Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana Completes Nine Years

On January 1, 2026, the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) completed nine years of implementation, marking an important milestone in India’s efforts to strengthen maternal health, nutrition, and women’s welfare. Launched in 2017, this flagship maternity benefit scheme of the Government of India (GoI) has consistently supported pregnant women and lactating mothers, especially from vulnerable sections of society.

For government job aspirants and general readers, PMMVY is a highly relevant topic under social sector schemes, women and child development, and health-related current affairs.

Overview of Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)

The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD). It was officially launched on January 1, 2017, in accordance with Section 4 of the National Food Security Act (NFSA), 2013, which provides for maternity benefits to eligible women.

The scheme aims to offer partial wage compensation and promote safe pregnancy and childbirth, thereby improving overall maternal and child health outcomes.

Objectives of PMMVY

The core objective of PMMVY is to enhance maternal wellbeing by providing financial assistance during pregnancy and after childbirth. This support helps women manage wage loss, encourages institutional deliveries, and reduces the risk of malnutrition among mothers and infants.

The scheme also envisages the provision of free, nutritious meals through Anganwadi Centres during pregnancy and for six months after childbirth, ensuring adherence to prescribed nutritional standards.

PMMVY under Mission Shakti

In 2022, the Government of India launched Mission Shakti, an umbrella initiative that integrates several schemes aimed at women’s safety, security, and empowerment. PMMVY was brought under the Samarthya component of Mission Shakti, which focuses on economic empowerment and financial inclusion of women.

This integration has improved scheme convergence, monitoring efficiency, and targeted delivery of benefits, making PMMVY more impactful at the grassroots level.

Eligibility and Ineligibility Criteria

Under PMMVY, benefits are available to women for the first two living children, with the condition that the second child must be a girl. This provision is intended to promote gender equity and the value of the girl child.

However, pregnant women and lactating mothers who are in regular employment with the Central Government, State Governments, or Public Sector Undertakings, or those already receiving similar maternity benefits under any existing law, are not eligible for assistance under this scheme.

Financial Assistance and Instalment Structure

PMMVY provides direct cash assistance to eligible beneficiaries. For the first child, a total amount of ₹5,000 is provided in two instalments. For the second child, an amount of ₹6,000 is provided in one instalment, subject to the condition that the child is a girl.

The first instalment of ₹3,000 is released upon registration of pregnancy and completion of at least one antenatal check-up within six months from the date of the last menstrual period. The second instalment of ₹2,000 is provided after the birth and registration of the child, once all mandatory vaccinations up to 14 weeks are completed under the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP).

Mode of Benefit Transfer

The financial assistance under PMMVY is transferred through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. The amount is credited directly into the bank or post office accounts of beneficiaries, ensuring transparency, accountability, and timely disbursement of funds.

Funding Pattern of PMMVY

The scheme follows a Centre–State cost-sharing pattern. For most States and Union Territories with a legislature, the funding ratio is 60:40 between the Centre and the State. For North Eastern and Special Category States, the ratio is 90:10. In the case of Union Territories without a legislature, the scheme is fully funded by the Central Government.

Coverage and Achievements

As of December 2025, PMMVY has reached over 4.05 crore beneficiaries across the country. More than ₹19,000 crore has been disbursed to support maternal nutrition, healthcare access, and immunisation, reflecting the scheme’s wide coverage and sustained impact.

Monitoring and Digital Supervision

To strengthen implementation and oversight, the government launched the PMMVY Software (PMMVYSoft) in March 2023. This digital platform enables real-time monitoring at national, state, district, block, and village levels, ensuring effective supervision and timely grievance redressal.