- Why in news
- On 24 July 2026, the Health Minister of State told the Lok Sambha in a written reply the key findings of NFHS-6 (2023-24), showing gains in maternal and child health and a rise in blood sugar and obesity.
- What it is
- The National Family Health Survey is a large household survey that gives national and state data on health, family planning, nutrition and related indicators. It is run under the Union Health Ministry, with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency. Rounds so far are NFHS-1 (1992-93) to NFHS-5 (2019-21), and NFHS-6 covers 2023-24.
- Survey rounds compared
- The release compares NFHS-5 (2019-21) with NFHS-6 (2023-24).
- Fertility
- Total Fertility Rate stayed at 2 in both rounds, below the replacement level of 2.1.
- Contraception
- Contraceptive Prevalence Rate rose from 66.7% to 69.1%.
- Rotavirus vaccine
- Coverage more than doubled, from 36.4% to 85.4%.
- Stunting
- Stunting among under-fives fell from 35.5% to 29.3%.
- Nodal agency
- NFHS is conducted by IIPS, Mumbai, for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
- Health insurance
- Household coverage by a health insurance or financing scheme rose from 41.0% to 60.2%.
Don’t confuse with NFHS vs SRS: NFHS is a periodic household survey on health and family planning. The Sample Registration System, run by the Registrar General, gives yearly vital rates such as birth rate and TFR.
Don’t confuse with NFHS vs Sample Registration System: NFHS is a periodic household survey run with IIPS. The SRS, run by the Registrar General of India, gives annual vital statistics such as birth rate and infant mortality.
Don’t confuse with Stunting vs wasting vs underweight: Stunting is low height for age, wasting is low weight for height, and underweight is low weight for age.
Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.
Why it matters
- Gives state-level evidence to judge health and nutrition schemes and set priorities.
- Gives district-level evidence to plan and review health and nutrition schemes.
- Tracks progress on SDG health and nutrition targets.
Problems
- Rising obesity and high blood sugar show a growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
- Underweight has barely fallen (32.1% to 31.8%), and stunting is still high.
- Rising non-communicable diseases and overweight/obesity create a dual burden of malnutrition.
Way forward
- Shift focus to NCD screening, diet and physical activity along with maternal and child care.
- Strengthen preventive healthcare, behaviour change and balanced nutrition strategies.
- Keep up last-mile delivery and convergence across ministries.
Put in your answer
Immunisation gain: Full immunisation of children aged 12-23 months rose from 83.8% to 87.1%.
Nutrition gain: Stunting among under-fives fell from 35.5% to 29.3%.
NCD burden: 30.7% of women and 27.3% of men aged 15-49 are overweight or obese.
Institutional deliveries: Institutional deliveries rose from 88.6% to 90.6%, near universal coverage.
Women's digital inclusion: Women who had ever used the internet nearly doubled from 33.3% to 64.3%.
- 2013Mains GS2 · Q15Health-related MDGs and government success in achieving them
- 2022Mains GS3 · Q5Health challenges from rising life expectancy and steps needed to meet them
- 2026Mains GS1 · Q19Critically examine challenges of demographic transition in contemporary India
- 2024Prelims Q41Defines total fertility rate, a key NFHS family planning indicator
- 1999Prelims Q75Most accepted reason for Kerala's lowest population growth rate among states
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.The Total Fertility Rate in NFHS-6 is below the replacement level of 2.1.
- 2.Between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6, the Total Fertility Rate declined sharply.
- 3.High blood sugar among adults declined in both women and men in NFHS-6.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
True or false?
1 of 4
Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.
1.The Total Fertility Rate in NFHS-6 is below the replacement level of 2.1.
True. TFR stayed at 2 across NFHS-5 and NFHS-6, below 2.1.
2.Between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6, the Total Fertility Rate declined sharply.
False. TFR remained stable at 2.
3.Rotavirus vaccine coverage showed the largest gain among the vaccines mentioned, more than doubling between the two rounds.
True. Coverage rose from 36.4% to 85.4%.
4.The National Family Health Survey is conducted with the International Institute for Population Sciences, Mumbai, as the nodal agency.
True. IIPS, Mumbai, is the nodal agency for NFHS.
Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.