India, March 11 -- In recent years, experts have increasingly emphasised the urgent need for investments in early childhood education, particularly for disadvantaged families. While many countries begin formal education at ages six and above, they often overlook a critical period: The first five years of life, during which 85% of brain development occurs. This foundational stage is crucial, as skills beget skills in a dynamic interplay that can set the trajectory for a child's future.

India is home to 137 million children under 6, of whom 88.8 million receive early learning through a 1.4 million strong network of government daycare centres, known as anganwadi centres. Haryana is home to approximately 3.4 million of those children and 25,...