India Sees Positive Shift in Birth Sex Ratio with 917 Females per 1,000 Males

India has reported a significant improvement in its Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), with 917 females per 1,000 males recorded during 2021-23, officials said on Monday. The rise reflects the strengthened implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, commonly known as the PC&PNDT Act.

Aradhana Patnaik, Additional Secretary and Mission Director of the National Health Mission under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, highlighted the progress during a National Sensitisation Meeting focused on reinforcing the PC&PNDT Act. She said the SRB had increased by 18 points, from 819 females per 1,000 males in 2016-18 to 917 females per 1,000 males in 2021-23, according to the Sample Registration System Report 2023.

Patnaik emphasized that the PC&PNDT Act is not only a legal safeguard but also a social and moral instrument to prevent gender-biased sex selection. “The focus should be on ensuring a healthy child rather than the gender of the child,” she said, noting that females are naturally more resilient and have stronger immune systems than males, which increases the chances of survival for female children.

The sensitization meeting addressed strategies to strengthen the effective implementation of the Act, highlighting the need for coordinated efforts across government departments to ensure compliance and close existing gaps. Officials also discussed the emerging challenges posed by online violations and misuse of digital technologies, underlining the importance of proactive engagement with digital intermediaries to uphold the objectives of the legislation.

“The rise in the sex ratio at birth is a clear indicator of progress made through combined legal, social, and preventive measures under the PC&PNDT Act,” Patnaik added.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of preventive measures over punitive actions, encouraging individuals and society at large to prioritize the health and well-being of children rather than focusing on gender.

Experts at the meeting underscored that continuous awareness, robust monitoring, and stringent enforcement of the PC&PNDT Act remain critical for sustaining improvements in the sex ratio at birth. With the SRB showing a positive trend over the past decade, authorities said the government aims to further strengthen community engagement and digital monitoring to prevent gender-biased practices nationwide.