‘Deep-seated’ bias for male child persists in society: SC, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court observed the persistence of a "deep-seated patriarchal preference" for a male child in society, despite improvements in the country's child sex ratio.
• This observation was made while dismissing a doctor's appeal challenging criminal proceedings under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994.
• The Court noted that continued sex selection practices reflect these entrenched preferences, with several states still reporting sex ratios at birth below the national average.
• India's ranking in the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report 2025 slipped to 131 out of 148 countries, indicating ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity.

Detailed Insights:

• The Supreme Court emphasized that strict enforcement of the PCPNDT Act is crucial until societal attitudes towards the girl child undergo significant change.
• The PCPNDT Act, 1994, aims to prohibit sex selection before or after conception and regulate prenatal diagnostic techniques to prevent female foeticide.
• Government initiatives, such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, reflect sustained efforts by states to address systemic discrimination against girls.
• The BBBP scheme, launched in 2015, seeks to prevent gender-biased sex selection, ensure the survival and protection of the girl child, and promote her education.
• While the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) reported an overall sex ratio of 1020 females per 1000 males, the sex ratio at birth remained lower at 929, below the natural level of approximately 950 females per 1000 males.
• India's decline in the Global Gender Gap Report 2025 from 129th to 131st position underscores the need for continued efforts in gender equality.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994: An Indian parliamentary act prohibiting sex selection and regulating prenatal diagnostic techniques to prevent female foeticide.
• Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): The number of female births per 1000 male births, a key demographic indicator reflecting gender preference.
• Global Gender Gap Report: An annual report by the World Economic Forum that benchmarks gender parity across countries in four key areas.
• Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP): A Government of India scheme launched in 2015 to address the declining child sex ratio and empower girl children.