NFHS-6 Has 30 Fewer Numbers: Why That's a Problem

NFHS-6 fact sheets carry 101 indicators versus 131 in NFHS-5 — about 30 fewer.

All seven anaemia measures, sex ratio at birth and infant/child mortality are absent from the fact sheets.

Government says fact sheets are stage one; a fuller national report with more indicators comes later.

Anaemia was dropped because finger-prick blood testing was deemed unreliable; ICMR will measure it via venous blood.

Critics fear selective release blunts scrutiny of uncomfortable trends in nutrition and child survival.