What is PMMVY? 

Launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, PMMVY is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme providing maternity benefits to eligible pregnant and lactating women. However, government employees and those receiving similar benefits are excluded. 

Objectives & Benefits 

• Supports maternal nutrition, institutional deliveries, and financial stability. 
• Promotes gender equality by incentivizing the birth of girl children. 
• Financial assistance 
  • First child: ₹5,000 under PMMVY + additional benefits under Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) (~₹6,000 total). 
  • Second child (only if a girl): ₹6,000 to discourage female feticide. 

Concerns  

• Limited Coverage: Violates NFSA 2013, which mandates universal maternity benefits, as it restricts benefits to the first two children (second only if a girl). 
• Declining Reach: Coverage dropped from 36% (2019-20) to 9% (2023-24). 
• Implementation Barriers: Aadhaar-linked verification issues, complex applications, and frequent software failures hinder access, especially for poor and digitally illiterate women.