PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), flagship Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched on 1 January 2017 under Mission Shakti, sub-scheme ‘Samarthya’, completed nine years on 1 January 2026.
PM Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY)
Objectives
- Support maternal and child health through financial assistance.
- Improve nutrition and medical care for pregnant and lactating mothers.
- Promote institutional deliveries and better health outcomes.
- Strengthen financial inclusion via Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- Encourage health-seeking behaviour among eligible women.
Financial Assistance under PMMVY
- Provides maternity benefits to eligible women.
- Direct cash transfer to beneficiaries through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).
- Aims to enhance health-seeking behaviour, maternal and child health outcomes.
- Cash benefit:
| Child | Total Cash Benefit | Instalments | Notes |
| First Child | ₹5,000 | 1st: ₹3,000 (on pregnancy registration), 2nd: ₹2,000 (after childbirth) | Additional Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) benefit increases total to ₹6,000 on institutional delivery |
| Second Girl Child | ₹6,000 | Direct cash transfer | Only applicable if second child is a girl |
Special Cases:
- In the event of miscarriage or stillbirth, the beneficiary can be considered fresh in future pregnancies.
Implementation Mechanism
- Managed by States and UTs through field functionaries.
- PMMVYSoft (launched March 2023) enables:
- Aadhaar-based authentication via UIDAI
- NPCI verification for direct DBT to Aadhaar-linked bank/post office accounts
- Integrated grievance module
- Multi-lingual helpline (14408)
- Biometric authentication using Facial Recognition System (FRS)
- Due-list of potential beneficiaries for better coverage
- Fund Transfer: Direct to DBT-enabled, Aadhaar-seeded accounts, ensuring transparency and efficiency.
Eligibility / Target Group
- Women belonging to socially and economically disadvantaged sections, such as:
- Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST)
- Women who are partially (≥40%) or fully disabled (Divyang)
- BPL cardholders
- Beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PMJAY) (Ayushman Bharat)
- E-Shram cardholders
- Women farmers under Kisan Samman Nidhi
- Women holding MGNREGA Job Card
- Women with net family income < ₹8 lakh/year
- Pregnant & lactating AWWs/AWHs/ASHAs
- Any other category prescribed by the Central Government
Exclusions:
- Women in regular employment with central/state government or PSUs
- Women receiving similar benefits under existing laws
Beneficiaries & Financial Progress
- Over 4.5 crore beneficiaries enrolled
- More than ₹19,000 crore disbursed
- Supports nutrition, medical checkups, and overall health during pregnancy
- Strengthened maternal and child health outcomes among disadvantaged women
Significance
- PMMVY is a flagship maternity benefits programme supporting financial security for disadvantaged mothers.
- Promotes maternal nutrition and institutional deliveries for better maternal and child health outcomes.
- Demonstrates India’s commitment to women’s welfare and health in line with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
- Digital reforms (PMMVYSoft, DBT, biometric authentication) enhance transparency, accountability, and ease of access.
Key Facts
- DBT Mechanism: Direct transfer to Aadhaar-linked bank/post office accounts
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT): Ensures financial inclusion, transparency, and elimination of intermediaries
- PMMVY Integration with Other Schemes: Janani Suraksha Yojana, PMJAY, Kisan Samman Nidhi, MGNREGA
- Mission Shakti: Umbrella program of women empowerment, under which PMMVY falls as Samarthya sub-scheme
- Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY): Offers additional cash incentives to women for institutional delivery, integrated with PMMVY benefits
- Field Functionaries: AWW (Anganwadi Workers), ASHA, ANMs play a critical role in identification, registration, and verification of beneficiaries