India Makes Strides in Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality, Nearing SDG 2030 Targets

Time of India

10-05-2025

New Delhi: India continues to make significant strides in improving maternal and child health, with a notable reduction in key health indicators, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2021, released by the Registrar General of India (RGI) on 7th May 2025.
These developments are critical as India works towards achieving the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 2030 targets.
The report highlights a substantial decrease in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which has fallen by 37 points from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 93 in 2019-21.
This achievement marks a steady downward trend towards India's goal of reducing MMR to 70 per lakh live births by 2030.
In addition, child mortality rates continue to decline, with the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropping from 39 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 27 per 1000 live births in 2021. Similarly, the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has decreased from 26 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 19 per 1000 live births in 2021.
The Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR) has also seen significant improvement, declining from 45 per 1000 live births in 2014 to 31 per 1000 live births in 2021.
India's fertility rate remains consistent at 2.0 in 2021, showing a steady trajectory toward demographic stabilization. The Sex Ratio at Birth has improved from 899 in 2014 to 913 in 2021, further highlighting progress in gender equity.
The report indicates that eight states have already achieved the SDG target for MMR (<=70), including Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Additionally, twelve states/UTs have attained the SDG target for U5MR (<=25), while six states/UTs have already met the SDG target for NMR (<=12).
According to the United Nations Maternal Mortality Estimation Inter-agency Group (UN-MMEIG) Report 2000-2023, India has reduced its MMR by 86 per cent from 1990 to 2023, compared to the global reduction of 48 per cent during the same period.
Similarly, India's performance in reducing Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR), Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR), and Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) surpasses global reductions.
The Union Health Ministry stated that flagship health schemes like Ayushman Bharat, have played a crucial role in improving maternal and child health.
Ayushman Bharat, the world's largest health assurance initiative, provides financial coverage of up to ₹5 lakh per family, ensuring access to essential services.
"Strategic interventions focus on ensuring that every pregnant woman receives free institutional deliveries, including caesarean sections, along with complimentary transport, medication, diagnostics, and nutritional support in public health facilities.
The establishment of specialized health infrastructure, including Maternity Waiting Homes, Obstetric High Dependency Units (HDUs), Sick Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), and Newborn Stabilization Units (NBSUs), has contributed to improved maternal and child survival outcomes," the statement added.
Further informed that significant advancements were seen in clinical practices, such as the administration of antenatal corticosteroids for preterm labor and the use of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) for neonatal care.
These measures have helped ensure safe pregnancies and healthy live births for millions of families each year.
Ensuring equitable access to quality healthcare is a top priority. The Ministry of Health has strengthened healthcare infrastructure, trained skilled birth attendants, midwives, and community health workers, and implemented quality certification programs to enhance healthcare services across the country.
Additionally, digital platforms have been integrated into the health system for real-time surveillance, enabling data-driven, evidence-based decision-making that further strengthens maternal and child health policies.