New Delhi: The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA), launched in June 2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, has marked a transformative milestone in maternal and neonatal healthcare. As the program celebrates its ninth anniversary in 2025, it stands as a cornerstone of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a healthier India, aligning with his 11 years of leadership. Designed to provide free, assured, and comprehensive antenatal care (ANC) to pregnant women, particularly in their second and third trimesters, PMSMA has significantly reduced maternal and neonatal mortality rates across the country.
What is Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)?
The PMSMA is a flagship initiative aimed at ensuring that every pregnant woman in India receives quality antenatal care to prevent maternal and neonatal deaths. Neonatal death refers to the death of a baby within the first 28 days of life, a critical period that PMSMA targets through early detection and intervention. Launched under the National Health Mission (NHM), the program guarantees a minimum package of ANC services, including essential tests like ultrasounds and provision of medicines such as Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) and calcium, free of cost. These services are offered on the 9th of every month at public health facilities nationwide, ensuring accessibility even in rural and underserved areas.
Objectives of PMSMA
The PMSMA aligns with the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy under the NHM. Its primary objectives include:
- Ensuring at least one check-up by a physician or specialist during the second or third trimester for every pregnant woman.
- Improving the quality of antenatal care visits.
- Early identification and management of high-risk pregnancies (HRPs).
- Promoting appropriate birth planning and complication readiness.
- Addressing malnutrition in pregnant women.
- Focusing on adolescent and early pregnancies to ensure safe outcomes.
By prioritizing these goals, PMSMA addresses critical gaps in maternal healthcare, particularly for unregistered or missed ANC cases and dropouts.
Key Features of PMSMA
The PMSMA operates with a structured and inclusive approach, leveraging both public and private healthcare expertise. Key features include:
- Monthly ANC Check-Ups: Free antenatal services are provided on the 9th of every month at 20,752 public health facilities across India.
- Expert Involvement: Services are delivered by OBGY (Obstetrics and Gynecology) specialists, radiologists, and physicians, including contributions from 6,813 private sector volunteers.
- Comprehensive Care Package: Every pregnant woman receives essential investigations, including a second-trimester ultrasound, and medicines like IFA and calcium.
- Single-Window System: All ANC services and investigations are streamlined for convenience.
- High-Risk Pregnancy Identification: Pregnancies are categorized with green stickers for no risk and red stickers for high-risk cases, enabling targeted interventions.
- Focus on Vulnerable Groups: Special attention is given to unregistered or missed ANC women, dropouts, and those with high-risk pregnancies.
- Distribution of Resources: Mother and Child Protection Cards and safe motherhood booklets are provided to educate and empower women.
These features ensure that PMSMA is not just a healthcare program but a holistic initiative that prioritizes accessibility, quality, and awareness.
Achievements of PMSMA: Transforming Maternal Health Outcomes
Since its inception, PMSMA has made remarkable strides in improving maternal and neonatal health. Key achievements include:
- Massive Reach: Over 6.19 crore pregnant women have been examined under the program as of December 2024, with a significant focus on rural and underserved communities.
- Reduction in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR): India’s MMR has declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014–16 to 80 per lakh live births in 2021–23, a notable 50-point reduction. This achievement is attributed to systematic antenatal care, community engagement, and increased health awareness.
- Private Sector Participation: The involvement of 6,813 private doctors as volunteers has strengthened the program’s reach, with services provided across 20,752 healthcare facilities.
- High-Risk Pregnancy Management: Over 78.27 lakh high-risk pregnancies have been identified and managed, ensuring safer outcomes for mothers and babies.
These accomplishments highlight PMSMA’s role in bringing India closer to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to maternal health.
Extended PMSMA (E-PMSMA): Enhancing Care for High-Risk Pregnancies
In January 2022, the government launched the Extended PMSMA (E-PMSMA) to further strengthen the program’s impact. E-PMSMA focuses on tracking and tracing high-risk pregnant women until safe delivery and beyond, ensuring comprehensive care up to 45 days postpartum. Key features of E-PMSMA include:
- Name-Based Tracking: High-risk pregnancies are listed and monitored individually.
- Additional ANC Sessions: Up to four ANC sessions per month are provided to ensure continuous care.
- Financial Incentives: Both pregnant women and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) receive incentives for completing three additional ANC visits beyond the standard PMSMA check-up.
- Digital Integration: SMS alerts are sent to beneficiaries and ASHAs for registration and follow-up visits, enhancing compliance and monitoring.
- Outcome Tracking: Each high-risk pregnancy is tracked until a healthy outcome is achieved, up to 45 days after delivery.
As of December 31, 2024, E-PMSMA has identified and managed 78.27 lakh high-risk pregnancies across all states and union territories, showcasing its effectiveness in addressing complex maternal health challenges.
Integration with Other Government Initiatives
PMSMA works in synergy with other maternal and child welfare programs under PM Modi’s leadership, creating a robust ecosystem for healthcare. These include:
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Launched to promote institutional deliveries through conditional cash transfers, this scheme has benefited over 11.07 crore women as of March 2025.
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK): Ensures free maternity and neonatal services, serving over 16.60 crore beneficiaries since 2014.
- Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN): Strengthens respectful and quality maternity care through 90,015 notified health facilities by March 2025.
- LaQshya: Focuses on improving the quality of care in labor rooms.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan: Targets nutritional needs of children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers, with 6.97 crore Poshan Pakhwadas conducted nationwide.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): Provides ₹5,000 in direct cash benefits to pregnant and lactating women to promote institutional delivery and maternal health.
This integrated approach amplifies PMSMA’s impact, addressing maternal and child health from multiple angles, including nutrition, financial support, and quality care.
Community Engagement and Private Sector Collaboration
A unique strength of PMSMA is its systematic engagement with the private sector. By motivating private practitioners to volunteer, the program has expanded its reach and expertise. The 6,813 registered volunteers play a crucial role in delivering quality care, particularly in areas with limited public healthcare infrastructure. Additionally, community outreach through ASHAs and awareness campaigns ensures that even unregistered or dropout cases are brought into the ANC fold.
Digital Innovation in Maternal Healthcare
The introduction of E-PMSMA has brought a strong digital component to maternal healthcare. The name-based tracking system and SMS alerts ensure that high-risk pregnant women are not lost to follow-up. This digital ecosystem enhances accountability and ensures timely interventions, making PMSMA a model for tech-driven healthcare solutions.
Impact on India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)
The decline in India’s MMR from 130 to 80 per lakh live births is a testament to PMSMA’s success. By focusing on early detection of high-risk pregnancies, providing free ANC services, and ensuring follow-up care, the program has saved countless lives. The combination of public-private collaboration, digital tracking, and community engagement has created a sustainable model for maternal health improvement.
Conclusion: A Vision for a Healthier Future
As the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan completes nine years, it stands as a beacon of hope for maternal and neonatal health in India. With over 6.19 crore women examined, 78.27 lakh high-risk pregnancies managed, and a significant reduction in MMR, PMSMA has redefined antenatal care in the country. The introduction of E-PMSMA has further strengthened this legacy by ensuring continuous care for high-risk cases. By integrating with schemes like JSY, JSSK, SUMAN, LaQshya, POSHAN Abhiyaan, and PMMVY, PMSMA has created a comprehensive framework for maternal and child welfare.
As India moves closer to achieving its Sustainable Development Goals, PMSMA remains a shining example of policy-led transformation in healthcare. With its focus on quality, accessibility, and equity, the program continues to empower women, save lives, and build a healthier future for the nation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1.What is the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA)?
The PMSMA is a flagship initiative launched in June 2016 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It aims to provide free, assured, and comprehensive antenatal care (ANC) to all pregnant women, particularly in their second and third trimesters, on the 9th of every month at public health facilities. The program focuses on reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by ensuring early detection and management of high-risk pregnancies (HRPs).
2.What services are offered under PMSMA?
PMSMA provides a minimum package of ANC services, including essential tests like a second-trimester ultrasound, medicines such as Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) and calcium, and consultations with OBGY specialists, radiologists, and physicians. It also includes the distribution of Mother and Child Protection Cards and safe motherhood booklets, with a special focus on unregistered or missed ANC cases, dropouts, and high-risk pregnancies identified with green (no risk) or red (high risk) stickers.
3.What is Extended PMSMA (E-PMSMA) and how is it different?
Launched in January 2022, E-PMSMA enhances the original program by focusing on tracking and tracing high-risk pregnant women until safe delivery and up to 45 days postpartum. Key features include name-based tracking, up to four ANC sessions per month, financial incentives for women and ASHAs for additional ANC visits, and SMS alerts for registration and follow-ups. As of December 2024, it has identified over 78.27 lakh high-risk pregnancies.
4.How has PMSMA impacted maternal health in India?
PMSMA has examined over 6.19 crore pregnant women and contributed to a significant decline in India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) from 130 per lakh live births in 2014–16 to 80 per lakh live births in 2021–23. It has also managed 78.27 lakh high-risk pregnancies and engaged 6,813 private sector volunteers across 20,752 healthcare facilities, improving access to quality care, especially in rural areas.
5.How does PMSMA integrate with other government initiatives?
PMSMA complements programs like Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), which has benefited over 11.07 crore women by promoting institutional deliveries; Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), serving 16.60 crore beneficiaries with free maternity services; Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), with 90,015 notified facilities; POSHAN Abhiyaan, with 6.97 crore Poshan Pakhwadas; and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), providing ₹5,000 cash benefits to pregnant and lactating women.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan Completes Nine Years: A Milestone in Maternal Healthcare
