In News:

The Government of India recently marked 10 years of the Pradhan Mantri SurakshitMatritva Abhiyaan (PMSMA) under the theme “10 Years of PMSMA – A Decade of Care.” Launched on 9 June 2016, PMSMA is a flagship maternal healthcare initiative aimed at ensuring safe pregnancy, reducing maternal and neonatal mortality, and improving access to quality antenatal care.

About PMSMA

PMSMA provides free, comprehensive and specialist-led antenatal care (ANC) services to pregnant women, particularly during the second and third trimesters, at designated government health facilities on the 9th day of every month.

The programme focuses on:

• Early identification of high-risk pregnancies.
• Timely referral and intervention.
• Improved maternal and newborn health outcomes.
• Universal access to quality antenatal services.

Extended PMSMA

To strengthen maternal healthcare further, the government launched Extended PMSMA (E-PMSMA) in January 2022.

Under this initiative:

• High-Risk Pregnancies (HRPs) are identified and line-listed.
• Pregnant women are individually tracked up to 45 days after delivery.
• SMS-based monitoring and follow-up mechanisms are used.
• ASHA workers provide additional support and counselling.

Major Achievements

Over the last decade, PMSMA has emerged as one of the world's largest targeted antenatal care programmes:

• More than 7.5 crore antenatal check-ups conducted.
• Nearly 1.2 crore high-risk pregnancies identified.
• Improved early risk detection and referral systems.

Maternal and Child Health Outcomes

India has witnessed substantial improvements in maternal and child health indicators:

Maternal Mortality

• Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) declined from 130 per lakh live births (2014–16) to 87 per lakh live births (2022–24).
• India has achieved an 86% decline in maternal mortality since 1990, significantly higher than the global average decline of 48%.

Child Health

• Under-Five Mortality Rate declined by 79% since 1990.
• Neonatal mortality declined by 70% during the same period.

NFHS Indicators

According to recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data:

• Institutional deliveries: 90.6%
• Antenatal care coverage: 95.9%
• Women receiving at least four ANC visits: 65.2%
• First-trimester ANC registration: 76.2%

These improvements reflect stronger maternal healthcare systems and greater utilization of institutional health services.

In News:

Two tropical cyclonic systems, Cyclone Ditwah and Cyclone Senyar, developed almost simultaneously over the Bay of Bengal–Andaman Sea region, drawing attention to the heightened cyclogenesis during the retreating phase of the Southwest Monsoon (October–November). The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued alerts for India’s east coast due to associated heavy rainfall and wind impacts.

Cyclone Ditwah: Key Facts

• Nature: Tropical cyclonic storm
• Area of formation: Southwest Bay of Bengal
• Development: Rapid intensification from a depression to a cyclonic storm in less than 24 hours
• Movement & impact: Moving towards the coasts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and southern Andhra Pradesh, with heavy rainfall and gusty winds expected
• Naming: Ditwah is the recommended name by Yemen

Cyclone Senyar: Key Facts

• Nature: Cyclonic system originating from a low-pressure area
• Area of formation: Near Malaysia/Strait of Malacca, over the South Andaman Sea and adjoining Bay of Bengal
• Development: Intensified into a depression and further strengthened before weakening over the Strait of Malacca
• Impact: Though it weakened, its remnant circulation and moisture feed triggered very heavy rainfall over parts of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands and South India
• Naming: Senyar is the recommended name by the UAE

Why are cyclones frequent in the Bay of Bengal During the Retreating Monsoon?

• Warm Sea Surface Temperatures (SSTs): Post-monsoon SSTs of ~28–30°C or higher provide abundant latent heat for cyclone formation.
• High Moisture Content: Strong moisture inflow from the equatorial Indian Ocean and the Bay creates a deep, humid troposphere, favouring convection.
• Southward Shift of ITCZ: During monsoon withdrawal, the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) and monsoon trough move southward over the Bay, enhancing convergence and vorticity.
• Low Vertical Wind Shear: October–early November typically sees reduced wind shear over the Bay, allowing systems to organise and intensify.
• Re-intensification of Monsoon Lows: Remnant lows/depressions moving back over warm Bay waters can re-strengthen into cyclones.
• Bay vs Arabian Sea Contrast: The Bay’s semi-enclosed nature, large river freshwater inflows (e.g., Ganga–Brahmaputra), and warmer, stratified surface waters make it more cyclone-prone than the Arabian Sea in this season.

Regional Implications

• East Coast Vulnerability: Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Andhra Pradesh face risks of heavy rain, flooding and wind damage.
• Island Territories: The Andaman & Nicobar Islands are particularly susceptible to rainfall bursts from systems forming near the Andaman Sea.
• Hydro-meteorological Risk: Back-to-back systems can compound impacts through soil saturation, runoff and riverine flooding.