**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the response by the Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2325, scheduled for answer on February 13, 2026, regarding the Mother Child Protection (MCP) Card. The response details data collection, studies conducted, and fund allocation related to MCP cards, particularly in Andhra Pradesh. Key information is provided in annexures.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Data Collection on MCP Cards:**
* The government collects data on the number of MCP cards issued to beneficiaries.
* 95.9% of registered pregnancies cover mothers with MCP cards, as per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21 data.
* **Studies on MCP Card Usage:**
* The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development conducted a study on the evaluation of MCP Card usage.
* Over 90% of AWWs, ANMs, and ASHAs are aware of the MCP Card.
* Awareness among beneficiaries was better for mothers with children aged 6 months to 3 years (82.2%).
* Functionaries use the MCP Card to explain ANC services, delivery preparation, danger signs in newborns, and nutrition.
* **Financial Allocations (Andhra Pradesh):**
* Details of funds allocated and released for maternal health activities, including increasing awareness about MCP cards in Andhra Pradesh since 2020-21, are provided in Annexure II.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Health and Family Welfare**
* **Impact**
* Responsible for answering queries related to the usage, awareness, and funding of Mother and Child Protection (MCP) Cards.
* Required to provide data on the registered pregnancies for which mothers received Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card including Andhra Pradesh
* **Action Required**
* Continue collecting and analyzing data on MCP card usage.
* Monitor the implementation and impact of the MCP card program.
**Health Functionaries (AWWs, ANMs, ASHAs)**
* **Impact**
* These functionaries are key stakeholders in promoting and utilizing MCP cards.
* **Action Required**
* Continue promoting and utilizing the MCP card for explaining ANC services, delivery preparation, danger signs in newborns, and nutrition.
**Pregnant Women and Mothers**
* **Impact**
* The MCP card is a health record for pregnant women, influencing their antenatal care and maternal health outcomes.
* **Action Required**
* Register for ANC and obtain an MCP card to track health information and services.
**State Governments (Specifically Andhra Pradesh)**
* **Impact**
* Affected by the allocation of funds for maternal health activities.
* **Action Required**
* Utilize allocated funds to increase awareness and usage of MCP cards.
* Submit Financial Management Reports (FMR) on fund utilization.
Key Entities Referenced
Mother Child Protection Card (MCP Card): A health record issued to pregnant women at the time of ANC registration.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The primary ministry responsible for the policy related to maternal and child health.
Andhra Pradesh: The state specifically highlighted in the question regarding MCP card usage and funding.
National Family Health Survey (NFHS): Survey from which MCP card usage data is obtained.
National Health Mission (NHM): Initiative under which PIP approvals for maternal health are sanctioned.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2325
TO BE ANSWERED ON13THFEBRUARY2026
MOTHER CHILD PROTECTIONCARD
2325 SHRIBASTIPATI NAGARAJU:
Will the Minister of HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFARE be pleased tostate:
(a) whether the Government collects data regarding the number of Mother Child Protection
cards(MCP) issued tobeneficiaries;
(b) if so, the details thereofalong with the numberissued till date, State/UT-wise and district-
wise inthe Stateof Andhra Pradesh during the last five years;
(c) whether the Government has conducted or plans to conduct a study to analyse the
awareness andutilisationof MCPcardsespeciallyin rural areasacross the country;
(d) if so, the detailsthereof,State/UT-wise andif not,the reasons therefor; and
(e) the details of the funds allocated and released for increasing awareness about the usage of
MCPcardsduring the last five years, year-wise, especiallyinthe StateofAndhraPradesh?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT.ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) & (b) The Mother and Child Protection Card (MCP Card) is a health record issued to
pregnant women at the time of ANC registration. As per the data from the National Family
Health Survey (NFHS-5) 2019-21, there are 95.9% registered pregnancies, which cover
motherswith MCPcards.
The State/UT-wise details of the registered pregnancies for which mothers received
Mother and Child Protection (MCP) card including Andhra Pradesh is placed at
Annexure I.
(c) & (d) The National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development had
conductedastudyon“EvaluationofUsageof MotherandChildProtectionCardby ICDS
andHealthFunctionaries.”Findingsofthestudy were:
Over90percentof AWWs,ANMs andASHAswere awareabout theMCPCard.
Among the beneficiaries, awareness about MCP card was better among mothers
with childrenbetween6monthsand3years(82.2%).
MCP Card was used by all the functionaries for explaining about ANC services,
preparationfor delivery, dangersigns innewborn, nutritionetc.
(e) The details of funds allocated and released for maternal health activities, including
increasing awareness about MCPcard,since 2020-21, for the State of Andhra Pradesh, is
placedat Annexure II
*****Annexure referred in reply to parts (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 2325to be
answered on13.02.2026
Annexure I
Registeredpregnancies for
whichthemotherreceived
S.No. State/UT an MCPcard (%)
NFHS 4 NFHS 5
(2015-16) (2019-21)
1 AndamanandNicobar 97.7 98.9
2 Andhra Pradesh 92.6 96.5
3 Arunachal Pradesh 89.2 95.6
4 Assam 96.3 98.7
5 Bihar 79.9 89.5
6 Chandigarh 98 97.2
7 Chhattisgarh 91.4 97.5
8 Delhi 86.6 94
9 Goa 96.3 99.8
10 Gujarat 89 97.7
11 Haryana 92 96.8
12 HimachalPradesh 95.4 98.7
13 Jammu andKashmir 88.7 97.3
14 Jharkhand 86.9 91.5
15 Karnataka 89.3 97.6
16 Kerala 84.2 91.3
17 Ladakh 93.7 97.8
18 Lakshadweep 96.3 77.8
19 Madhya Pradesh 92.2 96.7
20 Maharashtra 90.9 95.5
21 Manipur 32.8 72.9
22 Meghalaya 93.6 93.3
23 Mizoram 96.6 96.1
24 Nagaland 73.6 92.4
25 Odisha 97.2 99.4
26 Puducherry 98 98.8
27 Punjab 95.1 96.9
28 Rajasthan 92.3 98.1
29 Sikkim 99.1 94.6
30 Tamil Nadu 96 98.8
31 Telangana 89.1 96.7
32 The Dadra Nagar Haveli andDamanDiu 89.8 98.8
33 Tripura 83 93
34 Uttarakhand 93.4 97.1
35 Uttar Pradesh 79.8 95.7
36 West Bengal 97.4 98.4
Source-National Family HealthSurvey(NFHS)Annexure referred in reply to part (e) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Q. No. 2325 to be
answered on13.02.2026
Annexure II
PIPApprovalsforMaternalHealthunderNHMfromFY2020-21toFY2024-25(Rs.
inLakh)
PIPApproval
State
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
AndhraPradesh 10580.17 18,854.41 18,217.36 17,648.77 19,080.03
Note: Theabove dataisaspertheavailableFinancialManagementReports (FMR)
submitted bythe State/UTsandisprovisional.