Forest Services
Despite significant global efforts, child mortality remains alarmingly high, particularly among newborns. The latest data from the United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME) Report 2025 highlights that approximately 4.9 million children died before reaching the age of five in 2024. This underscores the urgent need for targeted interventions and improved healthcare access to address this pressing issue.
UPSC Relevance
- GS Paper 2: Health and Child Rights
- GS Paper 3: Health Policies and Government Schemes
- Essay angle: Child Mortality and Global Health Challenges
Institutional and Legal Framework
- National Health Mission (NHM): Aims to provide accessible and quality healthcare to all, particularly vulnerable populations.
- Right to Education Act, 2009: Ensures children’s right to education, indirectly impacting health through improved awareness.
- Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS): Offers a package of services including health, nutrition, and education for children under six.
- UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Goal 3 aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five by 2030.
Key Challenges in Reducing Child Mortality
- Access to Healthcare: Inadequate healthcare infrastructure in rural areas limits access to essential services.
- Malnutrition: Over 100,000 children aged 1-59 months died from severe acute malnutrition in 2024, exacerbating mortality rates (UNIGME Report 2025).
- Preventable Diseases: Pneumonia, diarrhoea, and malaria remain leading causes of death, often intensified by malnutrition.
- Integrated Services Gap: Lack of integrated healthcare services combining maternal and child health programs leads to missed intervention opportunities.
Comparative Analysis of Child Mortality Rates
| Country | Under-Five Mortality Rate (per 1,000 live births) | Year |
|---|---|---|
| India | 34 | 2024 |
| Bangladesh | 28 | 2024 |
| Global Average | 38 | 2024 |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | 76 | 2024 |
India's under-five mortality rate of 34 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024 (Sample Registration System 2024) reflects progress but also highlights the need for further action. In contrast, Bangladesh has successfully reduced its rate to 28 deaths per 1,000 live births through targeted health interventions and community health worker programs (UNICEF, 2024).
Critical Evaluation of Current Strategies
The current strategies for reducing child mortality face structural challenges that hinder their effectiveness. The lack of integrated healthcare services often results in fragmented care, where maternal and child health programs operate in silos.
- Policy Design: Existing policies need to focus on holistic approaches that integrate maternal and child health.
- Governance Capacity: Strengthening local health governance can enhance the delivery of healthcare services.
- Structural Factors: Addressing socio-economic determinants of health, such as poverty and education, is essential for sustainable improvements.
Practice Questions
Consider the following statements about child mortality:
- Child mortality rates are higher in rural areas compared to urban areas.
- Severe acute malnutrition is a significant contributor to child mortality.
- All child mortality is preventable with existing healthcare interventions.
Which of the above statements is/are correct?
Source: LearnPro Editorial | Indian Society | Published: 19 March 2026 | Last updated: 22 March 2026
About LearnPro Editorial Standards
LearnPro editorial content is researched and reviewed by subject matter experts with backgrounds in civil services preparation. Our articles draw from official government sources, NCERT textbooks, standard reference materials, and reputed publications including The Hindu, Indian Express, and PIB.
Content is regularly updated to reflect the latest syllabus changes, exam patterns, and current developments. For corrections or feedback, contact us at admin@learnpro.in.
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