Union Minister Jitendra Singh emphasized the importance of advanced research and artificial intelligence in addressing preterm births during a key meeting on the dissemination of learnings and outcomes of GARBH-INi (Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes), an initiative of the Department of Biotechnology. 

The initiative aims to develop indigenous, AI-driven solutions to tackle preterm births, which remain one of the leading causes of neonatal mortality as well as long-term health complications.

Addressing the gathering, the Minister underlined that children born today will be in their prime youth by 2047, aligning with the vision of a developed India or “Viksit Bharat” envisioned by Narendra Modi. He stressed that ensuring the well-being of newborns is not merely a healthcare responsibility but a crucial part of nation-building.

Dr. Singh noted that India carries a significant share of the global burden of preterm births, making it imperative to develop solutions tailored to Indian conditions. 

He highlighted that GARBH-INi is India’s largest pregnancy cohort study, involving over 12,000 women, designed to generate data-driven insights and enable early prediction of preterm births using artificial intelligence and indigenous tools.

The outcomes of this landmark study are expected to strengthen India’s healthcare system by improving early diagnosis, prevention strategies, and overall maternal and child health. The initiative marks a significant step towards integrating technology with healthcare to address one of the most pressing challenges in neonatal care.