Late last month in May 2026, the sixth round of the National Family Health Survey of India was released which highlighted significant improvements in maternal and childcare services across the country besides notable progress in health immunization, nutrition and financial protection. The survey which was conducted during 2023 to 24 shows that while India made steady progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals, the progress was also inclusive.
Naturally, the sheer scale and scope of the survey is mind boggling. It covered nearly six hundred seventy nine thousand households and over seven hundred thousand women nationwide across 715 districts. It also observed in detail the achievements of the world’s largest government funded health assurance scheme called the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which provides financial protection and access to quality tertiary healthcare services.
The six key takeaways of the NFHS-6 are:
First, India has achieved near-universal electrification and major gains in basic amenities.
Second, women’s empowerment has strengthened significantly.
Third, India’s demographic transition has consolidated.
Fourth, maternal and child health care indicators have reached historic highs.
Fifth, the digital divide has narrowed drastically.
And sixth, gender based violence indicators have improved.
As a result of NFHS-6 survey results, the Government of India has recognized the growing burden of non-communicable diseases including diabetes, hypertension, cancer and heart diseases. To address this challenge, large scale screening and early detection services have been rolled out and complemented by regular follow up care for individuals diagnosed with these conditions. In the current new phase, there is expected to be greater focus on the quality of health care, nutritional outcomes and the prevention and management of lifestyle related diseases.
