The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), India’s flagship maternity benefit scheme, has completed nine years of implementation. Launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the scheme has provided crucial financial support to millions of pregnant and lactating women across the country.
PMMVY offers conditional cash transfers to compensate for wage loss during pregnancy, promote safe delivery, and improve maternal and child nutrition. Eligible women receive financial assistance for their first child, while the revised PMMVY 2.0 also extends benefits to the second girl child.
According to official data, more than 4.6 crore women have been enrolled under the scheme, with over 4.2 crore beneficiaries receiving payments. Nearly ₹19,821 crore has been disbursed as of October 2025, reflecting the scale of the program’s outreach.
The scheme is integrated with Mission Shakti, which focuses on women’s empowerment, healthcare, and nutrition. Authorities emphasize that PMMVY has played a vital role in encouraging institutional deliveries and reducing maternal health risks.
Despite its achievements, challenges remain in ensuring timely disbursement, expanding awareness in rural areas, and addressing persistent issues of undernutrition and anaemia among women. Policymakers continue to stress the importance of strengthening outreach and efficiency to maximize the scheme’s impact.
