Update on LaQshya Scheme

1. At a Glance

LaQshya = Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative — a Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) programme to improve quality of care in Labour Rooms (LRs) and Maternity Operation Theatres (MOTs) of public health facilities [S1][S2].
Aimed at reducing Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) and Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR) by ensuring quality intrapartum & immediate post-partum care, and delivering Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) [S2][S3].
Relevant for UPSC under GS-II (Health/Welfare schemes) and Prelims (current affairs + government schemes).

PIB release, 27 March 2026 updated certification numbers: 1,244 LRs and 917 MOTs certified under LaQshya, with 151 LRs and 107 MOTs recertified as of February 2026 [S1].
Highlighted that the assessment uses >200 measurable elements across 70 standards, evaluated by independent assessors [S1].

Launched: December 2017 by MoHFW [S2][S3].
Rooted in India's push to lower MMR in line with SDG-3 target (<70 per 1,00,000 live births by 2030) [S3].
Builds on the National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) framework — the operational tool for assessment and certification [S2][S4].
Complements earlier maternal health schemes: Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY, 2005), Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK, 2011), Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA, 2016).

Implementing ministry: Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW); under National Health Mission (NHM) [S1][S2].
Target facilities: Govt Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals, designated First Referral Units (FRUs), and high case-load CHCs [S2].
Assessment tool: NQAS — 70 standards, >200 measurable elements [S1][S2].
Certification threshold: facility must score ≥70% on NQAS [S2].
Badges: Platinum ≥90%, Gold ≥80%, Silver ≥70% [S2].
Latest numbers (Feb 2026): 1,244 LRs + 917 MOTs certified; 151 LRs + 107 MOTs recertified [S1].
Recertification cycle: every 3 years under NQAS protocols [S1].
Assessors: independent, empanelled NQAS assessors [S1][S2].

Social: Targets maternal & newborn survival; promotes Respectful Maternity Care addressing dignity, privacy, and consent of pregnant women [S2].
Administrative: Tiered assessment — internal → state (annual) → national (triggered when state score ≥70%) [S4]; supportive supervisory visits monitor implementation [S1].
Economic/Health-system: Reduces out-of-pocket expenditure by improving public-facility delivery quality, lowering referrals to private sector [S2].
Federal: Centrally sponsored under NHM; states execute via State Quality Assurance Units (SQAUs) [S4].
Ethical / Governance: Independent third-party assessment built in to ensure objectivity; performance-linked incentives to LR/MOT staff for certified facilities [S2].

27 March 2026 (PIB): cumulative certification figures released — 1,244 LRs / 917 MOTs certified; 151 LRs / 107 MOTs recertified [S1].
Confirmation that >200 measurable elements across 70 standards form the rigorous LaQshya audit matrix [S1].
Continued integration with the broader NQAS recertification drive for public health facilities [S4].

LaQshya stands for Labour Room Quality Improvement Initiative [S2].
Launched in December 2017 by MoHFW [S2].
Targets Labour Rooms and Maternity OTs (not OPDs / wards) [S2].
Certification via NQAS — minimum 70% score required [S2].
Badges: Platinum (≥90%), Gold (≥80%), Silver (≥70%) [S2].
Assessment uses 70 Standards and >200 measurable elements [S1].
As of Feb 2026: 1,244 LRs + 917 MOTs certified [S1].
Covers Medical College Hospitals, District Hospitals, FRUs, and high case-load CHCs [S2].
Operates under National Health Mission [S2].
Promotes Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) [S2].
Recertification done by independent empanelled NQAS assessors [S1].
Linked to SDG-3 (maternal & child health) [S3].

GS-II: "Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections… mechanisms, laws, institutions for protection"; "Issues relating to development and management of Social Sector / Services relating to Health".
Possible stems: 1. "Quality of intrapartum care, not merely institutional delivery, holds the key to further reduction in India's MMR. Discuss in light of the LaQshya initiative." 2. "Evaluate the role of independent quality-certification mechanisms (NQAS, LaQshya, Kayakalp) in strengthening public health facilities in India." 3. "Respectful Maternity Care is as important as clinical care. Examine."

NQAS — parent quality-assurance framework that underpins LaQshya [S4].
Kayakalp — sister initiative for cleanliness/hygiene in public health facilities.
JSY, JSSK, PMSMA, SUMAN — maternal health scheme ecosystem.
MMR trajectory in India (SRS data) — outcome indicator LaQshya targets.
National Health Mission (NHM) — umbrella programme.
SDG-3 targets on maternal & neonatal mortality.
Anaemia Mukt Bharat & POSHAN Abhiyaan — complementary maternal-nutrition push.
First Referral Units (FRUs) — institutional category central to LaQshya.

LaQshya is not a cash-transfer scheme (that's JSY); it is a quality-certification initiative.
Covers Labour Rooms & Maternity OTs only — not whole hospitals (whole-hospital NQAS is separate).
Launched in 2017, not 2018; under MoHFW, not WCD.
Minimum certification score is 70% (Silver) — not 80%.
Assessment is via NQAS, not by NABH/JCI.

[S1] Update on LaQshya Scheme — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2245958 — (tier: 1)
[S2] LaQshya Programme (PIB) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1910378 — (tier: 1)
[S3] LaQshya program will benefit every pregnant woman and newborn — https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1524650 — (tier: 1)
[S4] Update on National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) — https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2116213 — (tier: 1)