RMNCH+A Strategy and Reproductive Health Programmes
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Direct answer
RMNCH+A is the Indian national strategy for reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, with the plus sign denoting adolescent health. It is delivered through the National Health Mission and organised around a continuum of care that runs from pregnancy through childhood. Its objective is to reduce maternal, newborn and child mortality by linking services at every level of the health system.
What you must remember
- Components: reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, with the adolescent component marked by the plus sign.
- Continuum of care: pregnancy, childbirth, the postnatal period and childhood are treated as linked stages, each with its own services.
- National Health Mission: combines the National Rural Health Mission and the National Urban Health Mission, and carries RMNCH+A services.
- Janani Suraksha Yojana: a cash incentive that promotes institutional delivery.
- Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram: free drugs, diagnostics, blood, diet and transport for pregnant women and sick newborns in public facilities.
- Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan: free comprehensive antenatal check-up on the ninth of every month for pregnant women in the second and third trimesters.
- Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana: a conditional cash incentive for the first live birth, paid in instalments (the 2022 revision adds a payment for a second child if a girl).
A response matched to the scheme
Preventive questions often ask which scheme targets which group and what it provides. The table lists the schemes most frequently tested, with the target group and the core benefit of each.
| Scheme | Target group | Main benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Janani Suraksha Yojana | Women delivering in facilities | Cash incentive for institutional delivery |
| Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram | Pregnant women and sick newborns | Free drugs, diagnostics, transport and diet |
| Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan | Pregnant women in second and third trimesters | Free antenatal check-up on the ninth of each month |
| Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana | Pregnant and lactating women, first live birth | Conditional cash incentive in instalments |
| Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan | All pregnant women and newborns | Assured free quality care in public facilities |
Most of these schemes are entitlements layered on the National Health Mission rather than separate facilities. Cash schemes and service entitlements are the two families to keep distinct when answering a question. Examiners often ask for the target group first, so memorising the group before the benefit helps.
Where the exam tries to catch you
Vignettes test the names of similar schemes, and they reward the student who separates a cash incentive from a free service.
- Trap: Mixing up Janani Suraksha Yojana and Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram. Correct: The first is a cash incentive for institutional delivery, while the second provides free services and transport.
- Trap: Treating RMNCH+A as a single vertical programme. Correct: It is a strategy that integrates services across the life cycle under the National Health Mission.
- Trap: Assuming the monthly antenatal scheme gives cash benefits. Correct: The ninth-of-the-month scheme provides free check-ups, while the cash incentive belongs to the matru vandana scheme.
Frequently asked questions
What does the plus sign in RMNCH+A stand for?
The plus sign stands for adolescent health, which is added to reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health. The adolescent component is integrated into the same strategy rather than run separately. Its emphasis is on the health needs of young people.
What does Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram provide?
Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram provides free drugs, diagnostics, blood, diet and transport to pregnant women and sick newborns in public health facilities. It removes out-of-pocket costs at those facilities. It is a service entitlement rather than a cash incentive.
What is the difference between Janani Suraksha Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana?
Janani Suraksha Yojana gives a cash incentive for institutional delivery, while Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana gives a conditional cash incentive for the first live birth. Both are cash schemes, but they target different outcomes. The two are often confused in examinations.
Which scheme provides free antenatal check-ups on the ninth of each month?
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan provides free comprehensive antenatal check-ups on the ninth of every month. It is delivered in public facilities for pregnant women in the second and third trimesters. Its focus includes identifying high-risk pregnancies.