Sex Ratio in India

Traditionally, India has had a skewed sex ratio favoring males due to patriarchal norms and female foeticide. The sex ratio is measured as females born for every 1000 males. As per the 2011 Census, India’s sex ratio was 943 but, according to the National Family Health Survey it was improved to 1020. While India has made some progress in improving its sex ratio, there is still a significant deficit of females, especially in rural areas. There are also regional disparities with Haryana having a concerningly low ratio. The main reasons for the imbalanced sex ratio are deep-rooted patriarchal norms favoring sons, female foeticide and sex-selective abortions. This imbalance has negative consequences like delayed marriages and diminished political participation for women. Laws like Preconception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act of 1994 and schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao aim to improve the sex ratio. Education, economic empowerment of women, stricter enforcement of laws, and raising youth awareness are crucial for achieving gender equality.

Sex ratio in India is a contested issue. It has been skewed since ages due to the preference of male child in the patriarchal Indian society. This ratio of the number of men in a population compared to the number of women in the population is called the Sex Ratio. This ratio differs from region to region. This difference is explained due to historical reasons like preference of boys in a feudalistic society. The Indian Sex Ratio is calculated using the population's ratio of females to males, or 1000 females to 1000 males.

The number of females per 1000 males is known as the sex ratio. It has been determined through studies and research that there are more men than women in the majority of countries. However, to carry out their assigned roles, society requires and expects a proportionate balance between the genders.

Males typically have a slight birth advantage, but as they get older, the differences in life expectancy causes this discrepancy to gradually even out. However, certain areas may see variations in the gender ratio due to things like traditions, cultural norms, and financial circumstances. It is important to closely monitor these statistics in order to understand population dynamics and address issues pertaining to gender.

It is an important aspect of the human population's demographics that provides insight into the social, cultural, and economic patterns of society, including

• migration,
• employment patterns,
• fertility,
• mortality, and
• marital status.

Types of Sex Ratio: Based on the developmental stages, there are four different kinds of sex ratios:

• Primary Sex Ratio: at time of conception
• Secondary Sex Ratio: at time of birth
• Tertiary Sex Ratio: at time of adulthood.
• Quaternary: of adults who are not sexually productive.

• The Sex Ratio is the metric used in India to evaluate gender composition.
• The "number of females per 1000 males in a given area at a specific point in time" is the precise definition of the male-female ratio in India in 2024.
• Ratios above 1000 indicate a surplus of females relative to males, and ratios below 1000 indicate a deficiency of females.
• This metric assesses the current state of balance between males and females.
• Census 2011: There were 943 females for every 1000 males.
• National Family Health Survey 5 (2020-21): India has 1020 females for every 1000 males
• United Nations Report on World Population Prospects 2019: India has the highest male population with 54.20 million, and a sex ratio of 108.18 males per 100 females in 2020.

• Girl Child Birth Declining: According to Census data, India's sex ratio has decreased since 1951.
  • The overall sex ratio decreased from 972 in 1951 to 943 in 2011.
• Rural to Urban Migration: In 2011, India's rural population shrank from 965 to 946 while its urban population grew from 860 to 929.
• Kerala has the highest sex ratio (1084) among the states, while Haryana has the lowest (879).
• Puducherry has the highest score (1037) among Union Territories, while Daman and Diu have the lowest score (618).
• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands (40.16%), Delhi (13.22%), Assam (10.34%), and West Bengal (9.82%) are the states where the Sex Ratio has increased.
• The states with decrease in sex ratios are Goa (13.71%), Lakshadweep (9.55%), Bihar (8.21%), Daman & Diu (45.03%), and Dadra & Nagar Haveli (18.19%).
• Puducherry and Lakshadweep are the only two UTs with a gender ratio of more than 900 females for every 1000 males.
• 2011 saw the following age group sex ratios: 918 for 0–6 years, 908 for 0–19 years, 944 for 15–45 years, and 1033 for 60 and over.
• Men Preferred: The Sex Ratio in India indicates a strong preference for men. This is because of disturbing customs such as female infanticide and foeticide.
• Rural Areas Sex Selective Abortions: This is becoming more prevalent especially in rural areas where parents actively select the gender of their child. This is a newer phenomenon in rural areas as earlier the technology was available only in urban areas.
• Better Sex Ratio of Tribes: The sex ratio among scheduled tribes in 990 while for scheduled castes it is 945. This is because tribes are more egalitarian and some even had tradition of matriarchal societies. On the other hand, scheduled tribes are highly patriarchal and steeped in antiquity where women are considered the lesser sex. There is no culture of dowry in tribal communities, instead in some communities money is given to the girl’s family during marriage.

• According to the most recent National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) for 2020–21, India has 1020 females for every 1000 males.
  • 1037 females are born for 1000 males in Urban areas
  • 985 females born for every 1000 males in rural areas.
• Improvement: This progress during the last ten years has been made possible by government initiatives to prohibit gender-specific sex tests and fight gender-based sex selection. It suggests a change in cultural beliefs and practices towards a more equal gender distribution.

The ratio of females to males in the 0–6 age group is known as the child sex ratio.

• Decreased: In India, the child sex ratio decreased from 927 in the 2001 census to 918 in 2011.
• The 2011 census found that among Indian states, Arunachal Pradesh has the highest child sex ratio (972 per thousand males), while Haryana has the lowest (834 per thousand males).
• Of all the Indian Union Territories, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the highest child sex ratio (968 per thousand men).
• Importance: The present child sex ratio is important for any demographic scenario because it will determine the future total sex ratio.

Despite significant development, it is seen that some prosperous regions still have poor sex ratio. This is because of various factors like son preference and nuclear families where the male heir would inherit the property. Accessibility to pre-natal sex selection is also more rapidly available in affluent areas.

• Patriarchy: Deeply ingrained preference for boys and the belief that girls are “paraya dhan” (alien property meaning that they belong to the husband’s family).
• Male Heir Preference: People are tempted by the idea that men will inherit the family business and support their elderly parents.
• Dowry: Due to their dowries, women are viewed as liabilities and are therefore seen as financial liabilities.
• Fear of Female Safety: In a patriarchal society it is believed that the family’s honour is in the safety of women. Since it is harder to keep them safe the fear of violence is the main cause of female foeticide.
• Girl Child Foeticide: Either in the womb through abortion (sex selective abortions) or right after birth.
• Lax Implementation of Law: The Preconception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act of 1994 bans sex selective abortions, but it is not properly implemented.
• Mismanaged Schemes: It was reported that 80% of Beti Padhao Beti Bachao scheme was spent on advertisements only.
• Easy Availability of Abortion Technology: Ultrasounds became widespread in 1980s onwards.
• Migration: Male-dominant labour and migration patterns are also the reason as men leave rural areas and move to urban areas.
• Nuclear Families: The increasing trend of nuclear families and preference for single child is also a reason for opting a male child.

• Delayed Marriage: Because there are fewer women of marriageable age and many men will have to put off getting married, it will have a variety of effects on marriage trends.
• Women’s Diminished Political Status: Women's lower demographic share in democratic regimes would suggest a weaker political role in social decision-making; this tendency may be exacerbated by women's lower participation in civil society and outside-the-home activities like jobs.
• Women Outlive Men: Rates of death and life expectancy of women typically outlive men and hence the Sex Ratio stabilizes at later age.

• Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 : Strict prohibition against using pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques to determine a woman's sex during pregnancy
• National Girl Child Day: On January 24 to spread awareness about the importance of girl child.
• Sabla Yojana: To enhance adolescent girls' health and nutrition. Goal is to increase public awareness of reproductive health, family, health, sanitation, and child care.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme: The Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme was launched by the Indian government in 2015 in an effort to address issues of gender inequality and women's empowerment in the nation. The programme was started in response to declines in two important gender metrics—the child-to-birth ratio (SRB) and the sex ratio (CSR)—found in the 2011 national census results.
• Mahila Shakti Kendra: The Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK) platform was established by the Indian government's Ministry of Women and Child Development. Its goal is to provide rural women with employment and skill-development opportunities to empower them.
• One Stop Centre Scheme: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) programme that is centrally sponsored and designed to address the issue of violence against women under Mission Shakti. There will be one-stop centres all over the nation to offer comprehensive support and assistance to women who have experienced violence in both public and private settings, all under one roof.
• National Education Policy Gender Fund: In order to increase the country's ability to provide all girls and transgender students with an equal and high-quality education, the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 calls for the creation of a Gender Inclusion Fund (GIF). Through special provisions under SamagraShiksha2.0 and the allocation of dedicated resources for SEDGs, the aforementioned goals of the NEP for equitable and high-quality education for girls and transgender children are being met.
• Mission POSHAN 2.0: The Union Budget 2021–2022 announced the combination of the POSHAN Abhiyaan and supplemental nutrition programmes. It was started with the goal of improving the nation's nutritional content, delivery, outreach, and results, with a renewed emphasis on creating practices that promote health, wellness, and immunity against illness and malnutrition.
• UJJAWALA: The Ministry of Women and Child Development introduced the Ujjawala Scheme in 2007 in an effort to stop the trafficking of women and children. The Ujjawala Scheme's main objective is to stop, reintegrate, rescue, and return victims who have been trafficked for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation.
• Rashtriya Mahila Kosh: In March 1993, the Indian government established Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), an independent organisation housed within the Ministry of Women & Child Development. It is a national mechanism designed to address the microcredit needs of low-income and asset-poor women working in the informal sector.
• The Stand Up India initiative encourages women to start their own businesses.
• Women are required to hold at least one-third of the jobs created under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 (MGNREGS).
• Additionally, the government has created favorable regulations to support women's involvement in non-traditional fields like
  • fighter pilots in the Indian Air Force,
  • commandos,
  • Central Police Forces,
  • admissions to Sainik Schools, etc.

International Conventions: India has ratified Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993 which mandates securing women’s rights through national laws .

• Behavioral Change
  • Enhancing the ratio will require more education for girls, ensuring their economic independence and economic growth.
  • Society's behavior and mindset of looking at girl child as a liability has to change.
• Laws that are faithfully upheld
  • In order to combat the preference for boys, the Preconception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act of 1994 needs to be strengthened and given more funding.
  • In this context, the Drugs Technical Advisory Board's inclusion of ultrasonography devices in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 is significant.
  • Beti Padhao Beti Bachao schemes has to be effectively managed
• Raise youth awareness
  • Encouraging gender equity standards and providing young people with information and services related to reproductive health is imperative.
  • ASHA services, which are accredited social health activists, could be used for this, especially in rural areas.

India’s improve sex ratio is a good sign which helps us achieve Sustainable Development Goal 5 of Gender Equality. It is a call for continued efforts towards achieving gender equality, promoting stereotypes, and creating a society where every individual, regardless of gender, can contribute to the nation's progress. By supplementing these efforts with education, good health, safety and security of our girls we can ensure an equitable future for all which is echoed in the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘SABKA SAATH SABKA VIKAS’.