In a significant milestone, India has achieved a landmark achievement in further reduction of child mortality rates as per Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2020 released on 22nd September 2022 by Registrar General of India (RGI). 

The country has been witnessing a progressive reduction in IMR (Infant Mortality rate), U5MR (Under 5 Mortality Rate) and NMR (Neonatal Mortality Rate) since 2014 towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets by 2030. 

Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya congratulated the nation on this achievement and thanked all health workers, caregivers and community members for relentlessly working towards reducing child mortality. 

“There has been a sustained decline since 2014, as revealed by SRS 2020. India is poised to meet 2030 SDG targets of child mortality under leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with focused interventions, strong centre-state partnership and dedication of all health workers,” said Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya. 

Under 5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) for the country has shown a significant decline of 3 points (Annual Decline Rate - 8.6%) from 2019 (32 per 1,000 live births in 2020 against 35 per 1,000 live births in 2019). It varies from 36 in rural areas to 21 in urban areas.

 U5MR for females is higher (33) than male (31). There has been a decline of 4 points in male U5MR and 3 points in female U5MR during the corresponding period. Highest decline of U5MR is observed in Uttar Pradesh (5 points) and Karnataka (5 points). 

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has also registered a 2-point decline to 28 per 1,000 live births in 2020 from 30 per 1,000 live births in 2019 (Annual Decline Rate - 6.7%). The rural-urban difference has narrowed to 12 points (Urban - 19 and Rural - 31). No gender differential has been observed in 2020 (Male - 28 and Female - 28). 

Neonatal Mortality Rate has also declined by 2 points from 22 per 1,000 live births in 2019 to 20 per 1,000 live births in 2020 (Annual Decline Rate - 9.1%). It ranges from 12 in urban areas to 23 in rural areas.