India is developing an indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based technology to detect and prevent preterm births, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Jitendra Singh informed.
Large-Scale Study Under GARBH-INi Initiative
The minister said that under the GARBH-INi (Interdisciplinary Group for Advanced Research on Birth Outcomes – DBT India Initiative), a large-scale study involving 12,000 pregnant women is underway—one of the biggest such studies in South Asia.
The initiative aims to develop AI tools that can identify pregnancy-related risks early, enabling timely intervention.
Advanced Models and Diagnostics in Development
As part of the project, researchers are working on:
- Accurate pregnancy dating models tailored to Indian conditions
- Microbiome-based indicators
- Rapid diagnostic tools
- Genetic markers for early risk detection
These innovations are expected to improve the health outcomes of both mothers and newborns.
Addressing a Major Public Health Challenge
The government noted that preterm birth is a leading cause of infant mortality and long-term health complications.
Given India’s high burden of such cases, developing context-specific solutions is critical for improving maternal and child health.
Massive Data Collection to Support Research
So far, the programme has generated extensive data, including:
- Data from 12,000 pregnant women
- Over 1.6 million biological samples
- More than 1 million ultrasound images
This large dataset is expected to significantly boost research and innovation.
National Bio-Repository and Data Platform Created
A national bio-repository and data-sharing platform have also been established to:
- Support researchers
- Enable new studies
- Accelerate scientific discoveries
Boost to India’s Global Health Innovation Profile
The government said such initiatives will not only improve healthcare delivery in India but also strengthen the country’s global standing in medical research and innovation.
