India’s childbirth divide is about more than public vs. private: what lies behind the NFHS 6 numbers
Data from the 2024 SRS report shows a significant increase in institutional births in India, though a sharp divide persists between public and private healthcare usage. While rural areas rely heavily on government facilities, urban middle-class populations are increasingly opting for private hospitals for childbirth.
Why it matters
Understanding these trends is critical for policymakers to address healthcare equity and the accessibility of public services across different socioeconomic groups.
According to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2024, 95.4% of all live births in India now take place in a medical institution , whereas in 2019, the figure was 82.8%. The National Health Mission, Janani Suraksha Yojana, and other public health programmes and incentives have evidently delivered results. In India, deliveries take place in both government and private healthcare institutions. This choice of where to give birth, however, is not equitable: it depends on income, geography, and the quality of accessible public health services nearby.
The article presents statistical data and analyzes socioeconomic trends without taking a partisan stance.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in