Government Initiatives to Address Maternal Mortality in India: A Review

In India, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) decreased from 384 in 2000 to 103 per 100,000 live births in 2020.According to available data, MMR in India has declined by 6.36%, which remains higher than the global average decline in maternal mortality.The main causes of maternal death include hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, hemorrhage, obstetric complications, and pregnancy-related infections.This paper aims to assess the trends and causes of maternal mortality in India.It also sheds light on the government's health programs and schemes aimed at reducing maternal deaths.We analyzed the MMR from 2004 to 2025 and identified contributing factors using nationally published data, including the Sample Registration System (SRS), National Family Health Survey (NFHS), WHO, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) annual reports, and official websites.India aimed to achieve SDG 3 by 2020 to reduce maternal deaths to 100 per 100,000 births.The Indian Government adopted various strategies to lower MMR by implementing and strengthening interventions and programs, such as Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), PMMVY, LaQshya, the Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) portal, and Birth Waiting Homes.The operationalization of First Referral Units and Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan has contributed to increased institutional deliveries, better delivery and postdelivery care, more regular ANC contacts, improved diet, screening of high-risk pregnancies, and comprehensive care from early ANC through the child's first immunization.