NFHS-6 Report 2026: Key Findings on Maternal Health, Child Nutrition & Immunisation

NFHS-6 Report 2026: Explore the key findings of NFHS-6 (2023-24), including improvements in child nutrition, immunisation coverage, maternal healthcare, institutional deliveries, family planning, women's empowerment, and health insurance coverage in India.

Table of Contents

Context

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released the findings of the National Family Health Survey-6 (NFHS-6), conducted during 2023-24.

What is NFHS?

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted across India to collect data on population health, nutrition, fertility, family planning, maternal and child health, and socio-economic indicators. The survey serves as an important tool for evidence-based policymaking and monitoring national health goals.

NFHS-5 vs NFHS-6: Key Highlights

Improvements in Child Health and Nutrition

India has made remarkable progress in reducing child malnutrition and disease burden.

Indicator	NFHS-5 (2019-21)	NFHS-6 (2023-24)
Stunting (Under-5 Children)	35.5%	29.3%
Severe Wasting	7.7%	5.2%
Underweight Children	32.1%	31.8%
Acute Respiratory Infection Symptoms	2.8%	1.9%
Severe Diarrhoea	Higher	0.5%

Key Takeaways

Stunting declined by more than 6 percentage points.
Severe wasting witnessed a significant reduction.
Child morbidity due to respiratory infections and diarrhoea has decreased considerably.
Improved nutrition interventions and healthcare access contributed to better child health outcomes.

Progress Towards Universal Immunisation

The survey highlights strong gains in vaccine coverage across the country.

Indicator	NFHS-5	NFHS-6
Fully Vaccinated Children (12-23 Months)	83.8%	87.1%
Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage	36.4%	85.4%
Second Dose of Measles Vaccine	58.6%	71.8%
Vaccinations Through Public Facilities	–	95.6%

Significance

India is moving closer to universal immunisation coverage.
Rotavirus vaccine coverage more than doubled during the period.
Improved vaccination rates are expected to reduce infant and child mortality.

Rise in Institutional Deliveries

Institutional deliveries continue to increase, ensuring safer childbirth and reducing maternal mortality.

Indicator	NFHS-5	NFHS-6
Institutional Deliveries	88.6%	90.6%

Impact

More women are opting for deliveries in healthcare facilities.
Access to skilled birth attendants has improved.
Maternal and neonatal health outcomes are expected to improve further.

Maternal Health Indicators Show Positive Trends

Maternal healthcare services have expanded significantly.

Indicator	NFHS-5	NFHS-6
First Trimester ANC Registration	70%	76.2%
Four or More ANC Visits	58.5%	65.2%
Pregnant Women Receiving ANC	–	95.9%

Why It Matters

Early antenatal registration helps identify high-risk pregnancies.
Regular antenatal care improves maternal and child health outcomes.
Better healthcare awareness has encouraged women to seek timely medical care.

Fertility and Family Planning Trends

India’s demographic transition continues to stabilize.

Indicator	NFHS-5	NFHS-6
Total Fertility Rate (TFR)	2.0	2.0
Contraceptive Prevalence Rate	66.7%	69.1%

Analysis

India’s fertility rate remains at replacement level.
Increased contraceptive use indicates greater awareness and acceptance of family planning methods.
Population growth is gradually stabilizing across most regions.

Women’s Empowerment and Social Development

NFHS-6 highlights major progress in digital inclusion and financial empowerment of women.

Indicator	NFHS-5	NFHS-6
Women Using Internet	33.3%	64.3%
Women Owning and Using Bank Accounts	78.6%	89%
Women Using Mobile Phones	53.9%	63.6%
Hygienic Menstrual Protection Use (15-24 Years)	77.6%	79.2%
Households Covered by Health Insurance	41%	60.2%

Major Achievements

Internet access among women nearly doubled.
Financial inclusion has expanded significantly.
Health insurance coverage increased sharply, improving healthcare affordability.
Menstrual hygiene awareness continues to improve.

Factors Driving Improvement

Several government programmes have contributed to these positive outcomes:

Poshan Abhiyaan
Mission Indradhanush
Janani Suraksha Yojana
Ayushman Bharat – PM-JAY
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana
National Health Mission
Digital Health Initiatives

Challenges That Remain

Despite substantial progress, certain challenges require continued attention:

Child underweight prevalence remains high.
Regional disparities in healthcare access persist.
Anaemia among women and children remains a concern.
Quality of healthcare services needs further strengthening.
Last-mile delivery of nutrition services requires improvement.

Read More Notes
Environment Notes	Art and Culture Notes
Science and Tech	History Notes
Geography Notes	Indian Polity Notes
General Knowledge	International Relation