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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) of India released the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) on May 29, 2026, highlighting significant advancements in maternal and child health, immunisation coverage, and nutrition across the country. Conducted during 2023-24 in collaboration with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, the survey covered nearly 679,000 households across 715 districts, providing crucial data for evidence-based planning and program implementation at the district level.

Key Findings of NFHS-6

The survey demonstrates measurable improvements in health, nutrition, and social development indicators, reflecting the impact of sustained policy interventions and flagship health programs. Here, we explore the key achievements from NFHS-5 (2019-21) to NFHS-6 (2023-24).

Safe Motherhood and Enhanced Maternal & Child Healthcare

95.9% of pregnant women received antenatal care (ANC), with early ANC in the first trimester rising from 70.0% to 76.2%.
Mothers receiving at least four ANC visits increased from 58.5% to 65.2%, indicating improved continuity in maternal healthcare.
Institutional deliveries in health facilities increased from 88.6% to 90.6%, moving India closer to universal coverage.
Births attended by skilled health personnel improved from 89.4% to 91.3%, while postnatal care for newborns within two days of delivery rose from 79.1% to 85.3%.
Maternal nutrition improved, with iron folic acid supplement consumption for 100 days or more increasing from 44.1% to 54.9% and for 180 days or more from 26.0% to 37.8%.

These gains have been driven by strengthened public health infrastructure and the successful implementation of initiatives such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA/e-PMSMA), Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), Facility Based Newborn Care, Home-Based Newborn Care, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY 2.0). These programs enhance antenatal and postnatal care coverage, ensuring safe motherhood and improved child health practices.

Family Planning Improvements

India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) remains stable at 2.0, indicating sustained family planning efforts. The Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) increased from 66.7% to 69.1%, reflecting better access to family planning services. These advances underscore the effectiveness of national family planning programs, including Mission Parivar Vikas.

Child Immunisation Success

Full vaccination coverage among children aged 12-23 months increased from 83.8% to 87.1%.
Public health facilities provided 95.6% of vaccinations, signifying strong community trust.
Rotavirus vaccination coverage increased dramatically from 36.4% to 85.4%, while the second dose of measles-containing vaccine coverage rose from 58.6% to 71.8%.
Prevalence of acute respiratory infections among children declined from 2.8% to 1.9%, and severe diarrhoea prevalence dropped to 0.5%.

These improvements reflect enhanced last-mile service delivery by frontline health workers, better cold chain infrastructure, digital tracking systems such as U-WIN, and active community engagement under India’s Universal Immunisation Programme.

Progress in Child Nutrition

Breastfeeding rates for children under six months stood at 95.6%, with early initiation within the first hour of birth rising from 41.8% to 50.1%.
Stunting among children under five decreased significantly from 35.5% to 29.3%, indicating improvement in long-term nutritional status.
Severe wasting declined sharply from 7.7% to 5.2%, and underweight prevalence marginally dropped from 32.1% to 31.8%.
Children aged 6-8 months receiving solid or semi-solid food alongside breastmilk increased from 45.9% to 59.5%.

These positive trends are driven by collaborative efforts through flagship initiatives such as POSHAN Abhiyaan, Saksham Anganwadi, POSHAN 2.0, and strong support from the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS). Complementary programs under the National Health Mission, including Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres (NRCs), Mother’s Absolute Affection (MAA), and Iron and Folic Acid supplementation, further support improved child nutrition outcomes.

Expansion of Health Protection

Health insurance and financing scheme coverage has surged from 41.0% to 60.2% at the household level, highlighting the success of government-led schemes aiming to enhance financial protection in healthcare. Programs like Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY) have significantly increased access to affordable healthcare, especially for vulnerable populations. This progress marks a vital step towards universal health coverage and equitable healthcare access across India.

Women’s Empowerment and Financial Inclusion

Women who have used the internet nearly doubled from 33.3% to 64.3%.
Women having a bank or savings account used by themselves increased from 78.6% to 89.0%.
Women owning mobile phones for personal use rose from 53.9% to 63.6%.
The use of hygienic menstrual protection methods among women aged 15-24 improved from 77.6% to 79.2%, supported by initiatives such as the Menstrual Hygiene Scheme (MHS) and affordable sanitary products under various government programs.

These advancements reflect wider societal progress in digital inclusion and financial empowerment of women.

Conclusion

The NFHS-6 report provides critical insights for policymakers and health program implementers, demonstrating steady improvements in maternal and child health, nutrition, immunisation, and women’s empowerment. While encouraging progress continues, emerging challenges like non-communicable diseases, lifestyle risks, and the dual burden of undernutrition and rising overweight/obesity among adults necessitate ongoing focus on preventive healthcare and balanced nutrition strategies.

Overall, India’s trajectory aligns well with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and with continued convergence, last-mile delivery, and inclusive growth, the country is poised to sustain these gains and improve health outcomes for its population further.