Union Minister JP Nadda launched the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) in New Delhi on June 17, 2026. Organized under the theme “10 Years of PMSMA: A Decade of Care”, the event highlights India’s progress in providing quality antenatal care to over 7.5 crore pregnant women. This flagship initiative has been a cornerstone in reducing the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) across the country since its inception in 2016.
Celebrating Ten Years of Maternal Health Excellence
The 10th anniversary celebrations serve as a milestone for one of India’s most successful maternal health interventions. During the commemorative event, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare JP Nadda released a ₹75 commemorative coin and a ₹5 postage stamp to honor the program’s decade-long service. The Minister also flagged off nationwide outreach campaigns aimed at ensuring that every pregnant woman is aware of the nine assured free services provided under the scheme.
The celebrations acknowledge the collaborative efforts of the government, ASHA workers, and private sector specialists who have volunteered their time. By dedicating the 9th of every month to maternal health, the program has successfully institutionalized a “fixed-day” service delivery model that ensures no pregnant woman is left behind, especially in rural and underserved areas.
Core Components of PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan
Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 9, 2016, the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) was designed to provide a minimum package of antenatal care (ANC) services. The scheme specifically targets pregnant women in their second and third trimesters. These services are provided free of cost at government health facilities, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs), on the 9th day of every month.
The “9th Day” Guarantee and Color-Coded Tracking
The hallmark of the scheme is its fixed-day approach, ensuring that specialists and diagnostic services are available at the facility level on a predictable schedule. A critical feature of the program is the use of color-coded stickers on the Mother and Child Protection (MCP) cards to streamline the identification of risks:
| Sticker Color | Significance | Clinical Implication |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Normal Pregnancy | Regular follow-up at the nearest health center |
| Red | High-Risk Pregnancy | Immediate referral to a specialist or higher facility |
The red sticker identifies conditions such as pregnancy-induced hypertension, severe anemia, or gestational diabetes. This visual signaling ensures that healthcare providers can prioritize high-risk cases for specialized medical attention, reducing the likelihood of complications during delivery.
The Extended PMSMA: Enhancing High-Risk Care
In January 2022, the government launched the Extended Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (ePMSMA) to further strengthen the program. While the original scheme focused on the 9th-day clinics, the “Extended” version introduces digital tracking for women identified as high-risk. This IT-enabled module allows health officials to monitor these women for up to 45 days after delivery.
Under ePMSMA, ASHA workers receive a financial incentive of ₹100 for ensuring that high-risk pregnant women complete their follow-up visits. Additionally, the number of high-risk categories has been expanded from 10 to 25 conditions, including adolescent pregnancy and previous surgical deliveries. This name-based tracking system ensures a “continuum of care” that bridges the gap between antenatal visits and safe childbirth.
Impact on India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
The strategic focus of PMSMA has directly contributed to a historic decline in India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR). According to recent data, the MMR has dropped from 130 deaths per lakh live births in the 2014 to 2016 period to 87 in the 2022 to 2024 period. This significant reduction reflects the success of early detection of complications through the PMSMA clinics.
The program has also facilitated a rise in institutional deliveries, which now stand at over 90%. By involving private sector gynecologists through the “I for India” initiative, the scheme has successfully harnessed national expertise to supplement government health infrastructure. India is now on track to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of an MMR below 70 well before the 2030 deadline.
Key Takeaways
- The 10th anniversary of the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA) was celebrated on June 17, 2026, with the theme “A Decade of Care”.
- A ₹75 commemorative coin and a ₹5 postage stamp were released by Union Minister JP Nadda to mark the occasion.
- The PMSMA was originally launched on June 9, 2016, to provide free antenatal care on the 9th day of every month.
- Over 7.5 crore pregnant women have benefited from the scheme over the last decade.
- The Extended PMSMA (ePMSMA), launched in 2022, provides name-based digital tracking for high-risk pregnancies up to 45 days post-delivery.
- India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined from 130 in 2016 to 87 in 2024, aided by the scheme’s interventions.
