- Why in news
- On 27 March 2026, the Health Ministry told the Lok Sabha that 1244 labour rooms and 917 maternity OTs in public facilities were LaQshya-certified as on February 2026.
- What it is
- LaQshya is a Health Ministry quality improvement initiative for labour rooms and maternity operation theatres in public hospitals. It aims to cut maternal and newborn deaths and improve respectful care during childbirth. It was launched in 2017 and works under the National Health Mission.
- Certified so far
- As on February 2026, 1244 labour rooms and 917 maternity OTs are certified.
- Assessment size
- The assessment covers over 200 measurable elements across 70 Standards, grouped into eight areas of concern.
- Pass criteria
- A facility needs an overall score of at least 70% for both LR and MOT, and at least 70% in each area of concern.
- Assessors
- Certified facilities are evaluated by independent assessors.
- Support channel
- The Centre supports states through the National Health Mission, in line with IPHS 2022.
Don’t confuse with LaQshya vs Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN): LaQshya certifies the quality of labour rooms and maternity OTs. SUMAN is a separate scheme assuring free, respectful maternity and newborn care entitlements.
Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.
Why it matters
- Raises quality of intrapartum care, which helps cut maternal and newborn deaths.
- Independent assessment with fixed scores brings measurable standards to public facilities.
Problems
- Health is a State subject, so staffing and infrastructure gaps depend on state action.
- Certified facilities are few compared with the total number of delivery points, and some need recertification.
Way forward
- Expand certification and regular recertification, with supportive supervision.
- Fill staffing and infrastructure gaps through NHM and align facilities with IPHS 2022.
Put in your answer
Monitoring mechanism: Common Review Missions, regional and state reviews and field visits assess infrastructure, workforce and service delivery.
- 2013Mains GS2 · Q15Identify health-related MDGs and discuss government success in achieving them
- 2018Mains GS2 · Q7Explain how community-level healthcare intervention is prerequisite for Health for All
- 2020Mains GS2 · Q6Discuss health care policies needed for maternal and geriatric care
- 2023Prelims Q51Statements on Janani Suraksha Yojana's safe motherhood and institutional delivery objectives
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
Prelims practice · Statements
Ours, not from a UPSC paper
Consider the following statements:
- 1.LaQshya certification requires a facility to score at least 70% overall for both the labour room and the maternity operation theatre.
- 2.The LaQshya standards are classified into five areas of concern.
- 3.LaQshya-certified facilities are evaluated by independent assessors.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 7
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.LaQshya certification requires a facility to score at least 70% overall for both the labour room and the maternity operation theatre.
True. The overall threshold is 70% for both LR and MOT.
2.The LaQshya technical assessment covers over 200 measurable elements across 70 Standards.
True. Over 200 measurable elements across 70 Standards.
3.LaQshya-certified facilities are evaluated by independent assessors.
True. Independent assessors evaluate each certified facility.
4.LaQshya is implemented under the National Health Mission.
True. The Centre supports such efforts through NHM.
5.LaQshya is aimed at improving quality of care in private nursing homes and private hospitals.
False. It targets labour rooms and maternity OTs in public health facilities.
6.The LaQshya standards are classified into five areas of concern.
False. They are classified into eight areas of concern.
7.Under LaQshya, the Union government directly recruits and deploys staff in labour rooms across states.
False. Staffing, recruitment and deployment lie with the respective State/UT; the Centre supports via NHM.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.