<span style="color: #222222;">The maternal mortality and the infant mortality rates in the country have sharply declined during the last three years. The maternal mortality rate has come down from 167 per lakh births between 2011 and 2013 to 130 between 2014 and 2016. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Replying to supplementaries during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha today, Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda said infant mortality rate has also come down from 160 to 130 per one lakh births during the same period. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Attributing the decline to the health schemes including Janani Suraksha Yojana, the Minister said the decline is faster than global rates. He said by the year 2025, the maternal mortality rate is likely to come down to 70 per one lakh.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">         </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Referring to another supplementary on Ayushman Bharat scheme, the Health Minister said the Centre has signed Memorandum of Understanding with 26 states to implement the scheme.</span><br />