Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA) completes 10 years

Why in News?

The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA) completed ten years on June 9, 2026. Since its launch in June 2016, more than 7.50 crore pregnant women have received antenatal care services under the scheme, contributing significantly to improvements in maternal health outcomes in India.

About PMSMA

The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA) is a flagship maternal health initiative launched by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in June 2016.

The scheme provides free and quality antenatal care (ANC) to pregnant women, particularly during:

• Second trimester (13–27 weeks)
• Third trimester (28 weeks till delivery)

The programme is conducted on the 9th day of every month at designated government health facilities across the country.

Objectives

• Ensure universal access to quality antenatal care.
• Facilitate early identification of high-risk pregnancies.
• Enable timely medical interventions.
• Reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
• Promote safe pregnancy and institutional delivery.

Services Provided Under PMSMA: The service package includes:

• Comprehensive clinical examination
• Blood and urine investigations
• Ultrasonography
• Essential medicines and supplements
• Nutritional counselling
• Birth preparedness planning
• Guidance on safe pregnancy practices

Extended PMSMA (Launched in 2022): The Extended PMSMA was introduced to strengthen monitoring and follow-up of High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs).

Key Features

• Enhanced tracking of high-risk pregnant women.
• Financial incentives for both beneficiaries and accompanying ASHA workers.
• Support for up to three additional follow-up visits.
• SMS-based alerts for registration and follow-up visits.
• Improved continuity of maternal healthcare services.

Role of ASHA Workers: Accredited Social Health Activist workers play a critical role in:

• Identifying pregnant women.
• Ensuring registration under PMSMA.
• Facilitating follow-up visits.
• Promoting institutional healthcare services.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):  Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) refers to the number of maternal deaths per 1 lakh live births during a given period. A maternal death is defined as the death of a woman while pregnant or within 42 days of termination of pregnancy due to causes related to or aggravated by pregnancy or its management, excluding accidental or incidental causes.

Impact on Maternal Health

Before PMSMA, maternal mortality remained a major public health challenge.

Period	MMR (per lakh live births)
2014–16	130
2022–24	87

India achieved a reduction of 43 points in MMR, declining from 130 to 87 maternal deaths per lakh live births between 2014–16 and 2022–24.

Source: PIB