By Ashna Butani
Copyright thehindu
Delhi is witnessing a dual decline of fewer children being born and a shrinking sex ratio, and experts are warning that deep-rooted son preference may be driving the “problematic trend”.
The ‘Annual Report on Registration of Births and Deaths in Delhi 2024’ released earlier this week shows that the city’s sex ratio has been falling consistently since 2020, when it reached its highest level of 933 females per 1,000 males. It dipped to 932 in 2021, 929 in 2022 and further to 922 in 2023. The ratio had crossed the 900-mark for the first time only in 2016, making the reversal a worrying sign.
Delhi’s birth rate has also dropped steadily in recent years. In 2016, the rate stood at 20.16 births per 1,000 people. Since then, it has seen a downward trend. It hit a low of 13.13 in 2021 before recovering slightly in 2022 and 2023. As of 2024, the figure stood at 14.
Safety concerns
Niharika Tripathi, who teaches Sociology at Delhi University’s Indraprastha College for Women and researches gender and population, said shrinking family sizes have made son preference more pronounced. “Earlier, families used to have 4-5 children. Now, many couples want only one or two. But the perception that ‘if you have a boy, your family is complete’ continues to persist. The desire for a male child becomes sharper with fewer births,” she said.
Ms. Tripathi added that concerns over women’s safety in Delhi and the continued availability of sex-selective abortions are also factors contributing to the decline.
‘Mindset issue’
Praveen K. Pathak, Professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Centre for the Study of Regional Development, linked the trend to broader social and economic pressures. “As the cost of living rises, parents worry about dividing resources among children. Unfortunately, cultural values push them to prefer sons. They think the son will carry forward a family business, or provide support in old age,” said Mr. Pathak, who specialises in population health and demographic changes.
A senior health department official admitted that the mindset of wanting “fewer but male” children was part of the problem. “This is a mindset issue that will take time to change. But we are also seeing greater misuse of Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) systems, which we are working to control,” the official said.
Weak enforcement
The official also highlighted weak enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, which prohibits sex determination tests. Between April 2024 and March 2025, district officials conducted only 10% of the mandated annual inspections. The law requires quarterly checks of diagnostic centres, maternity homes, IVF clinics and hospitals, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for violators.
“We have asked district officials to conduct regular inspections. Instead of monthly or quarterly reports, they have now been told to submit weekly reports. We have also asked them to conduct at least one decoy operation every month,” the official added.
