Overview
The NFHS-6 (2023‑24) released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare indicates notable progress in maternal and child health, while also flagging a surge in lifestyle‑related diseases among adults. The data compare key indicators with the previous round, NFHS‑5, highlighting both successes and emerging challenges.
Key Developments (2023‑24 vs 2019‑21)
- Institutional deliveries rose from 88.6% to 90.6%.
- Antenatal care (ANC) coverage increased from 92.6% to 95.9%; women receiving at least four ANC visits grew from 58.5% to 65.2%.
- Births attended by skilled health personnel improved from 89.4% to 91.3%.
- Contraceptive Prevalence Rate climbed from 66.7% to 69.1%, while total unmet need fell from 9.4% to 8.5%.
- Total Fertility Rate remained stable at 2.0, below the replacement level of 2.1.
- Full immunisation of children (12‑23 months) increased from 83.8% to 87.1%. The second dose of measles‑containing vaccine rose from 58.6% to 71.8%.
- Rotavirus vaccine coverage more than doubled, from 36.4% to 85.4%.
- Stunting among under‑five children fell from 35.5% to 29.3%; severe wasting dropped from 7.7% to 5.2%.
- Adult overweight/obesity rose sharply: 30.7% of women and 27.3% of men (15‑49 years) are now overweight or obese.
- High blood‑sugar prevalence increased (women: 13.5% → 17.8%; men: 15.6% → 20.9%), while hypertension showed a modest decline (women: 21.3% → 19.4%; men: 24.0% → 22.1%).
Important Facts
The survey underscores that while India is moving towards universal institutional delivery and better antenatal care, the nutrition transition is evident through rising obesity and diabetes risk. The stable TFR at 2.0 suggests that family‑planning programmes are effective, yet the health system must now address non‑communicable diseases (NCDs).
Exam Relevance
These data are directly relevant to GS4 (Health & Family Welfare) and GS3 (Population & Economy). Aspirants should link the improvements in maternal‑child health to schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana and the National Immunisation Programme. The rise in obesity and diabetes ties into discussions on the epidemiological transition, NCD burden, and the need for preventive health policies.
Way Forward
Policymakers need to:
- Strengthen institutional deliveries in remote areas through mobile obstetric units.
- Expand nutrition‑sensitive interventions to curb rising obesity, especially among young adults.
- Scale up screening and management of diabetes and hypertension at primary health centres.
- Maintain high immunisation coverage by integrating newer vaccines like rotavirus into the universal immunisation schedule.
These steps will help sustain the gains in maternal‑child health while addressing the emerging NCD challenge.
Source: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare press release, 24 July 2026; full fact‑sheet available at NFHS‑6 Fact Sheet.