Context:
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, a flagship scheme of the government for pregnant women and lactating mothers, has completed nine years.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a maternity benefit scheme implemented by the Government of India to provide conditional cash assistance to pregnant and lactating women for their first living child. The scheme aims to improve maternal health, nutrition, and compensate for wage loss during pregnancy and after childbirth.
- Launched: 1 January 2017
- Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development
Key Objectives
- Improve health and nutrition of pregnant and lactating women
- Encourage early registration of pregnancy
- Promote institutional delivery
- Ensure timely vaccination and post-natal care
- Partially compensate wage loss
- Coverage: Over 4.5 crore women enrolled; more than ₹19,000 crore disbursed
- Significance: Strengthens maternal health, nutrition, and early childcare outcomes
Cash Assistance Structure
Total benefit: ₹5,000 (Direct Benefit Transfer – DBT)
| Installment | Amount | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | ₹1,000 | Early registration of pregnancy |
| 2nd | ₹2,000 | At least one antenatal check-up |
| 3rd | ₹2,000 | Childbirth registered + first cycle of immunisation |
Additionally, eligible women also receive ₹1,000 under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), making the total maternity benefit ₹6,000, as mandated under the National Food Security Act, 2013
