Lok Sabha Question No. 2167 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-01
Subject: Delay in NFHS Data
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Shri Imran Masood

## GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRY OFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. †2167 TO BE ANSWERED ON 1 st AUGUST, 2025

## DELAYIN NFHS DATA

## †2167: SHRI IMRAN MASOOD:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for the delay in releasing the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data and key health indicators like the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) till 2024;
- (b) the steps being taken by the Government to ensure timely and transparent release of such critical data to formulate evidence-based policy and public health initiatives;
- (c) the impact of delay in release of this data on critical health initiatives such as Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn Child, Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N); and
- (d) the measures being taken by the Government to address the issue?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)

(a) to (d) : The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) conducts an integrated survey namely National Family Health Survey (NFHS) with a periodicity of around three years. The survey provides data on health and family welfare and associated domains like characteristics of the population; fertility and fertility preferences; family planning; infant and child mortality; maternal and child health; nutrition; morbidity and healthcare; women's empowerment, etc.

It is a nationally important source of data for the purpose of monitoring performance of health programmes/schemes of Government of India. The NFHS-5 was conducted during 201921 and its Report was released in 2022. The NFHS-6 has been initiated timely. Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) is one of the indicators which results from Sample

Registration System (SRS). The SRS is one of the world's largest demographic survey covering around 84 lakhs population spread across 36 States/UTs in the country. The latest publication is for the period 2020-22 and may be accessed from the link https://censusindia.gov.in/census.website/data/SRSMMB.

The Ministry ensures a timely and transparent dissemination of NFHS data by conducting regular follow-ups with the nodal agency and regular review meetings at higher levels to monitor progress and oversee intermediary steps. For ensuring transparent dissemination, disaggregated data of NFHS in the Factsheets and Reports, along with unit level data is usually released for an NFHS. By ensuring the timely and transparent dissemination of data to the policymakers, the Ministry has implemented several initiatives under the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy to enhance health outcomes across these demographics. The key programs/initiatives includes Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB), LaQshya Program, Delivery Points, Reproductive and Child health (RCH) Portal, Universal Immunization Programme (UIP), Midwifery Services Initiative, Poshan Abhiyaan etc.

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