Context of the News

A recent United Nations Inter-Agency Group for Child Mortality Estimation (UNIGME) Report, 2025 highlights that India is steadily reducing child deaths, even as global progress slows significantly.

News Breakdown

Key Definitions

• Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR): Number of deaths within 28 days of birth per 1,000 live births
• Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR): Number of deaths of children under 5 years per 1,000 live births

Global Scenario

• 4.9 million children died before age 5 in 2024
  • Includes 2.3 million newborns
• Under-5 deaths have fallen by more than half since 2000
• However, progress has slowed by over 60% since 2015

Causes of Child Deaths:

• Newborn stage:
  • Preterm birth complications (36%)
  • Labour/delivery complications (21%)
• After first month:
  • Malaria (17%)
  • Diarrhoea
  • Pneumonia

India’s Performance

India has shown consistent and significant improvement:

Indicator	1990	2024
Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR)	57	17
Under-5 Mortality Rate (U5MR)	127	27

Key Achievements:

• Sharp decline in child mortality rates
• Major contributor to South Asia’s progress

Reasons for India’s Success

• Expanded immunisation coverage
• Increased institutional deliveries
• Strengthening of public health systems
• Targeted schemes like:
  • Maternal and Child Health programs
  • Nutrition initiatives

Emerging Concerns Globally

Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM)

• Over 1 lakh deaths (age 1–59 months) in 2024
• Accounts for 5% of child deaths
• Often underreported as a cause

Impact:

• Weakens immunity
• Increases vulnerability to common infections

Other Key Trends

• 2.1 million deaths in age group 5–24 years
• Leading causes:
  • Self-harm (girls 15–19)
  • Road accidents (boys)
• Sub-Saharan Africa:
  • Accounts for 58% of global under-5 deaths

Comparative Snapshot

Region	Share in Under-5 Deaths
Sub-Saharan Africa	58%
South Asia (incl. India)	Significant but declining
Global trend	Slowing progress

Prelims Focus

• SDG Target 3.2:
  • End preventable deaths of children under 5
  • Reduce NMR to ≤12 per 1,000
  • Reduce U5MR to ≤25 per 1,000
• Malaria remains leading infectious killer of children globally
• Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM):
  • Defined by very low weight-for-height
  • Medical emergency in children

Conclusion / Way Forward

India must sustain gains by strengthening nutrition, primary healthcare, and maternal services, while addressing emerging risks like malnutrition and adolescent health challenges.

Prelims Check

Question 1

Consider the following statements:

1. Neonatal Mortality Rate refers to deaths within the first year of life.
2. Under-5 Mortality Rate includes neonatal deaths.
3. SDG targets aim to reduce U5MR below 25 per 1,000 live births.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 2 and 3 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 2 only

Question 2

With reference to Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM), consider the following statements:

1. It weakens immunity in children.
2. It is always recorded as the primary cause of death.
3. It increases susceptibility to infections.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1, 2 and 3
(d) 1 only

Question 3

Consider the following statements:

Statement-I: Global reduction in child mortality has slowed after 2015.
Statement-II: Most child deaths today are preventable with low-cost interventions.

Which one of the following is correct?

(a) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct and Statement-II explains Statement-I
(b) Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct but Statement-II does not explain Statement-I
(c) Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect
(d) Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct

Answers with Explanation

Q1: (a) 2 and 3 only

• Neonatal = first 28 days → Statement 1 incorrect
• U5MR includes neonatal deaths → Correct
• SDG target = ≤25 → Correct

Q2: (a) 1 and 3 only

• Weakens immunity → Correct
• Often underreported → Statement 2 incorrect
• Increases infection risk → Correct

Q3: (b) Both correct but not explanation

• Slowdown after 2015 → True
• Deaths preventable → True
• But does not explain slowdown directly

“Progress in public health is not accidental—it is the result of sustained commitment and collective action.”