In light of the rapidly evolving global landscape of family planning (FP) policies, technologies, and demographic needs, it is essential to periodically update national FP guidelines. The “Review of National Technical and Operational Guidelines under Family Planning” was initiated to align existing frameworks with the latest global evidence, WHO recommendations, and national priorities, especially those linked to the FP2030 Partnership and SDG 3. The review covered 20 technical, techno-managerial, and community engagement guidelines across five domains: accessibility, relevance, quality assurance, adaptability, and resilience. A secondary review was conducted with input from national experts via a structured questionnaire, yielding domain-specific scores. This was followed by primary data collection through stakeholder consultations in six priority states: Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Outcome:
An advisory group meeting held in New Delhi on March 21, 2025, brought together over 40 subject-matter experts to validate findings and propose policy recommendations based on criteria of relevance, scalability, feasibility, and acceptability. The recommendations broadly emphasized enhancing inclusivity, standardization, youth engagement, and readiness of FP services through updated, user-friendly, and context-sensitive guidance tools.
