSK screening and onward to a DEIC.
Using public and specialist care together
Many families use the free public pathway and specialist developmental therapy in parallel — public screening gives breadth and reach, while a focused therapy programme gives depth, intensity and a measurable plan. There is no conflict in using both; what matters is that your child gets timely, consistent support and that progress is tracked the same way over time.The Pinnacle way
A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care — never from a form, an app or a screening alone. Public screening can open the door; a clinician-administered structured assessment tells you precisely where your child stands today and what will help most. Explore the full landscape of free government services, and if speech or communication is your concern, see how focused speech therapy complements public early-intervention care.Trusted sources
WHO Nurturing Care Framework for early childhood development; Rehabilitation Council of India guidance on disability services; AAP / HealthyChildren guidance on developmental screening and early intervention.Next step — Use your free Anganwadi and RBSK screening today, and book a Pinnacle assessment to get a clear, measurable starting point for your child.
This is general information, not a diagnosis — a clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre under qualified clinician care.
What to watch
If a free screening flags a possible delay, don't wait for the system alone — follow up promptly, keep a record of every visit, and get a focused assessment so support starts early rather than after long referral queues.
Try this at home
Save your nearest Anganwadi worker's and ASHA's contact in your phone. They are your fastest free route into RBSK screening and DEIC early-intervention services.
Trusted sources
Developed by SETU Consortium · Pinnacle Blooms Network · Last reviewed 2026-06-11 · reviewed every 365 days
This is general information, not a diagnosis. A clinical AbilityScore® and any diagnosis are formed only at a Pinnacle Blooms Network centre, under qualified clinician care.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between RBSK and DEIC?
RBSK (Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram) is the free government screening programme that checks children from birth to 18 for birth defects, deficiencies, diseases and developmental delays. DEIC (District Early Intervention Centre) is where children who screen positive go next for fuller evaluation and early-intervention services — both are free.
How do I access RBSK or DEIC for my child?
Start with your nearest Anganwadi worker, ASHA, or the medical officer at a government Primary Health Centre. They can arrange RBSK screening at an Anganwadi, school or health facility, and refer your child to the District Early Intervention Centre if needed.
Can I use free government services and private therapy together?
Yes. Many families use both — public screening for reach and access, and specialist developmental therapy for depth, intensity and a measurable plan. There is no conflict; the goal is timely, consistent support with progress tracked the same way over time.
What does an Anganwadi offer for child development?
Anganwadis under the ICDS scheme provide free growth monitoring, nutrition support, immunisation linkage and early-childhood care for children under six. Your Anganwadi worker can also flag a developmental concern and help route your child into RBSK screening.