Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY)

Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) is a safe motherhood intervention under the National Health Mission that promotes institutional delivery among pregnant women, particularly those from poor families and low-performing states. The scheme provides cash assistance to pregnant women who deliver in government health facilities — ₹1,400 in rural areas and ₹1,000 in urban areas for low-performing states (LPS), and ₹700 and ₹600 respectively for high-performing states (HPS).

The cash incentive is paid directly into the beneficiary's bank account or through the Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) who assists the woman in accessing health services. JSY has been instrumental in India's remarkable increase in institutional delivery rates — from about 40% in 2005 to over 89% in 2022. This shift has contributed significantly to the decline in maternal mortality rate (MMR) from 254 per lakh live births in 2004-06 to 97 in 2018-20.

Any pregnant woman who delivers in a government hospital, accredited private hospital, or JSY-empanelled private nursing home is eligible for the cash benefit. Registration with an ASHA or ANM (Auxiliary Nurse Midwife) early in pregnancy ensures the cash is ready at delivery. If you are in a low-income household, ensure you are registered under NFSA for the higher cash amount. Our editorial team reviewed JSY cash amounts and eligibility against the NHM official portal, July 2026.