The Indian government has published figures that confirm that it is failing to make enough progress in reducing child mortality and urgent action is needed to address the socioeconomic, maternal, demographic, and environmental causes.

The report adds insights into the problem after a UN cross agency report in September showed that India accounts for nearly a quarter of deaths among children under 5 years of age worldwide, with 1.7 million per year.

The Infant and Child Mortality India Report, produced jointly by India’s National Institute of Medical Sciences, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and Unicef, found that under 5 mortality fell by …