The infant mortality rate (IMR) in India has gone down. According to the latest figures by the Registrar General of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the IMR in 2006 was 57 per 1,000 live births, India reported an IMR of 53 per 1,000 live births in 2008.

As per figures, the drop has been seen almost in all states and UTs. However, an upward trend in IMR is witnessed in places like Chandigarh, Meghalaya and Mizoram.

The IMR in Chandigarh was reported at 23 per 1,000 live births in 2006, it went up to 27 per 1,000 live births in 2007 and stood at 28 per 1,000 live births in 2008. Meghalaya, reported an IMR of 53 per 1,000 live births in 2006, in 2007 it went up to 56 per 1,000 live births and in 2008 it stood at 58 per 1,000 live births.

In Bihar, the IMR was at 60 per 1,000 live births in 2006, it came down to 56 per 1,000 live births in 2008. Similarly, in UP it was 71 per 1,000 live births in 2006, it came down to 67 per 1,000 live births in 2008.