## Summary of Response to Lok Sabha Question No. 2167 Regarding Delays in NFHS Data and Key Health Indicators
This document summarizes the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's (MoHFW) response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2167, addressed on August 1, 2025, concerning delays in the release of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data and key health indicators such as the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).
The MoHFW conducts the NFHS, an integrated survey occurring approximately every three years. NFHS-5 was conducted during 2019-21 and its report was released in 2022. NFHS-6 has been initiated in a timely manner. This survey provides critical data on health, family welfare, and related domains, including population characteristics, fertility, family planning, infant and child mortality, maternal and child health, nutrition, morbidity and healthcare, and women's empowerment. The NFHS data serves as a vital source for monitoring the performance of government health programs and schemes.
The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is derived from the Sample Registration System (SRS), a large-scale demographic survey covering approximately 84 lakh people across 36 States/Union Territories. The latest MMR publication, covering the period 2020-2022, is accessible via https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/SRSMMB.
The MoHFW ensures timely and transparent dissemination of NFHS data through regular follow-ups with the nodal agency and review meetings at higher levels to monitor progress. Disaggregated data, including Factsheets, Reports, and unit-level data, are released for each NFHS to ensure transparency.
The Ministry emphasizes its commitment to utilizing timely data for evidence-based policy and public health initiatives, particularly within the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAHN) strategy. Initiatives under RMNCAHN include Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), LaQshya Program, Delivery Points, Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) Portal, Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Midwifery Services Initiative, and Poshan Abhiyaan.
Key Entities Referenced
National Family Health Survey (NFHS): An integrated survey conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to provide data on health, family welfare, and associated domains.
Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): A key health indicator measuring maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, derived from the Sample Registration System (SRS).
Sample Registration System (SRS): A demographic survey covering a large population across 36 States and Union Territories in India, used to estimate the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).
Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAHN): A strategy to enhance health outcomes across these demographics in India.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW): The government ministry responsible for health and family welfare in India.
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): A safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission is being implemented with the objective of reducing maternal and neo-natal mortality by promoting institutional delivery.
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): An initiative that entitles all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions to absolutely free and no expense delivery, including caesarean section.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA): A program to provide fixed-day, assured, comprehensive and quality antenatal care universally to all pregnant women.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. †2167
TOBE ANSWERED ON1st AUGUST,2025
DELAYIN NFHSDATA
†2167: SHRIIMRAN MASOOD:
Will the Ministerof HEALTH AND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a)the reasons for the delayinreleasing the latest National FamilyHealth Survey(NFHS)
data andkeyhealthindicators like the Maternal Mortality Ratio(MMR) till 2024;
(b) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure timely and transparent release of such
criticaldata toformulate evidence-basedpolicyandpublic health initiatives;
(c) the impact of delay in release of this data on critical health initiatives such as Reproductive,
Maternal, Newborn Child, Adolescent Health plusNutrition (RMNCAH+N); and
(d) the measures beingtakenbythe Government toaddress the issue?
ANSWER
THE MINISTEROFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a)to(d): The Ministry of HealthandFamilyWelfare(MoHFW) conducts anintegrated
survey namely National Family Health Survey (NFHS) with a periodicity of around three years.
The survey provides data on health and family welfare and associated domains like
characteristics of the population; fertility and fertility preferences; family planning; infant and
child mortality; maternal and child health; nutrition; morbidity and healthcare; women’s
empowerment,etc.
It is a nationally important source of data for the purpose of monitoring performance of
healthprogrammes/schemes of Government of India. The NFHS-5 was conducted during 2019-
21 and its Report was released in 2022. The NFHS-6 has been initiated timely. Maternal
Mortality Ratio(MMR) isone of the indicators which results from Sample
Registration System (SRS). The SRS is one of the world's largest demographic survey covering
around84lakhspopulationspread across 36States/UTs inthe country. The
latest publication is for the period 2020-22 and may be accessed from the link
https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/SRSMMB.The Ministry ensures a timely and transparent dissemination of NFHS data by conducting
regularfollow-ups with the nodal agency andregularreview meetingsat higherlevels tomonitor
progress and oversee intermediary steps. For ensuring transparent dissemination, disaggregated
data of NFHS in the Factsheets and Reports, along with unit level data is usually released for an
NFHS. By ensuring the timely and transparent dissemination of data to the policymakers, the
Ministry has implemented several initiatives under the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child,
Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy to enhance health outcomes across
these demographics. The key programs/initiativesincludes Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani
Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA),
Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), LaQshya Program,Delivery Points,Reproductive andChild health
(RCH) Portal, Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Midwifery Services Initiative, Poshan
Abhiyaanetc.
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