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GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
RAJYA SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 425
TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 3RD FEBRUARY, 2026
CASES OF ANAEMIA AMONG WOMEN
425 SHRI C. VE. SHANMUGAM:
Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that the cases of anaemia among women in the country has been on
the rise in the country;
(b) if so, the details of such cases during the last five years, year-wise and State-wise;
(c) the initiative taken by Government to reduce the anaemia cases among women in the
country, State-wise, including Tamil Nadu; and
(d) the further steps taken by Government in this regard?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) & (b) The prevalence of anaemia among women aged 15-49 years in the country is 57.0
percent as per National Family Health Survey 5 (2019-21) and 53.1 percent as per National
Family Health Survey 4 (2015-16). The State-wise details of prevalence of anaemia in women
aged 15-49 years during the last five years is placed at Annexure 1.
(c) & (d) The Government of India implements Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy
across the country including the State of Tamil Nadu to reduce prevalence of anaemia among
children and women including pregnant women and lactating mothers through
implementation of six interventions (Prophylactic Iron and Folic Acid supplementation (IFA
Red is provided weekly to Women of Reproductive age group and IFA Red tablets (daily for
180 days) are provided to pregnant women and lactating mothers), Deworming, Intensified
Behavioural Change Communication campaign, Testing for anaemia and treatment as per
anaemia management protocols, mandatory provision of IFA fortified food in public health
programmes and addressing non nutritional causes of anaemia especially malaria, fluorosis
and hemoglobinopathies) via robust institutional mechanism.
The proactive measures include digital interventions for testing and tracking; review and
monitoring framework for anaemic beneficiaries, and systematic follow-up at the field level
by ASHA and ANM; IEC and behaviour change communication initiatives are targeted to
prevent normalizing anaemia and promote the consumption of locally available iron-rich
foods.
*****Ann exure referred to in reply to parts (a) and (b) of Rajya Sabha Unstarred Question No. 425
for answer on 3.02.2026
Annexure 1
State-wise prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15-49 years (Source: NFHS -5, 2019-21)
S.No. States/ UTs Anaemia in women (15-49 years)
1 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 57.5
2 Andhra Pradesh 58.8
3 Arunachal Pradesh 40.3
4 Assam 65.9
5 Bihar 63.5
6 Chandigarh 60.1
7 Chhattisgarh 60.8
8 Delhi 49.9
9 DNH& DD 62.5
10 Goa 39.0
11 Gujarat 65.0
12 Haryana 60.4
13 Himachal Pradesh 53.0
14 J&K 55.9
15 Jharkhand 65.3
16 Karnataka 47.8
17 Kerala 36.3
18 Ladakh 92.8
19 Lakshadweep 25.8
20 Madhya Pradesh 54.7
21 Maharashtra 54.2
22 Manipur 29.4
23 Meghalaya 53.8
24 Mizoram 34.8
25 Nagaland 28.9
26 Odisha 64.3
27 Puducherry 55.1
28 Punjab 58.7
29 Rajasthan 54.4
30 Sikkim 42.1
31 Tamil Nadu 53.4
32 Telangana 57.6
33 Tripura 67.2
34 Uttarakhand 42.6
35 Uttar Pradesh 50.4
36 West Bengal 71.4