Maharashtra has recorded a sex ratio at birth of 899 girls per 1,000 boys during the 2022-24 period, significantly below the national average of 918, according to the latest Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report. The figures highlight persistent concerns over gender imbalance in one of India's most urbanised and economically developed states, despite a modest improvement from 876 girls per 1,000 boys recorded during 2018-20.
The report also revealed a sharp urban-rural divide in the state. Rural Maharashtra recorded a sex ratio at birth of 910 girls per 1,000 boys, up from 888 in the previous assessment period. In contrast, urban areas registered a ratio of 885 girls per 1,000 boys, a decline from 908 earlier. The trend contrasts with the national pattern, where urban areas reported a better sex ratio at birth of 928 girls per 1,000 boys compared with 914 in rural regions.
Experts say the figures raise questions about the persistence of son preference and the effectiveness of measures designed to curb sex-selective practices. The concern is particularly significant given Maharashtra's demographic profile. The state has already achieved a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) of 1.4 children per woman, well below the national average of 1.9 and beneath the replacement level of 2.1. A lower fertility rate combined with a skewed sex ratio often points to a stronger preference for male children.
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The data comes months after Maharashtra Health Minister Prakash Abitkar stated that the state's overall sex ratio had improved from 907 females per 1,000 males in 2023 to 912 in 2024. He attributed the progress to the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act and said the government planned to further strengthen enforcement measures aimed at preventing sex determination and female foeticide.
Among major states and union territories, Chhattisgarh recorded a sex ratio at birth of 967 girls per 1,000 boys, followed by Kerala at 974 and Himachal Pradesh at 956. Maharashtra ranked among the poorer performers, ahead only of Bihar (896), Haryana (885), Delhi (876) and Uttarakhand (872). The state's urban figures were particularly notable, placing it alongside regions that have historically struggled with gender imbalance at birth.
The report also showed that Maharashtra performs relatively well on social indicators linked to women's welfare. The mean age of marriage for women in the state stands at 23.4 years, slightly above the national average of 23.1 years, while only 1 per cent of women marry before the age of 18 compared with the national average of 2.1 per cent. Despite these positive indicators, the latest findings are expected to intensify discussions on the need for stronger interventions to address gender bias and improve outcomes for girls.
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