This policy briefing outlines how current health policies and programmes in India can be strengthened to improve maternal health outcomes.

Despite the rapid economic growth in India, maternal death figures continue to be high. The World Health Organization estimates in 2005 for maternal mortality in India came up with a Maternal Mortality Ratio(MMR) of 570 deaths every 100,000 live births, which was brought down in the Registrar General's SRS report (2004-06) to 254. Yet at almost 60-70 thousand deaths each year, and possibly around 20 to 30 times that figure suffering ill-health and near-misses, maternal health remains a huge challenge for the country.