PMNS investigates how maternal nutrition influences foetal growth and children's susceptibility to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Between 1993 and 1996, the study recruited over 2,400 married women of reproductive age (15 to 40 years) residing in six drought-prone villages of rural Pune district in Maharashtra state, India, where the majority of women work on their farms or as labourers in addition to performing domestic chores. The women were followed up every month to record their menstrual periods and every three months to measure their body composition. A total of 797 women who became pregnant were studied twice during pregnancy at around 18 and 28 weeks of gestation. Data about women's husbands was also collected. Fetal growth was measured, infant measurements were collected at birth, and the children were followed up with repeat anthropometry every 6 months. Additional detailed data were gathered from the children and parents every 6 years, with data collection ongoing. The study also follows the children born in the next generation of the cohort.