The release of the NFHS-6 Fact Sheets has given an early look at India’s current health, nutrition and demographic trends. According to the Union Health Ministry, these Fact Sheets are only the first phase of a larger data release process.
Officials from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the Fact Sheets contain 101 key indicators and focus on the most important findings for policymakers. They also clarified that these documents should not be considered the final NFHS-6 National Report, which will be published later with more detailed analysis, additional indicators and methodological information.
This clarification comes after concerns were raised about the absence of certain indicators in the Fact Sheets. However, ministry officials denied that any data had been intentionally left out. They explained that the reporting system has been revised to reduce duplication and improve consistency across different government surveys and databases.
A senior ministry official said the aim is to ensure that each indicator is reported through the most reliable and appropriate source, making the overall data system more coherent and efficient.
For example, data on sanitation and access to clean cooking fuel are already collected through dedicated surveys such as Swachh Survekshan Grameen and studies conducted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. Similarly, information related to mortality, birth registration and population trends continues to come from established systems like the Sample Registration System (SRS), Civil Registration System (CRS) and the Census.
One major change in NFHS-6 is the removal of haemoglobin testing. Officials stated that anaemia estimates will now come from the Indian Council of Medical Research’s Diet and Biomarkers Survey, which uses venous blood samples and is considered more accurate than the capillary blood sampling method used in earlier NFHS rounds.
At the same time, NFHS-6 has added several new indicators. These include population composition, the proportion of elderly people, financial inclusion, antenatal care usage, vaccination coverage, severe diarrhoeal disease prevalence and expanded measures related to breastfeeding.
The ministry also clarified that many indicators missing from the Fact Sheets have not been dropped from the survey. Information on family planning, child health interventions, women’s health and HIV-related issues is expected to be included in the final National Report.
Officials described NFHS as India’s largest household health survey and an important source of evidence for policymaking. The final report is currently being prepared with input from technical experts, government ministries and development partners.
They added that updating the NFHS questionnaire from time to time is a common international practice. It helps the survey remain relevant to changing policy priorities while maintaining data quality and reducing the burden on respondents.
In conclusion, ministry officials emphasised that the Fact Sheets are only the first stage of dissemination. The comprehensive National Report will provide a fuller picture of India’s health and demographic situation, while continuing the NFHS objective of supporting informed policymaking through reliable evidence.