At the time of Independence in 1947, health care services in India were utterly inadequate, urban-based and curative in nature. Majority of the population, especially the poor and those residing in rural areas, did not have access to modern health facilities. Consequently, the morbidity and mortality rates were quite high. Similarly, antenatal and postnatal care and services were poor and out of reach for majority of women and their families. This book provides a comprehensive introduction on current status of health and health-related services in India. It explains the procedures, objectives, achievements and failures of India's Five Year Plans. More importantly, it contains Plan-wise documentation of objectives, policies, programmes and achievements in the areas of public health, family planning and welfare, nutrition, sanitation, safe drinking water, clean environment, indigenous systems of medicine, medical education, and other matters pertaining to health. It also includes health-related statistics.