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India Achieves 41% Drop in U5MR, NMR Down 37% Through RMNCAH+N Strategy and ASHA-Led Community Outreach

PolitySocial IssuesCORE
Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
15 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:41% U5MR decline37% NMR declineU5MR 28NMR 18Full immunisation 82.6%Rotavirus coverage 85.4%
Bodies:UN IGMENITI Aayog
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What This Article Covers

1.India recorded a 41% decline in under-five mortality and 37% in neonatal mortality between 2014-2024, exceeding global reductions.

2.Operationalizing the RMNCAH+N strategy, building massive newborn care infrastructure, and leveraging ASHAs for home-based care were key interventions.

3.Examiners will focus on data from UN IGME 2025 Report, NFHS-6 improvements, and the specific roles of schemes and frontline workers like ASHAs and ANMs.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

India has outperformed global averages by significantly reducing child mortality, moving closer to SDG targets ahead of schedule. This achievement is a direct result of a systematic, continuum-of-care strategy backed by frontline health workers and robust digital systems, offering a case study for other developing nations.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

U5MR Decline (2014-24)41%
Neonatal Mortality Decline37%
India's U5MR (2024)28 per 1000 live births
India's NMR (2024)18 per 1000 live births
Full Immunization (NFHS-6)82.6%
Rotavirus Vaccine Coverage85.4% (2023-24)
Stunting Reduction29.3% (NFHS-6) from 35.5%
SNCUs & NICUs>1100 units

1-Minute Revision

  • ›U5MR Decline (2014-24): 41%
  • ›Neonatal Mortality Decline: 37%
  • ›Target this Data: 41% decline in U5MR (2014-24) vs global 18%; 37% decline in NMR.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UN IGME).
  • ›Target this Strategy: Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N).

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which of the following bodies is responsible for publishing the 'UN IGME Report' cited in the article?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding India's progress in child mortality as per the article:

1. India's reduction in under-five mortality between 2014 and 2024 was lower than the global average reduction.

2. The Mother and Child Protection Card is used for growth monitoring and immunisation tracking by ASHAs and ANMs.

3. The hub-and-spoke model strengthens referral linkages between different levels of healthcare facilities for newborns.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the NFHS-6 report mentioned in the article, what was the percentage of children aged 12–23 months who received full immunisation coverage?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective of the structured life-cycle approach anchored in the RMNCAH+N strategy, as highlighted in the article?

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