CBPS conducted a study in collaboration with the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences in the area of early childhood care and education (ECCE) to understand the social determinants of early childhood development, and the role of public and private institutions in fostering these determinants. A comparative evaluation of ECCE status, provisions and child educational outcomes was made across two states – Karnataka and West Bengal, through primary fieldwork, with the view to understand children’s development in relation to political, economic, social and familial factors.