Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana

The Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana is a conditional maternity benefit scheme administered by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. Its primary objective is to provide partial compensation for wage loss, enabling pregnant women and lactating mothers to rest adequately, while encouraging appropriate health-seeking behaviour.

Objective and rationale

Pregnancy and childbirth can reduce a woman's ability to earn while increasing her nutritional and healthcare needs. The scheme provides cash support to improve maternal well-being and links assistance with the use of antenatal care, birth registration and early childhood immunisation.

• The benefit is intended as partial income support rather than full wage replacement.
• Its health-related conditions encourage safer pregnancy, institutional healthcare contact and timely child immunisation.

Coverage and benefits

Under PMMVY 2.0, eligible beneficiaries receive Rs 5,000 for the first child in two instalments. A benefit of Rs 6,000 is also provided for the second child when the second child is a girl, subject to prescribed conditions.

• Benefits are transferred directly to the beneficiary's bank or post-office account.
• The scheme is implemented by the Ministry of Women and Child Development through the designated state and Union Territory machinery.

Legal and policy basis

The scheme advances the maternity benefit commitment contained in Section 4 of the National Food Security Act, 2013. That provision recognises maternity support, along with nutritional assistance, for pregnant women and lactating mothers, subject to specified exclusions.