Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK)

Summary

Launch & Core Objective: Launched on 1 June 2011 by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) is an entitlement-based scheme designed to achieve 100% institutional deliveries with zero out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE), ultimately aiming to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.
Target Beneficiaries: The scheme provides completely free, cashless services to all pregnant women delivering in public health facilities (regardless of economic status) and sick newborns (0–30 days).
Key Entitlements: Services include free deliveries (including C-sections), drugs, diagnostics, blood transfusions, nutritional diets (up to 3 days for normal delivery, 7 days for C-section, and for mothers of sick newborns), and free multi-way transport (pick-up, inter-facility referral, and drop-back).
Implementation & Integration: Operating across all public health tiers, JSSK converges with key healthcare initiatives like FBNC (SNCU links), RBSK, ABDM (for digital tracking), and the 108/102 ambulance networks.
Impact & 2026 Updates: The scheme benefits over 2.5 crore individuals annually, driving down delivery costs to zero. Recent 2025–26 updates include full ABDM integration for digital cards, expanded transport fleets, and post-discharge immunization tracking via U-WIN.

Introduction

Launched on 1 June 2011 by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare under National Health Mission (NHM)
Entitlement-based scheme providing completely free and cashless services to all pregnant women delivering in public health institutions and to sick newborns up to 30 days of life
Objective:
- Eliminate out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on maternal and newborn care,
- promote institutional deliveries and
- reduce maternal and neonatal mortality
Synergistic with Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for cash incentive + JSSK for free services

Ensure 100% institutional deliveries with zero OOPE
Provide comprehensive free care to sick newborns (0–30 days)
Strengthen continuum of care from community to facility and back
Reduce three-delays model barriers (especially delay in reaching & receiving care)
Contribute to SDG targets of MMR <70 and NMR <12 by 2030

All pregnant women delivering in public health facilities (PHC/CHC/DH/Medical College) irrespective of BPL/APL status
Sick newborns (0–30 days) born in public facilities or referred from community (HBNC/ASHA)
Includes C-section, complications of pregnancy, and any illness in newborn

Free normal delivery including C-section and management of complications
Free drugs, consumables, diagnostics (blood, urine, USG, etc.)
Free diet (3 meals + snacks for 3 days normal / 7 days C-section)
Free blood transfusion if required
Free transport (pick-up from home to facility + drop-back home + referral transport)

Free treatment of any illness (sepsis, jaundice, respiratory distress, asphyxia, LBW, etc.)
Free drugs, diagnostics, blood products, phototherapy, CPAP (as per FBNC levels)
Free diet for accompanying mother
Free transport (to facility, inter-facility referral, drop-back)

Operational at all public health facilities (from Sub-Centre delivery points to Medical Colleges)
108/102/ambulance services strengthened for free transport
No user charges; displayed prominently in all facilities
Convergence with:
- Facility-Based Newborn Care (FBNC): NBCC–NBSU–SNCU linkage
- RBSK: Birth defect screening at delivery points
- SAANS: Pneumonia management
- ABDM: Digital entitlement tracking via ABHA
- MusQan: Quality certification of maternal-newborn services

2.5 crore beneficiaries availed free services annually
Significant reduction in OOPE on institutional delivery (from >₹3000 to zero)
Neonatal mortality decline accelerated by timely transport and free care
2025–26 updates: Full ABDM integration for digital entitlement card; expanded transport fleet; linkage with U-WIN for post-discharge immunization
Continued focus on high-burden districts and tribal areas