SEX RATIO

The Sex Ratio in India is defined as the number of females for 1000 males in the population.
According to the 2011 Census, the overall sex ratio for Indians is 943. Kerala has the highest
sex ratio in India, while Haryana is the lowest sex ratio state in India, according to the 2011
census.
About Sex Ratio
o Changes in sex composition in the human population are one of the most basic
demographic traits, as they reflect the underlying socioeconomic and cultural patterns
of society in various ways.
o It’s a crucial sociological indicator for determining the level of equality between men
and women at any specified instance.
o It’s also useful for other forms of planning and analyses of other demographic data
including mortality, migration, marital status, economic features, etc.
o The sex ratio is a ratio that is used to indicate sex composition.
o It is defined as “the number of females in the population per 1000 males.”As a result, a
sex ratio of 1000 denotes total gender equality.
o Ratios exceeding 1000 demonstrate an excess of females over males; those below 1000
demonstrate a deficit of females
Types of Sex Ratio
The sex ratio of most species fluctuates depending on the population’s age.
It’s usually classified into the following sections: (These classifications can be subjective due
to a lack of defined boundaries)
o Primary Ratio - The ratio at the time of conception is known as the primary sex ratio.
It is calculated using the male and female abortion, miscarriage, and still-birth rates, as
well as their live birth data.
o Secondary Ratio - The male-to-female ratio at birth is known as the secondary sex
ratio. It is basically constant at the population level.
o Tertiary Sex ratio - The tertiary sex ratio is the proportion of mature organisms found
in the age group of 20 years. Males exceed females in most instances.
An Overview of the Sex Ratio in India
o According to the 2011 census, India’s sex ratio is 943.
o That is, for every 1000 males, there are 943 females.
 o A disproportionate sex ratio that favors men is a hazardous sign since it predicts a higher
likelihood of female fetal mortality.
o This is a significant issue in states where parents actively select their children’s gender
and girls are slain before they are born.
o Haryana is the lowest sex ratio state in India, with 879 females for every 1000 boys.
o Declining sex ratios pose a threat to the country’s future female population.
o The sex ratio is calculated as Sex Ratio = (Number of Females / Number of Males) x
1000

Sex Ratio Trends in India

According to report of United Nations (World Population Prospects 2019)
 o The sex ratio of India’s total population is 108.18 males per 100 females in 2020. In
India, there are 717,100,970 males (717.10 million) and 662,903,415 females (662.90
million).
o Females account for 48.04 percent of the population, while men account for 51.96
percent. With 54.20 million males, India has the highest male population.
o India is ranked 189th out of 201 countries and territories.
Causes of Declining Sex Ratio in India
o Son Preference: Males are born in greater numbers than females. This is a global
phenomenon, and India is no different.
o According to the data from the Indian Census, the disparity in the number of boys and
girls begins at birth.
o Males now surpass females at the time of birth, which is well-established natural law.
o Many demographers believe that this is an unchangeable fact if left to its own devices.
o Female infanticide was common in the past, and it is still common today, resulting in a
low sex ratio.
o The preference for a male child leads to sex determination testing and, in the case of a
girl fetus, pregnancy termination.
o Due to inherent flaws and bad implementation, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal
Diagnostic Technique(Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act has failed to provide the
desired result.
o Small-family norms: Many young couples choose not to have a second child if the first
is a boy.
o A segment of the society believes that having a male child will increase income, expand
the lineage, and help parents in their old age. As a result, the male child has always been
preferred.
o The popularity of the dowry habit can be traced to the economic cause.
o Its practice is feared by most parents of girl children who, under societal pressure, are
financially pressured and may resort to harsh tactics, if not outright contempt toward
their daughters.
o Finally, a surplus of males in a society leads to a lack of marriage-ability and, as a result,
social marginalization, which can lead to antisocial behavior and violence, jeopardizing
societal stability and security.
Sex Ratio in India State wise
 o From 1951 to 2011, the sex ratio in rural India fell from 965 to 946, while it rose from
860 to 929 in urban India.
o The sex ratio in India has declined from 946 in 1951 to 943 in 2011. During this time,
19 states and territories have seen a considerable increase in the gender ratio.
o Andaman and Nicobar Islands (40.16 %), Delhi (13.02 %), Assam (10.34%), and West
Bengal (9.82%) have all seen significant increases. In contrast, 16 states/UTs have seen
a considerable drop in the gender ratio.
o Daman & Diu (45.03%), Dadra & Nagar Haveli (18.19%), Goa (13.71%),
Lakshadweep (9.25 %), and Bihar (8.21%)have all seen a significant drop in the sex
ratio.
o The lowest sex ratio in India is in Haryana, where it is only 879, while the greatest sex
ratio in India is in Kerala, where it is 1084.
o When it comes to the sex ratio in union territories, Puducherry has the most at 1037,
while Daman and Diu have the lowest at 618.
o The five Union Territories of India, namely the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi,
Chandigarh, Dadra, Nagar Haveli, and Daman and Diu, are among the bottom five.
o The only two union territories with a sex ratio of more than 900 females per thousand
males are Puducherry and Lakshadweep.
o In 2011, the sex ratios for the age groups 0-6, 0-19, 15-45, and 60+ were 918, 908, 944,
and 1033, respectively.
Sex Ratio Census of India 2011
Sex Ratio Census of India 2011 States
States with Highest Sex Ratio in India Kerala (1084)
Tamil Nadu (996)
Union Territories with Highest Sex Ratio in India Haryana (879)
Jammu and Kashmir (889)
States with Lowest Sex Ratio Puducherry (1037)
Union Territories with Lowest Sex Ratio Daman and Diu (618)
Child Sex Ratio in India
o The Child Sex Ratio is the number of females for 1000 males in the 0–6-year-old age
range.
o India’s child sex ratio was 927 in the 2001 census, but it dropped to 918 in 2011.
 o According to the 2011 census, Arunachal Pradesh has the greatest child sex ratio (972
per thousand males) among Indian states, while Haryana has the lowest child sex ratio
(834 per thousand males).
o Andaman and Nicobar Islands has the highest child sex ratio among India’s Union
Territories, at 968 per thousand men.
o For any demographic situation, the current child sex ratio is crucial since it will decide
the total sex ratio in the coming years.
Consequences of Low Child Sex Ratio
o Increase in violence among women. This has resulted in a scenario where, aside from
the entrenched son preference, people are less interested in girls because they believe it
is more difficult to keep them safe hence, Female foeticide is caused by fear of violence.
o It will have a variety of effects on marriage trends because there are fewer women of
marriageable age, and a considerable number of men will have to postpone their
marriage.
o In democratic regimes, women’s lower demographic share would imply a weaker
political role in social decision-making, a tendency that might be compounded by
women’s lower participation in non-domestic activities such as outside jobs and civil
life.
Initiatives to Improve the Sex Ratio in India
o Strict Ban on sex determination during pregnancy under the Pre-Conception and Pre-
Natal Diagnostic Techniques. (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.
o 24th January is celebrated as National Girl Child Day. It was declared in 2012.
o The Sabla Yojana, which began on International Women’s Day in 2011, aims to
empower teenage girls by improving their health and nutrition, as well as raising
awareness about health, sanitation, nourishment, reproductive health, family, and care
for children.
o In January 2015, the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme was launched with the goal of
combating sex-selective abortion and the falling child sex ratio, which was 918 girls for
every 1,000 boys in 2011. The objectives of this scheme are:
o Prohibition of gender-biased sex-selective detention
o Encourage the girl child’s survival and safety.
o Encourage the involvement, development, and education of girl child
o Protecting rights of girl child
o Sensitization initiatives for women and children are being implemented.
 o Effective implementation of existing legislation affecting women and children
o Improving women’s status in society may help to shift the gender bias in favor
of sons.
o Investing in women’s empowerment and economic success could help close the
gender gap.
Way Forward
Psychological Change
o More female education and economic development are required to improve the ratio.
o The government’s Beti-Bachao Beti Padhao campaign has been a major success in
changing society’s behavior.
Increase awareness among youth
o It is vital to reach out to young people for reproductive health information and services,
as well as to promote gender equity standards.
o Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) services, particularly in rural regions, might
be used for this.
Laws that are strictly enforced
o The Preconception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act of 1994 has
to be strengthened, and more resources should be allocated to countering the preference
for boys.
o The inclusion of ultrasonography devices in the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940 by
the Drugs Technical Advisory Board is noteworthy in this regard.