Social IssuesGovernance
News 5 of 25

NFHS-6 (2023-24) Records Gains in Child Nutrition, Maternal Care; Drops 30 Key Indicators Including Anaemia and Mortality

Social IssuesPolityHIGH
Target:UPSC GS-IMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
09 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:2023-24101 indicators131 indicators (NFHS-5)~6.8 lakh households22.3% spousal violence52.7% modern contraception
Bodies:Ministry of Health and Family WelfareInternational Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition (NIN)
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.NFHS-6 preliminary results show improvements in maternal care (antenatal check-ups up ~7%), institutional births, and women's internet usage, but declines in exclusive breastfeeding and modern contraception use.

2.The survey's fact sheet has been reduced to 101 indicators from 131, omitting critical data series on anaemia, infant mortality, sex ratio at birth, sanitation coverage, and cancer screening.

3.Key exam angle: The removal of these indicators creates a data vacuum for evaluating schemes like Anaemia Mukt Bharat and the Swachh Bharat Mission, shifting tracking to other surveys like the Diet and Biomarkers Survey and the Sample Registration System.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) shows progress in maternal care and child nutrition but has controversially dropped 30 key indicators like anaemia and infant mortality from its preliminary results. This creates data gaps for tracking flagship health schemes and understanding demographic trends, a critical point for governance and social justice sections in exams.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

NFHS-6 Year2023-24
Indicators in NFHS-6101 (vs 131 in NFHS-5)
Households Surveyed~6.8 Lakh
Spousal Violence (NFHS-6)22.3% (down from 29.3%)
Modern Contraception Use52.7% (down from 56.4%)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›NFHS-6 Year: 2023-24
  • ›Indicators in NFHS-6: 101 (vs 131 in NFHS-5)
  • ›Target this Data: NFHS-6 covered 2023-24 and ~6.8 lakh households.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) conducts NFHS.
  • ›Target this Scheme: Anaemia Mukt Bharat campaign launched in 2018.

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

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

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which institute is designated by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to conduct the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the findings and changes in NFHS-6 (2023-24):

1. The preliminary fact sheet of NFHS-6 contains more indicators than the previous NFHS-5 round.

2. NFHS-6 has reintroduced biological HIV testing as part of its clinical, anthropometric and biochemical testing schedule.

3. The survey recorded a decline in the percentage of women experiencing spousal violence compared to NFHS-5.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the NFHS-6 preliminary findings, what was the approximate number of households from which data was recorded?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary reason cited in the article for dropping the anaemia indicator from the NFHS-6 preliminary fact sheet?

All 25 MCQs ▸
Read original article from The Hindu
You finished this topic
Practice 3 MCQs from this newsNext Article
Explore Related Topics
Social IssuesView Topic MCQs →PolityView Topic MCQs →
PreviousKarnataka Revises Minimum Wages to ₹23,376 in Bengaluru, ₹19,318 in Rural Areas Across 81 SectorsNext Allahabad HC Flags 4,800 Preventive Detentions in UP, Orders ₹2 Lakh Compensation for Illegal Detention Under BNSS Sections 126, 135, 170
Related Current Affairs
Social Issues Current Affairs

India's Exclusive Breastfeeding Rate Drops to 55.8% in NFHS-6, Reversing NFHS-5 Gains

India's exclusive breastfeeding rate for infants under six months has declined to 55.8% in NFHS-6 (2023-24), reversing the gains from NFHS-5 (63.7%). The decline varies by state, with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh seeing the steepest drops. The article explores potential causes: reduced postnatal support, rising C-section rates (27.2%), and women's return to work. This is a key data point for UPSC prelims and a case study for mains on maternal and child health policy.

Social Issues Current Affairs

NEET-PG Threshold Cut to 0 Percentile, NMC Flags 100+ Medical Colleges Over Quality Concerns

India's rapid expansion of medical education—doubling medical colleges and lowering NEET-PG thresholds to zero percentile—is compromising training quality and endangering patient safety. The NMC has flagged over 100 colleges for deficiencies, but deeper issues like faculty shortages and inadequate patient volume persist.

Social Issues Current Affairs

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY: 60 Cr Beneficiaries, 13 Cr Treatments, ₹2 Lakh Crore Savings in 8 Years

Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, the world's largest health insurance scheme, completes 8 years with 60 crore beneficiaries, 13 crore hospitalisations, and ₹2 lakh crore in savings. The scheme provides ₹5 lakh cashless cover per family annually, with 48.5 crore Ayushman cards issued. This news is significant for exams as it tests understanding of India's health infrastructure and government welfare schemes.

Polity Current Affairs

NCAHP Notifies 2026 Registration Regulations: Mandatory UID for 57 Allied Healthcare Professions

The NCAHP has notified the Registration of Allied and Healthcare Professionals Regulations, 2026, making it mandatory for 57 categories of professionals to register with State and Central registers and obtain a Unique Identification (UID) number. This regulation aims to bring transparency, verification, and standardization in allied healthcare services, with penalties including jail term for non-compliance. Students and existing unqualified practitioners have interim and provisional registration pathways.

Polity Current Affairs

Census 2027: 40 Questions Cleared for Enumeration, Including Caste and Aadhaar Details

The Centre has formally cleared 40 specified items for the Census 2027 Household Schedule, including politically sensitive questions on caste and Aadhaar details. This is not just a data exercise — it will shape demographic planning, welfare targeting, and social policy, making it a high-yield current affairs topic for exams.

Social Issues Current Affairs

Gadchiroli Model: 62.2% Reduction in Neonatal Mortality; ASHA-Led Home Care Key to Decongesting SNCUs

India's success in increasing institutional deliveries to 90% has led to overcrowded Special Newborn Care Units (SNCUs), resulting in preventable neonatal deaths from fires and infections. The Gadchiroli model offers a complementary home-based neonatal care (HBNC) strategy using trained ASHAs, which can reduce overload on hospitals and improve newborn survival.

Polity Current Affairs

SC Questions FSSAI's Two-Phase FoPL Rollout, Seeks Timeline & Nutritional Literacy in Schools by Sep 28

The Supreme Court has directed the FSSAI to provide a clear timeline for its two-phase front-of-pack warning label rollout and to consider an alternative model based on nutrient thresholds. The Court also asked the Centre to introduce nutritional literacy in school curricula. This is crucial for exam aspirants as it involves judicial oversight on food safety regulation, public health policy, and education reform.

Polity Current Affairs

Health Ministry Backs Same-Sex Partners' Medical Decision Rights Under Mental Healthcare Act, 2017

The Union Health Ministry has told the Delhi High Court that excluding same-sex partners from making medical decisions for each other solely based on sexual orientation is unethical. This marks a significant administrative shift, though the government maintains that 'spouse' under Indian marriage laws only applies to heterosexual couples, creating a nuanced legal landscape for exam aspirants.

Start Today's Quiz(25 Qs)