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India Charts New Horizons for Mothers and Children: Major Strides Through Transformative Health Initiatives

Swarnadwip Nath Published Aug 15, 2025, 09:06 PM Updated Sep 16, 2026, 08:51 AM

Key Highlights Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped to 97 per 100,000 live births—an 83% reduction since 1990, outpacing the global average. Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) now stands at 28 per 1,000 live births; Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) at 32 per 1,000—s...

Key Highlights

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has dropped to 97 per 100,000 live births—an 83% reduction since 1990, outpacing the global average.
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) now stands at 28 per 1,000 live births; Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) at 32 per 1,000—steep declines reflecting robust child health reforms.
Programs such as Ayushman Bharat, National Health Mission, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN) have created a safety net for millions of mothers and children across rural and urban India.
Over 1.76 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs deliver universal, comprehensive health services, helping raise antenatal checkups and institutional deliveries to new highs.
India’s model now serves as a beacon for global health efforts, spotlighted during World Health Day 2025.

National Progress: Indicators and Long-Term Trends

India’s decline in MMR from 130 (2014–16) to 97 (2018–20) leads the region, and states like Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have surpassed the Sustainable Development Goal target.

IMR fell from 39 to 28 (2014–2020) and U5MR from 45 to 32. Since the 1990s, NMR is down 65%, IMR 69%, and U5MR 75%—beating worldwide reductions.

These trends flow from continuous, government-driven reforms with a focus on equity, quality, and community participation.

Innovations and Interventions Shaping Today’s Success

Ayushman Bharat’s Health & Wellness Centres (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) have screened 107 crore citizens for hypertension and 94 crore for diabetes, supporting overall family health.

The Mother and Child Protection Card, Safe Motherhood Booklet, and the digital Reproductive and Child Health Portal track and boost care for every expectant mother and newborn.

Anaemia Mukt Bharat, part of POSHAN Abhiyan, combines nutrition interventions with screening and education, continuing to address a key risk for mothers and children.

Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram enable safe, cashless deliveries, especially in low-resource settings.

Care Where It’s Needed Most

Birth Waiting Homes, expanded outreach via VHSNDs, and community-based inoculation are making a difference in remote, tribal, and hard-to-reach areas.

Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are the backbone of the grassroots public health system, mobilizing women for antenatal care, institutional deliveries, and follow-up visits.

Over 17,000 government health facilities are now certified for quality assurance, and 5 crore wellness sessions (including yoga and meditation) have been held, fostering total wellbeing.

Looking Forward: A Healthier Generation

Universal Immunization now includes 12 vaccines, helping India not only sustain polio-free status since 2014 but also prevent pneumonia, tetanus, and more.

Digital health (ABDM, eSanjeevani) plus mental wellness initiatives are integrating holistic care across the life cycle.

With greater access, digital monitoring, and continuous innovation, India remains committed to meeting — and inspiring — the world’s maternal and child health targets.

Source: Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Economic Times, DD News, NDTV, VisionIAS, World Health Day 2025

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