National Family Health Survey (NFHS)
Social Justice & Development
- PYQs7
- Articles1
Background
Understanding NFHS is crucial for UPSC as it is a primary data source for evaluating social sector performance, assessing the impact of welfare schemes, informing policy decisions, and tracking India's progress on national and international development goals.
The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. It provides data on population, health, and nutrition, serving as a crucial tool for evidence-based policymaking, program implementation, and tracking development indicators, including those related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Facts & tables
- Scale and Scope
- One of the largest cross-sectional household surveys globally, providing comprehensive data on health, population, and nutrition.
- Policy Tool
- Serves as a primary tool for defining public policy, evidence-based governance, and tracking development indicators.
- Key Findings (NFHS-6)
- NFHS-6 revealed remarkable gains in child health (e.g., reduced stunting and wasting, increased immunisation) and stabilisation of the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at 2.0.
- Identified Challenges (NFHS-6)
- Also exposed emerging challenges like the 'dual public health burden' of rising obesity and persistent malnutrition, alongside a decline in exclusive breastfeeding.
| Category | Examples of Indicators |
|---|---|
| Child Health | Stunting, Wasting, Immunisation Coverage |
| Maternal Health | Institutional Deliveries, Antenatal Care |
| Fertility | Total Fertility Rate (TFR) |
| Nutrition | Exclusive Breastfeeding, Obesity, Anemia |
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Welfare Schemes & Social Policies |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Health and Family Welfare | Nodal ministry for nfhs and utilizes its data for policy |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Multi-statement analysis
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- Large-scale, multi-round household survey.
- Provides data on population, health, nutrition.
- Crucial for evidence-based policy and tracking development.
- NFHS-6 highlighted gains in child health and TFR.
- Also exposed challenges like rising obesity and declining breastfeeding.
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2017 | Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures |
| 2016 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
Timeline
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Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2016
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
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Prelims 2017
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
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Prelims 2017
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
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Prelims 2018
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Institutional roles and functions
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Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Policy measures
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Joy and pain: On the NFHS-6 data
The NFHS is a vital, large-scale survey providing comprehensive data on India's health, population, and nutrition, essential for evidence-based policymaking and tracking development progress.
See also
Past papers
2016–2022 · 4 questions
In the news
Joy and pain: On the NFHS-6 data
The NFHS is a vital, large-scale survey providing comprehensive data on India's health, population, and nutrition, essential for evidence-based policymaking and tracking development progress.
Try these PYQs
Which of the following is/are the indicator/indicators used by IFPRI to compute the Global Hunger Index Report?
1. Undernourishment
2. Child stunting
3. Child mortality
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
All three indicators (1, 2, and 3) are used by IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute) to compute the Global Hunger Index Report. The Global Hunger Index (GHI) is a tool designed to comprehensively measure and track hunger at global, regional, and national levels. It's a peer-reviewed annual report, now jointly published by Concern Worldwide and Welthungerhilfe. Purpose: To assess hunger severity and track progress towards ending hunger. Each country's GHI score is calculated based on a formula that combines four indicators that together capture the multidimensional nature of hunger - Undernourishment - The share of the population whose caloric intake is insufficient; - Child Stunting - The share of children under the age of five who have low height for their age, reflecting chronic undernutrition; - Child Wasting - The share of children under the age of five who have low weight for their height, reflecting acute undernutrition; and - Child Mortality - The share of children who die before their fifth birthday, reflecting in part the fatal mix of inadequate nutrition and unhealthy environments. Hence, option C is the correct answer.
Consider the following statements:
1. The India Sanitation Coalition is a platform to promote sustainable sanitation and is funded by the Government of India and the World Health Organization.
2. The National Institute of Urban Affairs is an apex body of the Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs in Government
of India and provides innovative solutions to address the challenges of Urban India.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The India Sanitation Coalition was launched on June 25, 2015, at FICCI, New Delhi. ISC is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together the private sector, government, financial institutions, civil society groups, media, donors/bilateral/multilateral, experts, etc., to work in the sanitation space to drive sustainable sanitation through a partnership model. It is not funded by WHO. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) is India’s premier urban think tank, shaping the urban narrative since its establishment in 1976, it not an apex body. It is an autonomous body under the Societies Registration Act.
Which of the following are the objectives of ‘National Nutrition Mission’?
1. To create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers.
2. To reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women.
3. To promote the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice.
4. To promote the consumption of poultry eggs.
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
The National Nutrition Mission, also known as Poshan Abhiyaan, has several objectives. - The first objective is to create awareness relating to malnutrition among pregnant women and lactating mothers. - The second objective is to reduce the incidence of anaemia among young children, adolescent girls and women. These two objectives are clearly stated in the mission's goals. Hence, statements 1 & 2 are correct. However, the promotion of the consumption of millets, coarse cereals and unpolished rice, and the promotion of the consumption of poultry eggs are not explicitly stated as objectives of the mission. Hence, statement 3 & 4 are incorrect.
With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013 consider the following statements:
1. The families coming under the category of 'below poverty line (BPL)' only are eligible to receive subsidised grains.
2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.
3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a take-home ration' of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: In 2013, NFSA was enacted to provide food security to 67% of the population in the form of highly subsidized food grains at Rs. 2 and 3 per Kg for wheat and rice respectively. Beneficiaries are identified using Socio-economic Caste Census (SECC) methodology so even non-BPL will also benefit. Statement 2 is correct: Under the NFSA, to issue ration cards the eldest woman of a household aged 18 years or above would be considered as head. Hence, this statement is correct. Statement 3 is incorrect: Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a nutritious take home ration of 600 Calories and a maternity benefit of at least Rs 6,000 for six months, says the official act.
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana:
1. It is safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments.
2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women.
3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women.
4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a 100% Centrally Sponsored Scheme under the National Health Mission (NHM). It is a central intervention implemented by states, not an intervention of the State Health Departments. Statement 2 is correct: The primary objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by encouraging safe, institutional births. Statement 3 is correct: The scheme provides a cash incentive to mothers to promote institutional delivery, particularly among those from BPL, SC, and ST households. Statement 4 is incorrect: While care for sick infants is a priority under the National Health Mission, the provision of free facilities for sick infants up to one year of age is specifically a feature of the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) launched in 2011. JSY, launched in 2005, is primarily a conditional cash transfer scheme for delivery.
Show 2 more PYQs
Consider the following in respect of ‘National Career Service’:
1. National Career Service is an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India.
2. National Career Service has been launched in a Mission Mode to improve the employment opportunities to uneducated youth of the country.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Statement 1 is incorrect. The National Career Service is not an initiative of the Department of Personnel and Training, Government of India. It is actually implemented by the Directorate General of Employment, Ministry of Labour & Employment. Statement 2 is incorrect. The National Career Service has indeed been launched in a Mission Mode, but it is not specifically targeted at improving the employment opportunities for uneducated youth of the country. It is a comprehensive platform providing a wide array of employment and career related services to all citizens of India, aiming to bridge the gap between jobseekers and employers, candidates seeking training and career guidance, and agencies providing training and career counselling.
With reference to Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, consider the following statements:
1. Private and public hospitals must adopt it.
2. As it aims to achieve universal health coverage, every citizen of India should be part of it ultimately.
3. It has seamless portability across the country.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission aims to provide digital health IDs for all Indian citizens to help hospitals, insurance firms, and citizens access health records electronically when required. Statement 1 is incorrect. Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) has not made it mandatory for adoption by private and public hospitals. Its adoption so far would be voluntary. Participation in ABDM is voluntary including for citizens. Participation of a healthcare facility or an institution is also voluntary and shall be taken by the respective management (government or private management). Statement 2 is incorrect. The aim of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission is to facilitate the ease of access to medical records and it is not been mandated to have every citizen as its part though the facility is available to every citizen on a consent basis. Statement 3 is correct. ABDM will have a national footprint and will enable seamless portability across the country through a Health ID Personal Health Identifier.