Why in the news
The latest Sample Registration System bulletin showed MMR improving by just one point, a near-stall after two decades of steep decline.
Key facts
- MMR: the count of mothers dying from pregnancy-linked causes for every 1,00,000 live births.
- Release: a Sample Registration System bulletin issued by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner’s office (Home Ministry).
- Latest: 87 for 2022-24, against 88 for 2021-23.
- SDG 3.1: global MMR below 70 by 2030; India’s 87 is still above that mark.
| Reference period | Ratio recorded |
|---|
| 2022-24 (latest) | 87 |
| 2021-23 | 88 |
| 2020-22 | 88 |
| 2007-09 (baseline) | 212 |
State picture
| Group | States |
|---|
| Strong improvers (cut 11-29 points) | Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Telangana |
| Cut of 10 points each | Tamil Nadu, West Bengal |
| High-birth states that improved | Bihar, Madhya Pradesh |
| Worsened | Jharkhand (largest rise), Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat |
| Highest MMR | Uttar Pradesh, 154 |
Global and regional comparison
- Ahead of India: China, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam.
- Behind India: Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, Myanmar.
- The world average is pushed up by very high MMR in parts of sub-Saharan Africa.
Background
- Definition (WHO): maternal deaths per 1,00,000 live births in a period; a maternal death means a woman dying while pregnant, or up to 42 days after the pregnancy ends, due to any cause tied to or aggravated by pregnancy or its handling; accidental or incidental causes are excluded.
- Maternal Mortality Rate: deaths per 1,00,000 women aged 15-49.
- Lifetime risk: chance a 15-year-old girl eventually dies of a maternal cause; combines MMR with fertility rate.
- MMR is preferred for comparisons because it isolates risk per pregnancy.
- Main causes: postpartum haemorrhage (largest), hypertensive disorders such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, sepsis, obstructed labour, unsafe abortion, and indirect causes such as anaemia, malnutrition, malaria and TB.
Policy response
| Scheme | Role |
|---|
| Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) | Conditional cash transfer promoting institutional deliveries, mainly in EAG states |
| Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) | Free delivery, C-section, drugs, diagnostics, blood and transport in public facilities |
| PMSMA and e-PMSMA | Free antenatal care on the 9th of every month, focus on high-risk pregnancies |
| SUMAN | Zero tolerance for denial of services to pregnant women |
| LaQshya | Better quality of care in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres |
| Anaemia Mukt Bharat, POSHAN 2.0 | Tackle anaemia and nutrition among adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women |
| PMMVY 2.0 | Maternity benefit scheme |
Concerns
- Progress is slowing; the last mile in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat needs stronger system-level reforms.
Exam angle
- Data source for MMR in India: Sample Registration System (SRS).
- Highest-MMR state: Uttar Pradesh (154).
- PMSMA day: 9th of every month; LaQshya is a health-sector programme.