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India’s Progress in Maternal and Child Health, Immunisation, and Nutrition: Insights from NFHS-6

May 31, 2026

India’s Progress in Maternal and Child Health, Immunisation, and Nutrition: Insights from NFHS-6

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) recently released the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) report on May 29, 2026, showcasing significant advancements in India’s maternal and child health indicators. Conducted during 2023-24, this comprehensive survey covered approximately 679,000 households across 715 districts and provides critical data on population health, nutrition, and family welfare to guide effective policies and programs at the district level.

Key Improvements in Maternal and Child Healthcare

NFHS-6 reveals substantial progress in the continuum of maternal and child healthcare services, reflecting enhanced public health infrastructure and targeted government interventions through flagship schemes such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY 2.0).

95.9% of pregnant women received antenatal care (ANC), a rise from previous surveys.
Mothers receiving ANC during the first trimester increased from 70% to 76.2%.
Increase in mothers having at least four ANC visits from 58.5% to 65.2%, ensuring better continuity of care.
Institutional deliveries grew from 88.6% to 90.6%, advancing toward universal coverage.
Births attended by skilled health personnel increased from 89.4% to 91.3%.
Postnatal care within two days of delivery improved from 79.1% to 85.3%.
Maternal nutrition strengthened with mothers taking iron folic acid supplements for 100 days or more rising from 44.1% to 54.9%, and those taking them for 180 days or more increasing from 26.0% to 37.8%.

Family Planning Advances

India’s total fertility rate has stabilized at 2.0, while the contraceptive prevalence rate rose from 66.7% to 69.1%. These improvements highlight enhanced access to family planning services and women’s reproductive well-being, supported by national programs like Mission Parivar Vikas.

Successful Child Immunisation Expansion

Child immunisation coverage continues to see positive growth, reinforcing India’s strides toward universal immunisation:

Full vaccination coverage for children aged 12-23 months based on vaccination cards increased from 83.8% to 87.1%.
More than 95.6% of vaccinations were delivered at public health facilities, indicating strong community trust in public healthcare.
Significant rise in rotavirus vaccine coverage from 36.4% to 85.4%.
Second dose of measles-containing vaccine coverage increased from 58.6% to 71.8%.
Decline in acute respiratory infection symptoms among children from 2.8% to 1.9% and severe diarrhoea from 0.5%.

Positive Trends in Child Nutrition

NFHS-6 reports encouraging improvements in child nutrition with ongoing efforts under POSHAN Abhiyaan and related nutrition programs:

95.6% of children under six months were breastfed.
Children breastfed within one hour of birth increased from 41.8% to 50.1%.
Stunting in children under five declined sharply from 35.5% to 29.3%, reflecting better long-term nutrition.
Severe wasting decreased from 7.7% to 5.2%, and underweight prevalence marginally declined from 32.1% to 31.8%.
Increase in children aged 6-8 months receiving solid or semi-solid food along with breast milk from 45.9% to 59.5%.

Expansion of Health Protection and Financial Inclusion

Health insurance coverage at the household level surged from 41.0% to 60.2%, reflecting the impact of government initiatives like Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) aimed at increasing healthcare affordability and access for vulnerable groups. This marks a crucial step towards achieving universal health coverage in India.

Advancements in Women’s Empowerment and Digital Inclusion

NFHS-6 highlights continued progress in women’s financial and digital empowerment:

Women who have ever used the internet nearly doubled from 33.3% to 64.3%.
Women with their own bank or savings accounts increased from 78.6% to 89.0%.
Women owning mobile phones rose from 53.9% to 63.6%.
Use of hygienic menstrual protection among women aged 15-24 years increased from 77.6% to 79.2%, supported by programs under the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram and affordable sanitary product initiatives.

Challenges and Future Directions

While NFHS-6 demonstrates substantial progress, emerging challenges like the rise of non-communicable diseases, lifestyle-related risk factors, and the coexistence of undernutrition alongside increasing overweight and obesity in adults demand sustained focus on preventive healthcare, lifestyle modification, and balanced nutrition strategies.

Conclusion

The findings of NFHS-6 affirm India’s steady advancement towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health, nutrition, and social well-being. Continued emphasis on policy convergence, last-mile service delivery, and inclusive growth will be crucial to maintaining momentum and improving the quality of life for India’s population.