Having a baby in India: your complete map
Check-ups, government schemes, your rights at work and the paperwork after birth, checked on official Indian sites so you know what to do, and when.
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
In India, register your pregnancy early with your ASHA, ANM or doctor and keep your MCP card. Free check-ups run on the 9th of every month (PMSMA), delivery is free in government hospitals (JSSK), and eligible mothers receive PMMVY and JSY cash. Employees get up to 26 weeks of maternity benefit. Report the birth within 21 days.
Your pregnancy in India, step by step
Pregnancy care in India runs through a chain of people you will get to know: your ASHA (the community health worker), your Anganwadi worker, your ANM (auxiliary nurse midwife) and doctors at the primary health centre, community health centre or district hospital. Your record is the MCP card (Mother and Child Protection card), and your registration number is your RCH ID. Keep both with you at every visit.
| When | What to do | Where to read more |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as you know | Register the pregnancy, get your MCP card and RCH ID | Antenatal check-up schedule |
| First trimester | First check-up before 12 weeks; check that your Aadhaar and bank account names match | Antenatal check-up schedule |
| From the second trimester | A free specialist check-up on the 9th of any month | Free delivery and PMSMA |
| Early in pregnancy | Apply for PMMVY (Rs 5,000 for a first child, as of October 2026) | PMMVY amounts and eligibility and PMMVY login and status |
| If you work | Tell your employer in writing; plan up to 26 weeks of maternity benefit | Maternity benefit at work |
| Around 34 weeks | Choose the facility, plan transport, pack the bag | Free delivery and PMSMA |
| After a facility birth | JSY payment if eligible | Janani Suraksha Yojana |
| Within 21 days | Birth reported and registered; free certificate | Birth certificate |
| First weeks | Aadhaar for your baby | Baal Aadhaar |
| Birth to 14 weeks | Birth doses and first cycle of vaccines | Vaccination schedule |
The money you may be entitled to
- PMMVY (Ministry of Women and Child Development): Rs 5,000 for a first child in two instalments, Rs 6,000 for a second child if she is a girl, as of October 2026, for women in the eligible categories (for example SC/ST, BPL or NFSA ration card, e-Shram card, MGNREGA job card, Ayushman Bharat beneficiary, or family income below Rs 8 lakh a year).
- JSY (Ministry of Health): a payment after giving birth in a public facility or accredited private hospital. Amounts depend on the state: NHM Uttarakhand and NHM Assam publish Rs 1,400 in rural areas and Rs 1,000 in urban areas.
- JSSK: not cash, but free delivery, medicines, tests, diet, blood and transport in public health institutions.
You can receive JSY in addition to PMMVY: the PMMVY guidelines say so explicitly.
Your rights at work
Since 21 November 2025, maternity rights are in the Code on Social Security, 2020, which brought together the Maternity Benefit Act, 1961 and other laws. If you worked at least 80 days in the 12 months before your expected delivery, you can receive up to 26 weeks of maternity benefit at your average daily wage, plus nursing breaks until your child is 15 months old, and a creche where the employer has 50 or more employees.
Numbers to save today
| Number | What for |
|---|---|
| 112 | National emergency number |
| 108 | Ambulance in many states |
| 102 | Free transport for pregnant women in many states (JSSK) |
| 14416 | Tele MANAS, free mental health support, 24 hours |
| 1515 | PMMVY helpline, 9 am to 6 pm |
| 1947 | Aadhaar (UIDAI) |
Bleeding, fluid leaking, a severe headache, blurred vision, sudden swelling, fever or fewer baby movements: go to your facility or call 108 straight away, at any hour.
Everything for mothers in India
The whole journey in one book
If you prefer one calm book to keep, Having a Baby in India follows your pregnancy month by month: every scheme with its official source, the PMMVY portal step by step, a letter model for your employer, the paperwork after birth, family traditions seen with respect and evidence, a month-by-month checklist and pages to fill in. The articles on this site stay free and complete; the book is there if you want it all in one place.
Questions parents ask
Is delivery free in government hospitals in India?
Yes. Under JSSK, pregnant women delivering in public health institutions are entitled to free delivery, including caesarean section, free transport, diagnostics, medicines, consumables, diet and blood.
How much money does a pregnant woman get from the government in India?
As of October 2026, PMMVY pays Rs 5,000 for a first child in two instalments and Rs 6,000 for a second child if she is a girl, to eligible women. JSY adds a payment after delivery in a facility; in Uttarakhand and Assam it is Rs 1,400 in rural areas and Rs 1,000 in urban areas.
How long is maternity leave in India?
Under the Code on Social Security, 2020, in force since 21 November 2025, an eligible woman can receive up to 26 weeks of maternity benefit, of which up to 8 weeks before the expected delivery date, if she worked at least 80 days in the previous 12 months.
Within how many days must a birth be registered in India?
The model rules say the birth must be reported within 21 days. Later registration is still possible, with a small late fee and, after 30 days, extra permissions.
Sources
- MoHFW via PIB — Saving Mothers, Strengthening Futures (March 2025) checked October 13, 2026
- MoHFW — Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan, About checked October 13, 2026
- MWCD — PMMVY, Frequently Asked Questions checked October 13, 2026
- PIB — New Labour Codes Empower Women (maternity benefit, November 2025) checked October 13, 2026
- Registrar General of India — Model Registration of Births and Deaths Rules, 1999 checked October 13, 2026
- NHM Uttarakhand — Janani Suraksha Yojana checked October 13, 2026
- MoHFW — Tele MANAS checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.