Infant Mortality Rate Convergence across Indian States: Relative Club Convergence Evidence.

This article examines the convergence of infant mortality rate (IMR) across 15 major Indian states from 1987 to 2020 using Phillips and Sul's (2007) panel convergence test and its extension by Kwak (2021). The study finds no overall convergence in IMR reduction among all states but identifies multiple "clubs" or groups of states with similar IMR transition paths, indicating relative convergence within these clusters. Four final clubs and one divergent group emerge, reflecting disparities linked to differences in human development, healthcare infrastructure, maternal mortality, and socio-economic factors. The findings suggest that policy interventions to reduce IMR in India should be tailored at the club level rather than uniformly across all states to effectively address regional inequalities and support progress toward Sustainable Development Goals.