• From January 1 to November 9, 2025, Delhi's average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 175, a decrease from 189 during the same timeframe the previous year as per the reports.

• The average levels of PM2.5 and PM10 were 75 µg/m³ and 170 µg/m³, respectively, compared to 87 µg/m³ and 191 µg/m³ last year.

• In Punjab, farm fire incidents dropped by 35.2% and in Haryana, they decreased by 65.3% between September 15 and November 9, 2025.

• In the National Capital Region (NCR), over 23 lakh tonnes of waste from legacy dumpsites have been bio-mined in Delhi. Additionally, new waste-to-energy facilities and Bio-CNG/CBG facilities are being developed. More than 96% of industries have transitioned to approved fuels.

• By September, over 4.37 crore saplings had been planted in the NCR.

• Various measures from Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage I & II are in effect, and there has been an increase in registrations and inspections at construction sites. Despite the improvement, with the onset of winters, AQI has deteriorated in Delhi-NCR.

• Exposure to major air pollutants, such as PM₂.₅ and PM₁₀ are significant risk factors for respiratory and cardiovascular conditions. Decrease in farm fire incidents, shifts to cleaner industrial fuels, and effective solid waste management are expected to lower the overall disease burden associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, lung cancer and early mortality. Additionally, increased green spaces and stricter oversight of construction activities contribute to healthier urban settings. However, much of the change could be attributed to the change in the weather and continued rain in Delhi during the time period, mentioned in the report. Sustained intersectoral collaboration and community involvement are crucial to preserving long-term air quality  in the National Capital.

• International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) New Delhi organized an international Round Table titled “Investigating and translating Genomic Evidence for Public Health Response to SARS-CoV-2,” featuring prominent researchers and science administrators from India and Italy. The event highlighted the role of genomic evidence in bolstering pandemic preparedness.

• The discussion stressed that the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us the necessity of improving global genomic surveillance, translating research into practice, and ensuring health-system readiness.

• Attendees included Prof Lawrence Banks (DG, ICGEB), Prof Ramesh Sonti (Director, ICGEB Delhi), experts from the Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi, the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS) Rome, and the Embassy of Italy in India.

• The gathering reinforced a shared understanding that future pandemics are certain, with only the timing, location, and severity remaining unknown, and advocated for ongoing collaboration between India and Italy in science, technology, and innovation for public health.

The round table underscores the essential importance of genomic surveillance and global scientific cooperation in enhancing pandemic readiness and response. Incorporating genomic data into public health frameworks can facilitate the early detection of new pathogens, swift identification of variants, and prompt policy decisions. Strengthened research connections between India and Italy foster knowledge sharing, capacity development, and technology exchange, contributing to more robust health systems. The focus on converting genomic information into public health measures highlights the necessity for ongoing investment in laboratory infrastructure, a skilled workforce, and data-sharing systems. Such coordinated international efforts will improve preparedness for future pandemics, reducing illness, death, and socioeconomic disruption.

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• The World Health Organization (WHO) launched a new report, “The Future of Paediatric Clinical Trials- Setting Research Priorities for Child Health, to enhance child health research worldwide.”

• The agenda aims for 0-9 years old children, addressing the persistent evidence gaps in pediatric trials. Children continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials, despite having the potential to benefit significantly from them.

• More than 380 experts contributed 653 research questions, prioritized into 172 global priorities.

• In brief, the focus areas include infectious diseases, NCDs, newborn health, early childhood development, and nutrition.

• The approach emphasizes feasibility, scalability, and equitable impact, aiming to ensure research benefits all children, especially in low-resource settings.

• WHO urges Member States, research bodies, and funders to align resources and collaborate.

Strengthening paediatric clinical trials is vital to ensure that child health interventions are evidence-based, safe, and contextually relevant. This agenda empowers public health systems to address inequities in research, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where child disease burdens remain highest.

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• Following claims by the US president that pregnant women should avoid Tylenol (acetaminophen), linking it to a “very increased risk of autism,” fear and confusion spread among pregnant women, which drew swift criticism from health experts.

• However, on 24 September 2025, the World Health Organization (WHO) responded, reassuring the public that current evidence does not support any link between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and autism.

• The WHO noted that autism affects about 62 million people worldwide and is caused by multiple factors, not yet fully understood.

• It is recommended that pregnant women adhere to medical guidance and take medicines with caution.

• It reaffirmed that vaccines do not cause autism, crediting immunization with saving 154 million lives.

• WHO called for evidence-based, stigma-free practices in collaboration with autistic-led organizations.

These unsupported claims linking acetaminophen use in pregnancy to autism highlight the critical need for robust, evidence-based risk communication. Public health professionals should prioritize clear, science-driven messaging to prevent misinformation from influencing maternal and child health.

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• The 2025 Lancet report highlights the significant health impact of climate inaction, which has led to heat-related deaths rising by 23% since the 1990s, with 546,000 deaths annually.

• Extreme heat conditions have led to increased food insecurity affecting 124 million people and financial losses from heat exposure amounting to $1.35 trillion.

• It contrasts climate finance and fossil fuel spending, highlighting that governments spent $956 billion on fossil fuel subsidies in 2023, surpassing their climate support commitments and exceeding the health budgets of 15 countries.

• Furthermore, the advantages of addressing climate change are evident, with 160,000 premature deaths avoided from reduced coal pollution and 16 million jobs supported by renewable energy.

• The health sector has seen a 16% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and many WHO Member States have developed adaptation plans.

• Looking forward to COP30, WHO aims to publish a report emphasizing that addressing climate change offers a critical opportunity to improve health and save over 10 million lives annually, advocating for the phasing out of fossil fuels and promoting sustainable agriculture.

• In 2023, fossil fuel subsidies amounted to $956 billion. Transitioning to sustainable agriculture and renewable energy could prevent over 10 million deaths annually.

• The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched the National Health Emergency Alert and Response Framework, a comprehensive guide to strengthen national emergency preparedness.

• It consolidates over 300 recommendations from the COVID-19 pandemic into the Health Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response (HEPR) architecture.

• The framework outlines all emergency stages—from detection and notification to response and review—and provides practical tools, such as checklists.

• It incorporates the 7-1-7 performance target: 7 days to detect an outbreak, 1 day to notify authorities, and 7 days to implement initial control measures.

• Aimed at government authorities, the guide addresses the growing threats posed by climate change, urbanization, and geopolitical instability.

This framework provides a critical, standardized toolkit for nations to accelerate and coordinate their response to health emergencies, potentially reducing morbidity and mortality during future crises by ensuring a faster, more efficient, and evidence-based reaction.

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On October 23, 2025, India's Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) introduced three specialized training modules designed to enhance the nation's ability to handle chemical emergencies. These modules, crafted by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in partnership with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and with technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO) India, focus on: (1) Preparedness, Surveillance & Response, (2) Pre-Hospital Management, and (3) Medical Management of Chemical Emergencies. Aimed at public health professionals, emergency responders, healthcare workers, and policymakers, these resources support the core capacities required by the International Health Regulations (2005). The launch event, held at Nirman Bhavan in New Delhi, gathered senior officials from various ministries, academia, industry, and international partners to reaffirm India's dedication to establishing a robust and self-sufficient health emergency response system.

The introduction of these training modules boosts India's readiness for chemical emergencies by enabling quicker detection, a coordinated response, and a decrease in illness and death rates. This initiative bolsters national health security and aids in adhering to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), thereby enhancing the resilience of the public health system.

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• Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has prohibited all drinks from naming themselves as "ORS" (Oral Rehydration Solution) unless they adhere to the WHO-recommended formulation strictly.

• The move is to stop misleading and deceptive labeling, since most such products with the label "ORS" fail to achieve the needed electrolyte proportion and come with a higher amount of sugar.

• FSSAI has revoked its previous relaxations dated July 2022 and February 2024, permitting the use of the term, subject to disclaimers.

• Use of the term "ORS" in any manner, prefix, suffix, or trademark, will henceforth amount to misbranding and misleading advertising under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.

• The Delhi High Court has granted an interim stay over portions of the prohibition, enabling the restricted sale of current stock pending continuation of legal proceedings, and clarified that its interim order was not a green light for fresh manufacture of such products.

The order is a welcome step toward preventing misleading marketing practices that hinder the appropriate management of diarrhea. Its effective implementation and strict compliance will require close supervision and regular audits by the FSSAI.

Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR):

• Definition: Number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births during a given year.

• Latest Available Estimate  (SRS Special Bulletin on MMR September 2025):

  • India: 88 per 100,000 live births

  • Declined from 130 (2014–16), 103 (2017-19), 93 (2019-21)

• State Variations:

  • Lowest: Kerala – 30

  • Highest: Odisha – 153

• Trend: Continuous decline over the last decade, showing significant progress toward SDG target of <70 by 2030.

Perinatal Mortality Rate (PMR):

• Definition: Number of stillbirths and early neonatal deaths (<7 days) per 1,000 total births (live births + stillbirths).

• India (2023):

  • Total: 21 per 1,000 total births

  • Rural: 23

  • Urban: 15

• Components:

  • Still Birth Rate: 7 per 1,000 total births

  • Early Neonatal Mortality Rate: 13 per 1,000 live births

• Trend (2013–2023): Declined from ~28 to 21 (↓25% over a decade).

• Highest: Chhattisgarh (31), Madhya Pradesh (30), Uttar Pradesh (29)

• Lowest: Kerala (8), Manipur (9), Tamil Nadu (10)

Neonatal Mortality Rate (NMR):

• Definition: Number of deaths of infants aged <28 days per 1,000 live births.

• India (2023):

  • Total: 19 per 1,000 live births

  • Rural: 21

  • Urban: 13

• Trend (2018–2023): Declined from 23 to 19, showing a fall of 4 points in five years.

• Share of neonatal deaths among all infant deaths: ~73%, indicating that the majority of infant deaths occur within the first month of life.

• Highest: Madhya Pradesh (27)

• Lowest: Kerala (4)

Infant Mortality Rate (IMR):

• Definition: Number of deaths of infants (<1 year) per 1,000 live births in a given year.

• India (2023):

  • Total: 25 per 1,000 live births

  • Rural: 28

  • Urban: 18

• Trend:

  • Declined from 40 (2013) → 25 (2023) (↓37.5%).

  • Decline from 32 (2018) → 25 (2023) (↓7 points in 5 years).

• Highest: Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh – 37

• Lowest: Kerala – 5; Manipur – 3

• Observation: Despite progress, one in every 40 infants nationally, and one in every 36 rural infants, dies before completing the first year of life.

Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR):

• Definition: Probability (per 1,000 live births) that a child will die before reaching the age of 5 years, given current age-specific mortality rates.

• India (2023):

  • Total: 29 per 1,000 live births

  • Rural: 33

  • Urban: 20

• Trend: Declined from 45 (2013) → 29 (2023) (↓36% over the decade).

  • Decline of 1 point over the previous year (2022: 30 → 2023: 29).

• Highest: Madhya Pradesh (44)

• Lowest: Kerala (8)

• Observation: Reduction achieved through better child survival interventions, though rural–urban and inter-state disparities persist.

Overall Progress:
India has shown consistent and significant decline across all major mortality indicators over the last decade, reflecting sustained efforts in maternal and child health through programmes like RMNCH+A, LaQshya, JSY, JSSK, NHM  and facility-based newborn care (FBNC).

Critical Areas for Strengthening:

High neonatal and perinatal mortality indicate gaps in intrapartum and immediate newborn care.Persisting rural–urban and inter-state disparities call for equitable healthcare access and resource allocation in high-burden states (Assam, Odisha,Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh). Maternal deaths remain concentrated in states with weak referral systems and poor quality obstetric care.

• In the gazette notification released on September 15, 2025, the Dept. of Social Welfare announced the scheme “Financial Assistance Scheme for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities having High Support Needs”:

• Eligible beneficiaries include persons with at least 40% disability (as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016) who require substantial physical or psychological assistance to access healthcare and to participate fully in education, employment, and community life.

• Once a person qualifies for the eligibility norms, Rs 6000 will be transferred directly to the receiver’s Aadhar-linked bank account.

• This aid is in addition to the pre-existing pension scheme under the Delhi government, which grants persons with benchmark disability a monthly aid of Rs 2,500. This scheme has over 1.5 lakh registered beneficiaries.

This scheme seeks to enhance the welfare, independence, and dignity of not only persons with benchmark disabilities requiring high support, but also their families, who often bear a greater burden of illness, healthcare expenses, and rehabilitation. The assistance is intended to offset the financial burden associated with caregiver support, healthcare, counselling, and rehabilitation services.

• Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has linked metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including obesity, high blood sugar, hypertension, and abnormal cholesterol with a significantly higher risk of gynaecological cancers among women.

• Published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research, the meta-analysis reviewed over 30 global studies and found that women with metabolic syndrome face nearly three times higher risk of ovarian cancer and about twice the risk of uterine or endometrial cancer. While associations with cervical and vulvar cancers were less conclusive, the trend remains concerning.

• The findings highlight an urgent public-health message: Metabolic Health is Women’s Health.

• In India, where urbanisation, sedentary lifestyles, and unhealthy diets have driven a steady rise in obesity and Type 2 diabetes among women, the study reinforces the need to view these conditions not just as cardiovascular risks, but as potential cancer precursors.

• Experts note that the biological links are plausible i.e. insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and hormonal imbalance associated with metabolic syndrome may trigger pathways that promote cancer growth.

• The study also underscores a critical research gap: none of the high-quality cohort studies included were from India, despite the country’s growing metabolic disease burden. This points to a missed opportunity for indigenous data to guide prevention and screening policies.

Community-based screening for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) under the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke (NPCDCS) could integrate cancer risk education for women with metabolic syndrome. Lifestyle modification, weight control, & glycaemic management should be seen as tools for dual prevention reducing both NCD and cancer risk.

Metabolic syndrome is a potential red alert for women’s cancer risk. Bridging the evidence gap in Indian women and integrating metabolic screening with cancer prevention could be the next step in women-centred public health policy.

The Ministry of Environment has officially issued the Environment Protection (Management of Contaminated Sites) Rules, 2025, creating a legal system for identifying and cleaning up sites contaminated with chemicals under the Environment Protection Act.

Key points:

• First legal framework: India's first specific legal framework for the management of chemically polluted areas.

• Identification process: Local authorities are required to report suspected contaminated areas every six months.

• Time-bound assessment:A preliminary evaluation must be finished by State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) in ninety days, and if necessary, a comprehensive assessment must be finished in ninety days.

• Official notification: If contamination from one of the 189 listed hazardous chemicals is confirmed, the site is officially declared contaminated and made public.

• ‘Polluter pays’ principle: The responsible party must cover the cost of cleanup. If the polluter cannot be identified or is unable to pay, the cost is shared between the central and state governments.

• Criminal liability: In cases where health or environmental harm occurs, individuals or entities may be charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.

Transparency and accountability: Publicly disclosing contaminated sites helps raise awareness and enables community supervision.