New Delhi, March 19 -- Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday hailed India's significant progress in maternal and newborn healthcare, citing a nearly 70 per cent decline in the Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) over the past 34 years.

Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda, in a post on X, said, "India emerges as a leading global exemplar in the UN IGME 2025 report for accelerating child mortality reduction. As per the UN IGME 2025 report, Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) has declined by nearly 70%--from 57 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1990 to 17 in 2024--reflecting sustained improvements in maternal and newborn healthcare services. Similarly, the Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR) has registered an even steeper re...