Which one of the following is the main objective of Janani Suraksha Yojana?
- (a)Reduction in neo-natal mortality rate only
- (b)Reduction in maternal and neo-natal mortality rate
- (c)Reduction in infant mortality rate only
- (d)Reduction in maternal mortality rate only
Correct — B, Reduction in maternal and neo-natal mortality rate. Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), launched in 2005 under the National Rural Health Mission (now the National Health Mission), is a safe-motherhood intervention. It gives conditional cash assistance to poor pregnant women to promote institutional delivery — delivery at a health facility with a skilled birth attendant. Its stated objective is to reduce both maternal mortality and neo-natal (newborn) mortality, so it targets both mother and newborn, not just one.
- (a)Reduction in neo-natal mortality rate only — Too narrow — JSY targets maternal mortality as well as neo-natal mortality; restricting it to neo-natal deaths alone is incorrect.
- (c)Reduction in infant mortality rate only — JSY's focus is on delivery-time safety (maternal and neo-natal outcomes) through institutional delivery, not on reducing infant mortality across the whole first year 'only'.
- (d)Reduction in maternal mortality rate only — Too narrow — it also targets neo-natal mortality; the objective covers both mother and newborn, so 'maternal only' is incomplete.
Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a centrally sponsored safe-motherhood scheme under the National Health Mission, launched in 2005. It promotes institutional delivery among poor pregnant women through conditional cash transfers (with higher assistance in Low Performing States and for rural mothers), thereby aiming to cut both maternal and neo-natal deaths. It works alongside Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), which provides free delivery and sick-newborn care.
All four options sound plausible because JSY does improve child and newborn health. The key is 'main objective' and the completeness of the statement — the scheme is designed to reduce maternal AND neo-natal mortality, so the option naming both (b) is the fullest and correct one; the three 'only' options are each too narrow.
- JSY launched in 2005 under NRHM (now the National Health Mission).
- Objective: reduce maternal and neo-natal mortality by promoting institutional delivery.
- Provides conditional cash assistance to poor pregnant women; higher for Low Performing States and rural areas.
- Complemented by Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK) for free delivery and newborn care.
- Picking an 'only' option — JSY targets both maternal and neo-natal mortality, not one alone.
- Confusing JSY (cash for institutional delivery) with JSSK (free delivery/newborn care) or PMMVY (maternity-benefit cash).
UPSC/UPPSC ask the objective/features of JSY, or ask you to distinguish it from JSSK, PMMVY and other maternal-health schemes.
The endeavour of 'Janani Suraksha Yojana' Programme is 1. To promote institutional deliveries 2. To provide monetary assistance to the mother to meet the cost of delivery 3. To provide for wage loss due to pregnancy and confinement Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 and 2 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer(a) 1 and 2 only
Same scheme — JSY's endeavour is to promote institutional deliveries and give the mother monetary assistance for delivery costs (it does not compensate wage loss).
Consider the following statements in relation to Janani Suraksha Yojana : 1. It is a safe motherhood intervention of the State Health Departments. 2. Its objective is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality among poor pregnant women. 3. It aims to promote institutional delivery among poor pregnant women. 4. Its objective includes providing public health facilities to sick infants up to one year of age. How many of the statements given above are correct?
- (a) Only one
- (b) Only two
- (c) Only three
- (d) All four
Answer(b) Only two
Same scheme — reaffirms JSY's objective to reduce maternal and neo-natal mortality by promoting institutional delivery among poor pregnant women (it is a central NHM scheme, not a state one).
- practice — not a real PYQ
Janani Suraksha Yojana was launched under which mission?
- (a)National Rural Health Mission
- (b)Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
- (c)Integrated Child Development Services
- (d)Swachh Bharat Mission
Answer(a) National Rural Health Mission — JSY was launched under NRHM in 2005.
- practice — not a real PYQ
Janani Suraksha Yojana primarily promotes:
- (a)Home deliveries
- (b)Institutional deliveries
- (c)Free ration distribution
- (d)Immunization only
Answer(b) Institutional deliveries — cash assistance encourages delivery at a health facility to reduce maternal and newborn deaths.