Context:

• The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has released the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6), 2023–24.

Key Highlights:

• Nodal Agency: International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai.
• Coverage: The sixth round of the survey covered around 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts of the country.
• Basis of Assessment: The report measures changes and trends in population, health, nutrition, and family welfare indicators since NFHS-5 (2019–21).
• Significance: The data serves as a crucial framework for monitoring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and supporting evidence-based policymaking.

Major Findings:

1. Maternal Health

• Related Schemes: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY 2.0), etc.
• Institutional Deliveries: Increased from 88.6% in NFHS-5 to 90.6% in NFHS-6.
• At Least Four Antenatal Care (ANC) Visits: Improved from 58.5% in NFHS-5 to 65.2% in NFHS-6.

2. Child Immunization

• Related Schemes: Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), U-WIN Portal, Cold Chain Infrastructure.
• Full Immunization of Children (12–23 Months): Increased from 83.8% in NFHS-5 to 87.1% in NFHS-6.
• Immunization Through Public Health Facilities: Reached 95.6% in NFHS-6.

3. Child Nutrition

• Related Schemes: Poshan Abhiyaan, Saksham Anganwadi, Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres, MAA Programme, etc.
• Stunting: Declined from 35.5% in NFHS-5 to 29.3% in NFHS-6 (positive improvement).
• Wasting: Reduced from 7.7% in NFHS-5 to 5.2% in NFHS-6.
• Underweight Children: Marginally improved from 32.1% in NFHS-5 to 31.8% in NFHS-6.

4. Health Security

• Related Scheme: Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
• Families Covered by Health Insurance: Increased significantly from 41.0% in NFHS-5 to 60.2% in NFHS-6.

5. Family Planning (TFR Stable at 2.0)

• Related Scheme: Mission Parivar Vikas.
• Contraceptive Prevalence Rate: Increased from 66.7% in NFHS-5 to 69.1% in NFHS-6.

6. Women Empowerment

• Related Schemes: Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana, Stand-Up India, Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, etc.
• Women Using the Internet: Nearly doubled from 33.3% in NFHS-5 to 64.3% in NFHS-6.
• Women Having a Bank/Savings Account: Increased from 78.6% in NFHS-5 to 89.0% in NFHS-6.