As affirmed by the Committee on the Rights of the Child, early childhood is a critical period  for realising children's rights. Young children’s earliest years are the foundation for children’s well being, growth and development and it has been shaped by the culture and environment they grow in. While extensive  research has been carried out  on the distinctive features of early childhood, the committee observed that it is limited to certain contexts and regions of the world. Therefore, the Committee encourages States ‘to develop national and local capacities for early childhood research, especially from a rights-based perspective’ (General Comment No. 7, para. 40). This indicator examines if State policies or strategies on ECCE include provisions related to early childhood research.