India’s latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) shows that the country’s health and social indicators have improved on several fronts between 2019–21 and 2023–24. Covering 6.79 lakh households and 101 indicators, the survey points to significant gains in child immunisation, women’s digital access, nutrition outcomes and safety.
VACCINE WIN
One of the most striking improvements is in child immunisation. Coverage of the rotavirus vaccine, which protects children against severe diarrhoea, rose from 36.4 to 85.4 per cent. It is the largest increase recorded among all childhood vaccines. The second dose of the measles vaccine also saw a substantial rise, while overall vaccination coverage among children aged 12–23 months increased.
WOMEN’S INDICATORS
The share of women aged 15–49 who have ever used the internet nearly doubled, rising from 33.3 to 64.3 per cent. More women now operate their own bank accounts and have access to mobile phones, indicating greater financial independence and participation in the digital economy.
The share of ever-married women who reported having ever experienced physical or sexual violence from a spouse fell from 29.2 to 22.3 per cent.
Nearly 96 per cent of pregnant women now receive antenatal care. Institutional deliveries crossed 90 per cent, skilled birth attendants were present at over 91 per cent of births, and postnatal care for newborns improved considerably.
Child stunting, a marker of long-term malnutrition, fell by 6.2 percentage points, from 35.5 to 29.3 per cent.
BREASTFEEDING REMAINS A CONCERN
One finding stands out as a concern. Despite more women giving birth in health facilities and receiving better maternal healthcare, exclusive breastfeeding among infants under six months dropped from 63.7 to 55.8 per cent.
HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE
The share of households with at least one member covered under a health insurance scheme rose from 41 per cent to 60.2 per cent, a jump of 19.2 percentage points. Six in ten Indian households now have some form of cover, up from four in ten just four years ago.
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