NFHS-6 shows institutional deliveries in India rise to 90.6 per cent in 2023-24

The sixth National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6), released on 29 May 2026, reports that 90.6 per cent of births in India now take place in a hospital or other recognised health facility. The figure has risen from 88.6 per cent during the 2019-2021 round (NFHS-5), bringing India closer to universal coverage of institutional delivery.

Institutional delivery means childbirth in a licensed health facility under the supervision of trained medical staff. It sharply reduces the risk of death for both mother and newborn because emergency obstetric care, hygienic conditions and specialised equipment are available on the spot.

The survey was carried out during 2023-24 by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, acted as the nodal agency. Field teams covered close to 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts, giving the government district-level data on population, nutrition and family welfare.

Antenatal indicators also improved. Pregnant women receiving antenatal care touched 95.9 per cent. The share registering antenatal care in the first trimester rose from 70 per cent to 76.2 per cent. Women receiving at least four antenatal visits, the WHO-recommended minimum, rose from 58.5 per cent to 65.2 per cent.

Caesarean section births grew from 21.5 per cent to 27.2 per cent. The rise was steeper in private facilities (47.4 to 54.1 per cent) than in public hospitals (14.3 to 16.9 per cent). Births attended by skilled health personnel improved from 89.4 per cent to 91.3 per cent. Postnatal care for newborns within two days of delivery rose from 79.1 per cent to 85.3 per cent.

Maternal nutrition also showed gains. Mothers consuming iron-folic acid (IFA) tablets for 100 days or more during pregnancy rose from 44.1 per cent to 54.9 per cent. Those consuming IFA for 180 days or more rose from 26 per cent to 37.8 per cent.

The Ministry of Health attributed the gains to focused implementation of schemes such as Janani Suraksha Yojana, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram, Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan, Facility-Based Newborn Care, Home-Based Newborn Care and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Together these programmes have strengthened antenatal and postnatal coverage and made institutional childbirth more accessible.