<span style="color: #222222;">Maternal Mortality Ratio, MMR, of India has declined by eight points in one year as per the latest special bulletin on MMR released by the Registrar General of India. This was informed by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr. Harsh Vardhan today in New Delhi. The Minister said, this decline is important as it translates to over 2,000 more pregnant women saved annually. <br />''<br />''He added that the MMR has declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 122 per lakh live births in 2015-17 which is a decline of 6.2 per cent. The Minister said, with this persistent decline, India is on track to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) set for reducing the MMR by 2025 which is five years ahead of the fixed time-line of 2030.<br />''<br />''Dr. Vardhan stated that achievement is the result of significant gains made in institutional deliveries and focused approach towards high priority districts to reach the most marginalized and vulnerable sections of the society. He further said, focus on quality health services provided through National Health Mission such as Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram and Janani Suraksha Yojana have contributed to this endeavour. </span><br />