Consider the following statements regarding India's progress in maternal and infant health indicators:

1. India has achieved the National Health Policy (NHP) target of a maternal mortality rate of 100 deaths per one lakh live births.

2. India recorded an over 80% decline in MMR between 1990 and 2020, which was much higher than the decline in Global MMR.

3. The decline observed in Infant Mortality Rate in India between 1990-2020 was higher than the global decline in IMR.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct answer is option 4.

In News

• India has successfully achieved the National Health Policy (NHP) target of reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR) to 100 deaths per one lakh live births, as announced by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda. 

Key Points

• India has achieved the NHP target of an MMR of 100 deaths per lakh live births, marking a major milestone in maternal health. Hence, Statement 1 is correct.
• Between 1990 and 2020, India recorded an 83% decline in MMR, a rate significantly higher than the global decline. Hence, Statement 2 is correct.
• The decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India during this period was 69%, whereas the global IMR decline was 55%, meaning India performed better than the global average. Hence, Statement 3 is correct.

Additional Information

• India also saw a 75% decline in Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) between 1990 and 2020, while the global decline was 58%.
• The Mission Steering Group under the National Health Mission (NHM) plays a crucial role in monitoring and policymaking for maternal and child health.
• The government has emphasized initiatives such as BHISHM (Bharat Health Initiative for Sahyog Hita and Maitri) to strengthen healthcare infrastructure.
• ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers continue to play a vital role in maternal and child healthcare programs at the grassroots level.