SRINAGAR: The Government of India on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme has been expanded to cover all districts across the country, while maternity benefits worth Rs 20,446 crore have been provided to around 4.35 crore women under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) since its launch.
Replying to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur said BBBP, now a component under the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti during the 15th Finance Commission period, focuses on behavioural and social change towards the girl child through multi-sectoral interventions.
The Minister said the scheme has evolved from a policy initiative into a nationwide movement involving government agencies, media, civil society organisations and the public.
She added that the number of beneficiaries under BBBP is not measurable due to the nature of the scheme, as it primarily aims at creating awareness, changing mindsets and empowering girls and women.
According to the Ministry, the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) at the national level has improved from 918 in 2014–15 to 929 in 2024–25, as per the Health Management Information System (HMIS) of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
The Minister further informed that the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls at the secondary school level has increased from 75.51 per cent in 2014–15 to 83.4 per cent in 2025–26, based on data from the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE).
On PMMVY, the Ministry said the centrally sponsored maternity benefit scheme has been implemented by States and Union Territories, except Telangana, since January 1, 2017.
Under the scheme, eligible women receive Rs 5,000 through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into their bank or post office accounts for the first child. After institutional delivery, beneficiaries receive additional assistance under the Janani Suraksha Yojana, taking the average maternity benefit to Rs 6,000.
The scheme also provides Rs 6,000 to eligible beneficiaries for the second child, subject to the second child being a girl.
The Ministry stated that the PMMVY benefits have been extended to approximately 4.35 crore women across the country from January 1, 2017, till July 15, 2026.
