The Sample Registration System Report 2024 showed India’s under-five mortality rate fell to 28 per 1,000 live births, indicating improved pediatric healthcare across the country. The decline reflects decades of investment in immunization programs, maternal care, nutrition initiatives, and expanded access to neonatal services.
Under-five mortality serves as a key indicator of public health system performance because it captures deaths from preventable causes including infectious disease, malnutrition, and birth complications. India’s rate has fallen substantially from higher levels recorded in earlier decades, though it remains above figures in many developed nations.
State-level variation persists, with some regions achieving lower rates than others due to differences in healthcare infrastructure, sanitation, and socioeconomic conditions. National averages mask disparities between urban and rural populations and among different socioeconomic groups within states.
Health officials cited the SRS data as evidence that targeted programs for infant and child survival are producing measurable results. Continued progress will depend on addressing remaining gaps in primary care access, skilled birth attendance, and treatment of common childhood illnesses in underserved communities.
Neonatal intensive care expansion, immunization coverage improvements, and community health worker programs contributed to the downward trend in under-five mortality documented across successive SRS reports. International development agencies cite India’s progress while urging continued focus on states where infant mortality remains substantially above the national average due to persistent healthcare access gaps.
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