New Delhi: Delhi has registered an improvement in the newborn survival rate over the past decade, with the neonatal mortality rate falling to 14.1 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2024 from 15.8 in 2015. However, the maternal mortality ratio has increased to 44 deaths per one lakh live births from 37 in 2015, according to Delhi State Indicator Framework: Status Report 2025, released by govt this week.Maternal mortality has gone up despite a significantly higher proportion of women now giving birth in hospitals and health facilities under the care of skilled personnel: from 84.4% in 2015 to 96.1% in 2024.Dr Sumit Chakravarty, associate director paediatrics and head neonatology, Asian Hospital, said, “We need better primary health care, timely antenatal care and quality postnatal follow-up care. There is a need for more sustained investment in maternal and child health, capacity building in workforce and infrastructure and equitable access to health services. Such deaths are preventable and could be substantially reduced through timely policy action and rapid implementation. A safe start to life should be a right for every mother and child, and this must continue to be a national public health priority,” said Chakravarty.Delhi govt has prepared the report to track the capital’s progress towards attaining the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, and provides an indicator-based assessment of the city-state’s performance across 17 parameters, such as no poverty, quality education, gender equality, climate action, peace and justice. The report is intended to help policymakers monitor progress, identify gaps and guide evidence-based planning.Beyond health, the report points to broader improvements in education and social development, both of which are expected to have long-term implications for public health. Access to electricity and digital infrastructure in schools in Delhi have become nearly universal, while higher education enrolment has increased, contributing to greater awareness of healthcare services and preventive health practices.Delhi has also made progress in poverty reduction and food security with a decline in multidimensional poverty and expansion of social security support for women in distress, while coverage under the National Food Security Act has become universal.However, child nutrition indicators show mixed trends, with chronic malnutrition declining over the years even as prevalence of childhood underweight remained largely unchanged, highlighting the need for continued nutritional interventions for mothers and children.Employment conditions in the city have improved with lower unemployment and higher labour force participation, while sex ratio at birth has shown gradual improvement. Road accidents have declined over the decade, reflecting gains in road safety, though the number of fatalities remains high.In the environment sector, Delhi has expanded electric mobility with the number of registered e-vehicles increasing from 24,420 in 2015-16 to over 4 lakh in 2024-25.Municipal waste management has improved with the percentage of waste processed going up from 52% to 85% during the same period. The percentage of wards with 100% door-to-door waste collection has shot up from 85% in 2016 to 100% in 2025.Air pollution levels have moderated compared with a decade ago, though they remain far above the national standard. Delhi’s forest cover as a percentage of total geographical area has increased from 12.7% in 2015 to 13.2% in 2023. Groundwater extraction has eased but continues to remain above sustainable levels.“Overall, the report suggests that Delhi has made measurable progress across several social and environmental indicators, but the trends in maternal and neonatal mortality show that there is a need to consolidate gains in maternal healthcare while sustaining improvements in the survival of newborns,” an official said.
