# Child Health Programmes for NEET PG PSM: SSBSK 2026 Home Visits, RBSK 2.0, Facility Newborn Care and IMNCI Source: https://tracknation.in/story/child-health-programmes-for-neet-pg-psm-ssbsk-2026-home-visits-rbsk-2-0-facility-newborn-care-and-imnci (TrackNation β€” free UPSC notes with PYQs) > NEET PG Community Medicine: SSBSK 2026, which merged HBNC and HBYC (new home-visit schedule to 36 months, at-risk newborns, joint visits), RBSK 2.0 (4Ds, Mobile Health Team, DEIC, 4Ts), facility newborn care levels (NBCC, NBSU, SNCU, MNCU), IMNCI, SAANS and STOP Diarrhoea, from MoHFW guidelines, with a continuum diagram, hooks, MCQs and cards. ## Start Here 🎯 **Exam priority: Medium–high.** *Two programmes changed in 2026. **HBNC and HBYC are now one programme, SSBSK, with a new visit schedule**, and RBSK was revised as RBSK 2.0. Older notes on HBNC visit days describe the schedule that has been replaced. An exam may still ask the old days, so learn both and read the question carefully.* CBME mapping: **CM 10**. ## The Big Picture *From birth to 18 years: SSBSK home visits up to 36 months, RBSK screening at delivery points, Anganwadi centres and schools, with the DEIC as the referral hub.* Under-five mortality fell **41%** and neonatal mortality **37%** in India in 2014–2024 (global: 18% and 15%). Nearly **40% of newborn deaths happen in the first 24 hours**, which is why care begins at birth. The SDG targets are neonatal mortality of 12 or less and under-five mortality of 25 or less by 2030. About 18.2% of newborns are low birth weight. ## SSBSK: Home-Based Care from Birth to 36 Months **Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK)**, in its 2026 guidelines, merges Home Based Newborn Care and Home Based Care for Young Child into one programme. | **Who** | **Home visits** | **Joint visit by** | | **Healthy newborn** | Days **3, 7, 14, 42** (4 visits); add **day 1** for home birth (5 visits) | β€” | | **At-risk newborn** | Day 1 or discharge, then days **3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42** (9 visits) | Days 3 and 7: ASHA with ANM and CHO (ANM and MO in urban areas) | | **Young child** | **3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 months** | β€” | | **At-risk young child** | Same schedule | 3rd and 6th months | Between day 42 and 3 months, children are also seen at **village health days and immunization contacts at 1.5 and 2.5 months**. **Who is 'at risk'?** | **At-risk newborn** | **At-risk young child** | | Birth weight under 2,500 g, or preterm (under 37 weeks) | Moderately underweight or MAM (yellow) | | Needed hospital care, or discharged from SNCU | Severely underweight or SAM (red) | | Not started on breast milk, or unable to breastfeed | Discharged from a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre | | Visible congenital malformation that threatens life or feeding, such as cleft lip or palate | Recurrent illness: at least two episodes within a year | | Low weight for age | Delay in a developmental milestone on the MCP card | **New in SSBSK**: maternal mental health screening with simple tools such as PHQ-2, with linkage to Tele-MANAS; maternal nutrition counselling; nurturing care for early childhood development; and climate-sensitive advice on heat and air pollution. Families of at-risk newborns get a financial incentive for a facility follow-up visit within 8 days of life or discharge. **What changed** | **** | **Before** | **SSBSK 2026** | | Programmes | HBNC (2011, revised 2014) and HBYC (2018), separate | One continuum | | Age covered | 0–42 days, then 3–15 months | **0–36 months** | | Newborn visits | 6 (days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42); 7 if home birth | 4 for healthy; 9 for at-risk; +1 if home birth | | Young child visits | 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 months | 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 months | | New | β€” | Risk stratification; maternal mental health; climate-sensitive counselling | ## Facility Based Newborn Care | **Level** | **Unit** | **Where** | **What it does** | | Birth | **Newborn Care Corner (NBCC)** | Labour room and obstetric OT | Essential newborn care and resuscitation at birth | | First | **Newborn Stabilization Unit (NBSU)** | Sub-district: CHC or FRU; 4–6 beds | Basic care for sick and small newborns | | Second | **Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU)** | District hospital; at least 12 beds | 24Γ—7 secondary care, without surgery or mechanical ventilation | | Second | **Mother Newborn Care Unit (MNCU)** | With the SNCU | 'No separation': mother's bed beside the baby's warmer | | Tertiary | **Newborn Intensive Care Unit** | Medical colleges | Tertiary care | **Essential newborn care** includes delayed cord clamping, skin-to-skin contact, maintaining the airway, support for breathing and early exclusive breastfeeding. Kangaroo Mother Care should begin before discharge. ## IMNCI and Campaigns **IMNCI** is India's adaptation of the WHO strategy: a standard, evidence-based **syndromic** approach to sick newborns and children. - **Three components**: health worker skills, health systems, family and community practices. - **Indian adaptations**: covers the entire 0–5 years including the first week of life; 50% of training time goes to young infants (0–2 months); training begins with young infants; training lasts 8 days. **SAANS** (Social Awareness and Action to Neutralize Pneumonia Successfully), since 2019: childhood pneumonia. **STOP Diarrhoea**: a 2-month campaign, giving 2 ORS packets and 14 zinc tablets to under-fives. ## RBSK 2.0: Who, Where, How Often - Covers children **0–18 years** for the **4Ds**: Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Developmental delays. - **Delivery points** (birth–6 weeks): facility newborn screening by gynaecologists, MOs, staff nurses and ANMs; ASHAs screen babies during home visits up to 6 weeks. - **Anganwadi centres** (6 weeks–6 years): Mobile Health Team, **twice a year**. - **Government and government-aided schools** (6–18 years, classes 1–12): Mobile Health Team, **once a year**. - **Mobile Health Team**: 2 medical officers (MBBS/BDS/AYUSH), 1 ANM/MPW/staff nurse, 1 pharmacist (data management). - **DEIC** (district): a multidisciplinary team β€” paediatrician, MO, psychologist, speech therapist, audiologist, optometrist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dentist, social worker β€” confirms, treats and follows up, **free of cost**. ## The Conditions List (RBSK 2.0) | **Group** | **Conditions** | | Defects at birth (1–10) | Neural tube defects, Down syndrome, cleft lip/palate, club foot, developmental dysplasia of the hip, congenital cataract, congenital deafness, congenital heart disease, retinopathy of prematurity, CAKUT (kidney and urinary tract anomalies) | | Deficiencies (11–15) | Vitamin A deficiency, vitamin D deficiency (rickets), severe acute malnutrition, goitre, anaemia | | Diseases incl. NCDs (16–26) | Skin conditions, rheumatic heart disease, reactive airway disease, dental caries, convulsive disorders, diabetes (type 1 and 2), hypertension, kidney disease, otitis media, tuberculosis, leprosy | | Developmental delays (27–35) | Vision and hearing impairment, neuro-motor, motor, cognitive and language delay, behavioural disorders (anxiety, ADHD, sleep), autism spectrum disorder, specific learning disorders, global developmental delay | | Also | Congenital hypothyroidism (optional), adolescent health concerns, red flags for referral | **Diabetes screen**: the Mobile Health Team asks about the **4Ts β€” Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner**, checks random blood sugar on a glucometer when suspicious, and refers to the district NCD clinic (NP-NCD) to classify type 1 or type 2. ## What Changed from RBSK to RBSK 2.0 | **** | **RBSK (2013)** | **RBSK 2.0 (2026)** | | Scope | 4Ds | Expanded 4Ds + NCDs, mental health, behaviour, lifestyle risks, kidney disorders, digital exposure | | Mobile Health Team | Fixed, mainly AYUSH, 4 persons | 2 MOs (MBBS/BDS/AYUSH) + 1 ANM/MPW/SN + 1 pharmacist, with flexible support staff | | Records | Basic RBSK portal reporting | Longitudinal Health Card; linked with JANANI (RCH 2.0), U-WIN and POSHAN | | Cochlear implant support | 0–2 years | Expanded to 0–6 years | | Convergence | ICDS and schools | Inter-ministerial: MoHFW, MoWCD, MoE, MoSJE | ## Traps the Examiner Sets - SSBSK: healthy newborn 4 visits, at-risk 9; both end at day **42**. The old HBNC schedule was 6 visits. - HBYC stopped at 15 months; SSBSK runs to **36**. - NBSU is at sub-district level; SNCU is at district level. - RBSK: Anganwadi **twice** a year, schools **once** a year. - The 4Ds are Defects, Deficiencies, Diseases, Developmental delays β€” "disabilities" is a common wrong option. - Club foot = talipes (a defect at birth); goitre and anaemia are deficiencies; RHD and dental caries are diseases. - RBSK 2.0 adds diabetes, hypertension and kidney disorders; congenital hypothyroidism is optional. ## Memory Hooks & Shortcuts *Shortcuts to lock in this article's numbers and lists. Each one only re-packages facts proven above.* - 🧠 **3-7-14-42** β€” healthy newborn SSBSK days; at-risk babies add 1, 5, 10, 21 and 28 - 🧠 **Sub-district 4-6, District 12** β€” NBSU and SNCU beds - 🧠 **Twice at the Anganwadi, once at school** β€” RBSK screening frequency - 🧠 **The 4Ds: Defect, Deficient, Diseased, Delayed** β€” the RBSK screening frame - 🧠 **2 + 1 + 1** β€” Mobile Health Team: 2 MOs, 1 nurse/ANM, 1 pharmacist - 🧠 **4Ts: Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner** β€” the RBSK 2.0 diabetes screen - 🧠 **Cochlear 2 β†’ 6** β€” implant support widened from 0–2 to 0–6 years in RBSK 2.0 ## Rapid-Revision Cards - Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram, 2026: merges HBNC and HBYC; birth to 36 months. - Days 3, 7, 14, 42 (4); add day 1 for home birth (5). - Day 1/discharge, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28, 42 (9). - At-risk newborn: days 3 and 7. At-risk young child: months 3 and 6. - 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30, 36 months. - <2500 g or preterm; hospitalised or SNCU; not breastfeeding; serious malformation; low weight for age. - Days 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, 42; home birth added day 1. - Nearly 40% of newborn deaths are in the first 24 hours. - In the labour room and OT; essential newborn care and resuscitation. - 4–6 beds, sub-district; first level. - At least 12 beds, district; second level; no surgery or ventilation. - 'No separation' of mother and newborn. - Syndromic; covers 0–5 years including week 1; 50% of training on 0–2 months. - Pneumonia campaign, since 2019. - 2 ORS packets + 14 zinc tablets; 2-month campaign. - Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Developmental delays. - 0–18 years. - Delivery point (0–6 wk) Β· Anganwadi (6 wk–6 y, twice a year) Β· schools (6–18 y, once a year). - 2 MOs (MBBS/BDS/AYUSH) + 1 ANM/MPW/SN + 1 pharmacist. - District hub: confirm, treat, follow up β€” free; multidisciplinary team. - NTD, Down syndrome, cleft, club foot, DDH, congenital cataract/deafness, CHD, ROP, CAKUT. - Vitamin A, vitamin D (rickets), SAM, goitre, anaemia. - Diabetes (T1/T2), hypertension, kidney disorders. - Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner β†’ RBS β†’ NP-NCD clinic. - 0–2 years β†’ 0–6 years under RBSK 2.0. - Health Card; linked to JANANI (RCH 2.0), U-WIN, POSHAN. ## Sources *Facts in this article were checked against these documents.* - Samagra Shishu Bal Swasthya Karyakram (SSBSK): Operational Guidelines 2026 β€” Child Health Division, MoHFW, 2026 (link) - Facility Based Newborn Care Operational Guidelines β€” MoHFW, 2025 (link) - Home Based Newborn Care: Operational Guidelines (Revised 2014) β€” MoHFW, 2014 (link) - Adaptation of the IMNCI Strategy for India β€” Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, n.d. (link) - SAANS Campaign; STOP Diarrhoea Campaign β€” National Health Mission, accessed November 2026 (link) - Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK 2.0): Operational Guidelines 2026 β€” Child Health Division, MoHFW, 2026 (link) ## Test Yourself: Practice Questions Twenty-five questions in NEET PG style. ## Practice Questions (NEET PG pattern) *Original questions written in the style of the exam: +4 for a correct answer, βˆ’1 for a wrong one. Every answer was checked against the sources listed above. NEET PG papers are not published by NBEMS, so these are not past-paper questions.* **Q1.** Under SSBSK 2026, a healthy baby born in hospital receives ASHA home visits on days - (a) 3, 7, 14 and 42 - (b) 1, 3, 7, 14 and 42 - (c) 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 21, 28 and 42 - (d) 3, 7, 14, 21, 28 and 42 **Answer: (a)** β€” Healthy newborn: 4 visits on days 3, 7, 14, 42, with day 1 added for a home birth. Six visits was the older HBNC schedule. **Q2.** A baby is born at home at 35 weeks weighing 2.1 kg. Under SSBSK this newborn gets - (a) 9 home visits with joint visits on days 3 and 7 - (b) 4 home visits - (c) no home visits until 3 months - (d) 5 home visits **Answer: (a)** β€” Preterm and low birth weight make the newborn at-risk: 9 visits, with joint visits on days 3 and 7. **Q3.** SSBSK replaced which two programmes? - (a) HBNC and HBYC - (b) RBSK and IMNCI - (c) NSSK and FBNC - (d) JSY and JSSK **Answer: (a)** β€” SSBSK consolidates Home Based Newborn Care and Home Based Care for Young Child. **Q4.** SSBSK home-based care for young children continues until the age of - (a) 15 months - (b) 6 years - (c) 12 months - (d) 36 months **Answer: (d)** β€” Visits at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months; HBYC used to stop at 15 months. **Q5.** The 4Ds of RBSK are - (a) Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases, Developmental delays - (b) Defects, Disabilities, Deficiencies, Deaths - (c) Diarrhoea, Dehydration, Deficiency, Disability - (d) Diagnosis, Drugs, Diet, Development **Answer: (a)** β€” Defects at birth, Deficiencies, Diseases and Developmental delays. **Q6.** Under RBSK 2.0, Mobile Health Teams screen children at Anganwadi centres - (a) once every 2 years - (b) twice a year - (c) every month - (d) once a year **Answer: (b)** β€” Biannually at each AWC; annually in government and government-aided schools. **Q7.** Children aged 6–18 years are screened under RBSK at - (a) Anganwadi centres, twice a year - (b) PHCs, every quarter - (c) government and government-aided schools, once a year - (d) private schools only **Answer: (c)** β€” Classes 1–12 in government and government-aided schools, annually. **Q8.** The core RBSK 2.0 Mobile Health Team consists of - (a) 1 MO, 1 ASHA and 1 Anganwadi worker - (b) 2 medical officers, 1 ANM/MPW/staff nurse and 1 pharmacist - (c) 4 AYUSH doctors - (d) 1 paediatrician and 2 nurses **Answer: (b)** β€” 2 MOs (MBBS/BDS/AYUSH) + 1 ANM/MPW/SN + 1 pharmacist with data skills. **Q9.** Under RBSK, club foot (talipes) is classified as a - (a) deficiency - (b) disease - (c) developmental delay - (d) defect at birth **Answer: (d)** β€” Talipes is item 4 under defects at birth. **Q10.** Which of the following is listed under 'Deficiencies' in RBSK 2.0? - (a) Down syndrome - (b) Goitre - (c) Autism spectrum disorder - (d) Rheumatic heart disease **Answer: (b)** β€” Deficiencies: vitamin A, vitamin D (rickets), SAM, goitre, anaemia. **Q11.** A new NCD added to the RBSK 2.0 screening list is - (a) hypertension - (b) dental caries - (c) tuberculosis - (d) rheumatic heart disease **Answer: (a)** β€” RBSK 2.0 adds NCDs such as diabetes (type 1 and 2), hypertension and kidney disorders. **Q12.** The '4Ts' used by RBSK Mobile Health Teams to screen for diabetes are - (a) Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner - (b) Tremor, Tachycardia, Tired, Thin - (c) Tall, Thin, Tired, Thirsty - (d) Temperature, Tone, Thirst, Toilet **Answer: (a)** β€” Symptom screen: Toilet, Thirsty, Tired, Thinner; then random blood sugar if suspected. **Q13.** The facility at district level that confirms and treats children referred by RBSK teams is the - (a) Adolescent Friendly Health Clinic - (b) District Early Intervention Centre - (c) Special Newborn Care Unit - (d) Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre **Answer: (b)** β€” DEIC β€” a multidisciplinary team providing free confirmation, treatment and follow-up. **Q14.** Under RBSK 2.0, state-supported cochlear implant coverage was expanded to children aged - (a) 0–6 years - (b) 0–2 years - (c) 6–12 years - (d) 0–18 years **Answer: (a)** β€” From 0–2 years under RBSK to 0–6 years under RBSK 2.0. **Q15.** Who screens newborns at delivery points under RBSK? - (a) The Mobile Health Team - (b) Anganwadi workers - (c) Gynaecologists, medical officers, staff nurses and ANMs - (d) DEIC therapists only **Answer: (c)** β€” Facility-based newborn screening is by the delivery-point staff; MHTs work at AWCs and schools. **Q16.** RBSK 2.0 links each child's longitudinal Health Card with - (a) the PM-JAY card - (b) JANANI (RCH 2.0), U-WIN and POSHAN - (c) the Ni-kshay portal - (d) the CoWIN portal only **Answer: (b)** β€” The RBSK 2.0 digital platform is integrated with JANANI (RCH 2.0), U-WIN and POSHAN. **Q17.** According to the HBNC guidelines, what share of newborn deaths occur within the first 24 hours of life? - (a) About 75% - (b) Nearly 40% - (c) About 10% - (d) About 25% **Answer: (b)** β€” Nearly 40% of newborn deaths happen on the first day. **Q18.** Which newborn is 'at risk' under SSBSK? - (a) A baby with a mild nappy rash - (b) A term baby of 2.8 kg feeding well - (c) A baby born by normal delivery at home, otherwise well - (d) A baby unable to breastfeed **Answer: (d)** β€” Not started on breast milk or unable to breastfeed is one of the criteria. **Q19.** A 2-year-old with SAM was discharged from an NRC. Under SSBSK, this child is - (a) only for the DEIC - (b) an at-risk young child - (c) outside the programme - (d) only for RBSK **Answer: (b)** β€” NRC discharge and SAM both mark an at-risk young child. **Q20.** A 'no separation' unit where the mother stays beside the baby's warmer is the - (a) Mother Newborn Care Unit - (b) Labour room - (c) Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre - (d) Newborn Care Corner **Answer: (a)** β€” The aim of the MNCU is no separation of mother and newborn during hospital care. **Q21.** The Newborn Stabilization Unit is located at - (a) district hospitals, with 12 beds - (b) sub-district level, with 4–6 beds - (c) medical colleges - (d) sub-health centres **Answer: (b)** β€” An NBSU is a 4–6 bedded unit at CHC or FRU level. SNCU: at least 12 beds at district level. **Q22.** A Special Newborn Care Unit provides care for sick neonates EXCEPT those needing - (a) mechanical ventilation - (b) intravenous fluids - (c) phototherapy - (d) oxygen **Answer: (a)** β€” SNCUs give secondary care to neonates not requiring surgical intervention and mechanical ventilation. **Q23.** In India's adaptation of IMNCI, the share of training time given to young infants is - (a) 75% - (b) 10% - (c) 50% - (d) 25% **Answer: (c)** β€” 50% of training time goes to 0–2 months, and training begins with young infants. **Q24.** The IMNCI approach to case management is - (a) aetiological, needing laboratory confirmation - (b) only preventive - (c) syndromic - (d) surgical **Answer: (c)** β€” Standardized case management using an evidence based syndromic approach. **Q25.** The STOP Diarrhoea campaign distributes to under-fives - (a) 5 ORS packets and 7 zinc tablets - (b) 2 ORS packets and 14 zinc tablets - (c) IFA syrup - (d) vitamin A only **Answer: (b)** β€” A 2-month campaign co-packaging 2 ORS packets and 14 zinc tablets. ### Active Recall From memory: explain what SSBSK replaced and give its visit days for healthy and at-risk newborns and for young children, with the at-risk criteria; then explain RBSK 2.0: the 4Ds, who is screened where and how often, the Mobile Health Team, the DEIC and the 4Ts; then list the levels of facility newborn care and the main features of IMNCI.