India’s Child Sex Ratio Decline

The Supreme Court reiterates the need for strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, citing continued sex-selection practices and imbalance in sex ratio. The news highlights declining child sex ratio trends, India’s slip in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 ranking, and current government initiatives linked to the girl child.

PCPNDT Act, 1994 and related measures:

Dimension	Key Details
PCPNDT Act, 1994	The PCPNDT Act is enacted in 1994 and comes into force in 1996 to address declining sex ratios and curb sex-selective practices.
Reasons for inverted sex ratio (as listed)	Reasons comprise patriarchal son preference, marriage customs (dowry and patrilocality), systemic gender inequality, misuse of technology (prenatal diagnostic techniques), and lack of enforcement of law.
Global Gender Gap Report 2025	India’s ranking slips from 129th to 131st out of 148 countries.
Census child sex ratio figures (girls per 1,000 boys)	Census figures show 945 in 1991, 927 in 2001, and 919 in 2011.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao	Beti Bachao Beti Padhao provides for promotion of welfare of the girl child and combating female foeticide.
BBBP scheme integration	The BBBP scheme is integrated with Mission Shakti.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana	Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana provides for encouragement of financial security and empowerment of girl children.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana	PMMVY now provides for support to a second child if it is a girl.