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The data shows a healthcare system increasingly capable of preventing maternal death and child malnutrition
The data indicate that India’s institutional mechanisms—antenatal monitoring, skilled birth attendance, postnatal checks, iron supplementation, and breastfeeding counselling—are now reaching mothers and babies more consistently across the country. Representational image
Institutional deliveries in India have exceeded 90 per cent, according to the latest NFHS-6 data, which shows a major public health achievement.
Institutional deliveries mean births that take place in hospitals and health facilities under the care of trained doctors, nurses, or midwives and not at home. Institutional deliveries increased from 88.6% to 90.6%, while births attended by skilled health personnel improved from 89.4% to 91.3%.
The gains extend beyond delivery. Antenatal care coverage has strengthened significantly, with 95.9% of pregnant women now receiving antenatal care—the medical care and check-ups a woman receives during pregnancy before childbirth.
Data shows that mothers receiving care in the first trimester increased from 70% to 76.2%, while those receiving at least four ANC visits climbed from 58.5% to 65.2%. Postnatal care—critical for preventing maternal and infant complications—has also improved, the survey shows. Postnatal care for newborns by skilled health personnel within two days of delivery jumped from 79.1% to 85.3%.
Maternal nutrition shows the strongest gains. Mothers consuming iron folic acid supplements for 100 days or more increased from 44.1% to 54.9%, while those consuming supplements for 180 days or more rose from 26.0% to 37.8%. On infant health, data shows improvements in breastfeeding—the percentage of children under age three breastfed within one hour of birth increased by nearly 10 percentage points from 41.8% to 50.1%. Overall, 95.6% of children under six months are exclusively breastfed.
Child malnutrition—the most significant indicator of maternal and infant welfare—has declined substantially. Stunting among children under five years declined from 35.5% to 29.3%—reflecting improvement in long-term nutritional outcomes. Severe wasting declined sharply from 7.7% to 5.2%. Children aged 6-8 months receiving solid or semi-solid food along with breast milk increased from 45.9% to 59.5%, improving complementary feeding practices.
According to the health ministry, “these gains reflect strengthened public health infrastructure and improved access to maternal and child healthcare services across the country, driven by focused implementation” of schemes including Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, SUMAN, and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana.
Nutrition programmes have also contributed. The ministry, in the press release, said improvements “are driven by convergent efforts across ministries through flagship initiatives such as POSHAN Abhiyaan and Saksham Anganwadi and POSHAN 2.0, supported by strengthened service delivery under ICDS.”
The data indicate that India’s institutional mechanisms—antenatal monitoring, skilled birth attendance, postnatal checks, iron supplementation, and breastfeeding counselling—are now reaching mothers and babies more consistently across the country. While gaps remain in coverage and equity, the trajectory shows a healthcare system increasingly capable of preventing maternal death and child malnutrition.
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