NFHS-6 released: stunting falls to 29.3%, institutional deliveries 90.6%
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The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare released NFHS-6 on 29 May 2026. Conducted in 2023-24 by MoHFW with IIPS Mumbai as nodal agency, it covered nearly 6.79 lakh households across 715 districts. Child stunting fell from 35.5% (NFHS-5) to 29.3%. Institutional deliveries rose from 88.6% to 90.6%, and antenatal care coverage reached 95.9%.
- Survey
- NFHS-6 (2023-24); released 29 May 2026
- Agency
- MoHFW; IIPS Mumbai nodal
- Coverage
- nearly 6.79 lakh households; 715 districts
- Stunting (under-5)
- 35.5% to 29.3%
- Institutional deliveries
- 88.6% to 90.6%
- ANC
- 95.9% of pregnant women; first-trimester 70.0% to 76.2%
The National Family Health Survey-6: what happened?
NFHS is the country’s main household health and nutrition survey. Comparing NFHS-5 (2019-21) with NFHS-6 tells us whether mother-and-child programmes and POSHAN-type efforts are moving the needle on the ground.
- At least four ANC visits: 58.5% to 65.2%. Births with skilled personnel: 89.4% to 91.3%. Postnatal care for newborns within two days: 79.1% to 85.3%.
- Full vaccination (cards) among children 12-23 months: 83.8% to 87.1%. Any vaccine still above 96%. Rotavirus: 36.4% to 85.4%. Second dose of measles-containing vaccine: 58.6% to 71.8%.
- 95.6% of children got most vaccines through public facilities.
- Severe wasting: 7.7% to 5.2%. Underweight: 32.1% to 31.8%. Children 6-8 months getting solid/semi-solid food with breastmilk: 45.9% to 59.5%.
- Women ever using the internet: 33.3% to 64.3%. Women with their own bank account: 78.6% to 89.0%. Women with their own mobile: 53.9% to 63.6%.
What is NFHS?
- A large-scale household survey on population, health, nutrition and family welfare.
- NFHS-6 supports evidence-based planning down to the district level.
What do the key NFHS-5 to NFHS-6 shifts show?
| Indicator | NFHS-5 | NFHS-6 |
|---|---|---|
| Stunting (under-5) | 35.5% | 29.3% |
| Severe wasting | 7.7% | 5.2% |
| Underweight (under-5) | 32.1% | 31.8% |
| Institutional deliveries | 88.6% | 90.6% |
| ANC coverage | 92.6% | 95.9% |
| Rotavirus vaccine | 36.4% | 85.4% |
Why does the National Family Health Survey-6 matter?
| Angle | What to note |
|---|---|
| Nutrition | Clear fall in stunting and severe wasting. |
| Maternal health | Institutional deliveries and ANC continuity up. |
| Immunisation | Rotavirus coverage more than doubled. |
| Women’s empowerment | Internet, bank accounts and mobiles up sharply. |
What are the challenges in the National Family Health Survey-6?
- Underweight fell only marginally (32.1% to 31.8%).
- Full immunisation on cards is still short of universal.
- District-level gaps will matter more than the national average.
What should be done next on the National Family Health Survey-6?
- Use district factsheets to target laggard blocks.
- Keep pushing complementary feeding and POSHAN convergence.
- Close the remaining gap on full immunisation and four ANC visits.
What can Prelims ask on the National Family Health Survey-6?
- NFHS-6: 2023-24; IIPS Mumbai; 6.79 lakh households; 715 districts.
- Stunting 29.3% (from 35.5%); institutional deliveries 90.6%.
- Rotavirus coverage 36.4% to 85.4%.
- Women internet use 33.3% to 64.3%.
How to write about the National Family Health Survey-6 in Mains
Practice question (15 marks, 250 words): NFHS-6 shows faster gains in maternal care than in some nutrition indicators. Examine.
- Intro: survey design and coverage.
- Maternal and immunisation gains.
- Nutrition: stunting vs underweight.
- Women’s digital/financial inclusion.
- Policy use of district data.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB (2026-05-29): NFHS-6 shows institutional deliveries at 90.6%, ANC coverage up from 92.6% to 95.9%, and child stunting down from 35.5% to 29.3%.
- The data gives POSHAN and mother-and-child health policy an evidence base.
Quotable data pointVaccination of children 12–23 months stays above 96%; rotavirus coverage more than doubled.
PIB: Health: NFHS-6, 29 May 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: NFHS indicators.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
As per NFHS-6, stunting among children under five is
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB (Health), 29 May 2026.
NFHS-6 was conducted in
Answer (c) & explanation
PIB (Health), 29 May 2026.
Questions students ask about this
Who conducted NFHS-6?
MoHFW, with the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai, as the nodal agency.
What happened to child stunting?
It fell from 35.5% in NFHS-5 to 29.3% in NFHS-6 among children under five.
What share of births are institutional?
90.6%, up from 88.6% in NFHS-5.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB: Health: NFHS-6, 29 May 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending