Karnataka achieves major drop in maternal deaths, beats UN 2030 target ahead of schedule

Karnataka has significantly improved maternal health outcomes, cutting maternal deaths by over 41% within seven years—surpassing the national average, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) data released by the Office of the Registrar General of India.

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The state's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR)—the number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births—fell from 108 in 2014-16 to 63 in 2019-21. Nationally, India saw a reduction from 130 to 93 in the same timeframe. This puts Karnataka ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) target of reducing MMR to 70 by 2030.

Despite this milestone, Karnataka still lags behind its southern counterparts. The MMR in Telangana stands at 45, Andhra Pradesh at 46, and Tamil Nadu at 54. Kerala remains the best performer with an MMR of just 20.

However, Karnataka has narrowed the gap. The difference between its MMR and the southern states’ average shrank from 31 points in 2014-16 to 16 points by 2019-21, reflecting steady progress.

In response to recent maternal deaths in Ballari district, the state conducted an extensive audit and launched a 27-point action plan. The initiative addresses key factors like anaemia, adolescent health, nutrition, and disparities in prenatal care. The state is also learning from better-performing regions while tailoring interventions to address local socio-cultural health challenges.

Karnataka's efforts signal a focused, data-driven push to further improve maternal health across districts.