By: Vandana Jhingan

India has recorded substantial progress in maternal healthcare, child nutrition, immunization, and health insurance coverage, according to the findings of the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6), the country’s most comprehensive assessment of health and demographic indicators.

The survey highlights notable improvements in maternal and child health outcomes, reflecting the impact of sustained investments in healthcare infrastructure, public health programs, and community-based service delivery across the country.

One of the most encouraging findings is the continued rise in institutional deliveries, which increased from 88.6 percent to 90.6 percent. Births attended by skilled health personnel also rose to 91.3 percent, while nearly 96 percent of pregnant women received antenatal care. Early antenatal registration during the first trimester improved significantly, increasing from 70 percent to 76.2 percent. Postnatal care for newborns within the first two days after birth also showed marked improvement.

Maternal nutrition indicators revealed positive gains, with the proportion of women consuming iron and folic acid supplements for at least 100 days during pregnancy increasing from 44.1 percent to 54.9 percent.

The survey also reports strong progress toward universal immunization. Full vaccination coverage among children aged 12 to 23 months increased from 83.8 percent to 87.1 percent. Rotavirus vaccine coverage more than doubled, rising from 36.4 percent to 85.4 percent, while coverage of the second dose of the measles vaccine increased from 58.6 percent to 71.8 percent. Public health facilities continue to play a critical role, providing most vaccinations to over 95 percent of children.

Child nutrition indicators showed significant improvement as well. Stunting among children under five years of age declined from 35.5 percent to 29.3 percent, while severe wasting fell from 7.7 percent to 5.2 percent. Health experts attribute these gains to the combined impact of nutrition, sanitation, maternal health, and child welfare initiatives implemented across the country.

Another major achievement highlighted by NFHS-6 is the expansion of health insurance coverage. The proportion of households covered under a health insurance or health financing scheme increased sharply from 41 percent to 60.2 percent, providing greater financial protection against medical expenses and improving access to healthcare services for millions of families.

The survey findings underscore India’s continuing efforts to strengthen its healthcare system and improve health outcomes for women and children. Public health experts view the results as an important milestone in the country’s journey toward achieving universal health coverage and ensuring healthier lives for future generations.