The NFHS‑6 covering 6.79 lakh households in 715 districts was released by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in 2026. The survey compares 2023‑24 data with NFHS‑5 (2019‑21) and highlights progress in maternal‑child health, immunisation, nutrition and financial protection.
Key Developments
- Institutional deliveries rose to 90.6 % (up from 88.6 %).
- ANC coverage increased to 95.9 %, with first‑trimester visits up to 76.2 %.
- Full vaccination among children 12‑23 months reached 87.1 %, and 95.6 % of doses were delivered through public facilities.
- Rotavirus vaccine coverage jumped from 36.4 % to 85.4 %.
- Stunting among under‑five children fell to 29.3 % and severe wasting to 5.2 %.
- Health‑insurance coverage at the household level climbed to 60.2 %.
- Women’s internet use rose from 33.3 % to 64.3 %, and bank‑account ownership increased to 89 %.
Important Facts
Maternal nutrition improved: iron‑folic acid supplement intake for ≥100 days rose to 54.9 %, and for ≥180 days to 37.8 %. Skilled birth attendance reached 91.3 %, and post‑natal care within two days rose to 85.3 %.
Family planning indicators show a stable TFR of 2.0 and a contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) of 69.1 %.
Public health schemes such as JSY, PM‑JAY and POSHAN Abhiyaan have been instrumental in these gains.
Exam Relevance
- Understanding NFHS data helps answer GS3 questions on health indicators, SDG progress and policy impact.
- Maternal‑child health schemes (JSY, PMJAY) illustrate the role of central‑state coordination and fiscal allocation (GS4).
- Nutrition trends (stunting, wasting) link to SDG‑2 and inform debates on food security and public distribution (GS3).
- Financial protection through health insurance aligns with universal health coverage goals (GS3, GS4).
Way Forward
To sustain momentum, the government should strengthen last‑mile delivery, expand digital health tracking, and address emerging challenges such as non‑communicable diseases and rising obesity. Continued convergence of health, nutrition and women‑empowerment programmes will be crucial for meeting SDG targets by 2030.