Overview
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission (NHM), launched on 12 April 2005 by the Government of India. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at reducing maternal and neonatal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among poor pregnant women through direct cash incentives. The scheme targets pregnant women from SC, ST, and BPL households, with special focus on Low Performing States (LPS) in north India and the north-east.
In FY 2023-24, 102.55 lakh women received JSY benefits, and the scheme’s expenditure reached Rs. 1,814 crore — up from just Rs. 38 crore when it started in FY 2005-06. India’s institutional delivery rate has risen dramatically from 39% to 79% since the scheme’s launch, contributing significantly to the decline in Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR).
| Key Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Launch Date | 12 April 2005 |
| Type | Centrally Sponsored Scheme under NHM |
| Beneficiaries (FY 2023-24) | 102.55 lakh women |
| Beneficiaries (FY 2024-25, provisional) | 94.80 lakh women |
| Expenditure (FY 2023-24) | Rs. 1,814 crore |
| Expenditure (FY 2024-25, up to Q3) | Rs. 1,164 crore (provisional) |
| Cash Benefit — Rural | Rs. 1,400 |
| Cash Benefit — Urban | Rs. 1,000 |
Eligibility Criteria
- Age: Pregnant women above 19 years of age
- Birth order: Up to two live births only
- Low Performing States (LPS): All pregnant women delivering in government or accredited private health facilities are eligible
- High Performing States (HPS): Only BPL, SC, and ST women delivering in government or accredited private facilities are eligible
- ASHA workers serve as the link between the government health system and pregnant women
State Classification
- Low Performing States (LPS): Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Assam, and Jammu & Kashmir — these states have lower institutional delivery rates and receive higher focus
- High Performing States (HPS): All remaining states and UTs
Financial Assistance Structure
| Category | Rural Area | Urban Area |
|---|---|---|
| Mother’s benefit (LPS) | Rs. 1,400 | Rs. 1,000 |
| Mother’s benefit (HPS — BPL/SC/ST only) | Rs. 700 | Rs. 600 |
| ASHA incentive (LPS) | Rs. 600 | Rs. 200 |
| ASHA incentive (HPS) | Rs. 200 | Rs. 200 |
- Cash is disbursed preferably at the health institution itself to avoid delays
- The ASHA worker receives a separate incentive for facilitating institutional delivery, accompanying the pregnant woman, and arranging transport
Impact on Maternal Health
- India’s institutional delivery rate rose from 39% to 79% since JSY’s launch
- India’s MMR declined from 130 per lakh live births (2014-16) to 80 per lakh live births (2021-23) — a reduction of 50 points
- JSY has been one of the world’s largest conditional cash transfer programmes for maternal health
- Expenditure grew from Rs. 38 crore (FY 2005-06) to Rs. 1,814 crore (FY 2023-24) — a nearly 48-fold increase
Role of ASHA Workers
Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) are the cornerstone of JSY implementation:
- Identify pregnant women and facilitate registration for ANC (antenatal care)
- Arrange transport to health facility for delivery
- Accompany the pregnant woman to the institution
- Ensure post-natal care visits
- Receive a separate cash incentive for their services (Rs. 600 in LPS rural areas)
Latest Developments
- FY 2023-24: 102.55 lakh women benefited; expenditure reached Rs. 1,814 crore
- FY 2024-25 (provisional, up to Q3): 94.80 lakh beneficiaries; Rs. 1,164 crore expenditure reported
- India’s MMR declined to 80 per lakh live births (2021-23 SRS data) — approaching the SDG target of less than 70 by 2030
- JSY continues to be implemented under the broader National Health Mission framework, complementing PMSMA and PMSMAA (Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Matritva Aashwasan) initiatives
- Digital disbursement of JSY payments has been strengthened to reduce delays
Prelims Importance
- JSY launched on 12 April 2005 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme under NHM
- Cash benefit: Rs. 1,400 (rural) and Rs. 1,000 (urban) in Low Performing States
- Eligible only for women above 19 years, up to 2 live births
- ASHA workers are the key implementation link between government and beneficiaries
- India’s MMR: 80 per lakh live births (2021-23) — down from 130 (2014-16)
- JSY expenditure: Rs. 1,814 crore in FY 2023-24 (up from Rs. 38 crore in FY 2005-06)
- SDG target for MMR: less than 70 per lakh live births by 2030
- Institutional delivery rate: rose from 39% to 79% since JSY’s launch
Mains & Interview Importance
GS Paper 2 — Health, Social Justice
- Evaluate the effectiveness of conditional cash transfers in improving maternal health outcomes in India, with reference to JSY.
- Despite the rise in institutional deliveries, quality of care at public health facilities remains a concern. Discuss with reference to JSY’s implementation challenges.
GS Paper 1 — Society
- Discuss how schemes like JSY have contributed to reducing gender-based health disparities in India’s most backward regions.
Interview Angle
- “JSY has dramatically increased institutional delivery rates, but has the quality of care kept pace with the quantity? What reforms are needed to ensure that institutional delivery translates into safe delivery?”