• February 10, 2026 marks the 12th observance of NDD, followed by Mop-up Day(MUD) on 17 February to cover children who missed the initial dose.

Background:
Launch: NDD is a flagship programme of the MoHFW, launched in February 2015 under the National Health Mission (NHM).
First Observance: The first-ever NDD was observed on 10 February 2015.
Expansion: Initially launched in selected states and Union Territories (UTs) covering nearly 9 crore children, NDD was later scaled up into a nationwide biannual programme implemented across all states and UT of India.
Medication: Albendazole and Mebendazole tablets, approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), are used as safe and effective treatments for intestinal worm infections.

• Children aged 1–2 years receive 200 milligram (mg), while children 2–19 years receive 400 mg.

Alignment: The initiative aligns with the Krimi Mukt Bharat Abhiyan (Worm-Free India).
About Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW):
Union Minister– Jagat Prakash Nadda (Rajya Sabha – Gujarat)
Minister of State (MoS)- Anupriya Patel(Constituency- Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, UP); Jadhav Prataprao Ganpatrao (Constituency- Buldhana, Maharashtra)