When development and health indicators for women in Uttar Pradesh look up, it is cause for celebration since it is a bellwether for all of India. The sixth round of the National Family Health Survey (2023-24) — NFHS-6 — has recorded significant improvements in maternal and child health indicators in the state. This includes advances in antenatal care (ANC), institutional deliveries, post-natal services, women’s empowerment, digital inclusion and early childhood education. In fact, ANC, a crucial cog in safe motherhood, has done exceptionally well.

Almost all women in India’s most populous state now get ANC checks; coverage has jumped to 96.9% from 94.4%. The problem earlier was that many women were entering the official health system only during delivery; now, many are doing so much before. The crucial first trimester which sets the ground for how a pregnancy progresses requires consistent ANC, which has risen........

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