Mains Practice Questions for the Day
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan demonstrates how assured antenatal care and high-risk pregnancy tracking can strengthen maternal-health outcomes. Discuss. (UPSC GS Paper II: Social Justice, Health, Welfare Schemes, Issues Relating to Women)
- “India’s Ease of Living transformation has been driven by the convergence of welfare delivery, infrastructure expansion, financial inclusion and governance reforms.” Discuss. ( GS Paper II: Governance, Welfare Schemes, Urban Development, Financial Inclusion and Citizen-Centric Administration)
Q. Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan demonstrates how assured antenatal care and high-risk pregnancy tracking can strengthen maternal-health outcomes. Discuss. (UPSC GS Paper II: Social Justice, Health, Welfare Schemes, Issues Relating to Women)
Introduction:
Maternal health is a key indicator of an inclusive healthcare system. India’s Maternal Mortality Ratio declined from 130 per lakh live births during 2014–16 to 87 during 2022–24. The Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyaan, launched in 2016, forms an important part of India’s efforts to provide accessible and quality antenatal care.
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Assured Antenatal Care
PMSMA provides free and comprehensive antenatal services at designated government facilities on the 9th of every month. It primarily targets women in the second and third trimesters.
Its service package includes:
- Specialist examination
- Blood and urine investigations
- Ultrasonography
- Medicines and supplements
- Nutrition counselling
- Birth planning and complication preparedness
This fixed-day approach improves the predictability and accessibility of maternal-health services.
High-Risk Pregnancy Management
The programme screens women for 25 risk factors, including severe anaemia, hypertension, gestational diabetes, multiple pregnancy and previous obstetric complications.
Women identified as high-risk receive:
- Red-sticker identification
- Priority care
- Referral to an appropriate First Referral Unit
- Individual birth planning
The Extended PMSMA further provides name-based tracking, additional visits, SMS alerts and follow-up until the 45th day after delivery.
Inclusive and Collaborative Approach
PMSMA specifically reaches women who missed or dropped out of routine antenatal care. ASHA workers mobilise and follow up high-risk cases, while private obstetricians, physicians and radiologists supplement specialist shortages at public facilities.
Achievements and Challenges
More than 7.50 crore women have received antenatal services. However, specialist shortages, transport barriers, uneven diagnostics and weak referral coordination continue to limit outcomes.
Way Forward
India must strengthen First Referral Units, diagnostic capacity, emergency transport, digital tracking and maternal-death audits. Greater attention is also needed for anaemia, malnutrition and adolescent pregnancies.
Conclusion:
PMSMA has transformed antenatal care from an irregular service into a systematic public-health intervention. Stronger follow-up and referral systems can help India move closer to the SDG goal of reducing maternal mortality below 70 per lakh live births.
Q. “India’s Ease of Living transformation has been driven by the convergence of welfare delivery, infrastructure expansion, financial inclusion and governance reforms.” Discuss. ( GS Paper II: Governance, Welfare Schemes, Urban Development, Financial Inclusion and Citizen-Centric Administration)
( GS Paper III: Energy Security, Agriculture, Biofuels, Water Resources, Environment, Infrastructure and Sustainable Development.)
Introduction:
Ease of living refers to citizens’ ability to access housing, basic amenities, mobility, financial services and responsive governance with dignity and minimum hardship. Between 2014 and 2026, India adopted a citizen-centric, mission-mode and technology-enabled governance approach to improve everyday life.
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Welfare and Basic Services
Housing and Urban Amenities
- PMAY-Urban and PMAY-Gramin expanded access to pucca houses in cities and villages.
- Women’s ownership and joint ownership were promoted.
- Housing was linked with toilets, drinking water and electricity.
- AMRUT strengthened urban water supply, sewerage, green spaces and transport.
Clean Fuel, Water and Sanitation
- Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana expanded access to clean LPG and reduced dependence on traditional fuels.
- Jal Jeevan Mission increased rural tap-water coverage and reduced women’s burden of fetching water.
- Swachh Bharat Mission expanded toilet access, improved waste management and promoted ODF and ODF Plus communities.
Reliable and Clean Energy
- SAUBHAGYA provided last-mile electricity connections to unelectrified households.
- Expansion of generation and transmission improved reliability of power supply.
- PM Surya Ghar promoted residential rooftop solar.
- UJALA encouraged affordable and energy-efficient LED lighting.
Financial Inclusion and Empowerment
Banking and Welfare Delivery
- The JAM Trinity—Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile became the backbone of Direct Benefit Transfers.
- PMJDY brought excluded households into formal banking.
- DBT improved transparency and reduced leakages.
Credit and Entrepreneurship
- Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana provided collateral-free credit to micro-enterprises.
- It promoted women’s entrepreneurship, self-employment and social equity.
- SC, ST and OBC beneficiaries gained greater access to formal credit.
Transport and Connectivity
- Expansion of highways, expressways, rural roads, railways, airports and metro systems reduced travel time and regional isolation.
- PMGSY connected villages with markets, schools and hospitals.
- Railway electrification, Kavach, Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat improved safety, speed and comfort.
- UDAN, Metro Rail and Namo Bharat strengthened regional and urban mobility.
Governance Reforms
- The Jan Vishwas Acts reduced compliance burdens by decriminalising minor procedural violations.
- CPGRAMS improved grievance redressal.
- MyGov strengthened citizen participation.
- PM GatiShakti enabled GIS-based and coordinated infrastructure planning.
Challenges
- Regional disparities in access and outcomes
- Weak infrastructure maintenance
- Uneven quality of services
- Urban congestion
- Digital exclusion
- Last-mile delivery gaps
Way Forward
- Strengthen outcome-based monitoring
- Improve local-government capacity
- Promote scheme convergence
- Build climate-resilient infrastructure
- Expand citizen-feedback systems
- Focus on service quality and maintenance
Conclusion:
India’s ease-of-living transformation shows that welfare, infrastructure and governance must work together. Their convergence has strengthened human dignity, inclusion, opportunity and public trust, laying a strong foundation for Viksit Bharat 2047.
