Haryana Records Highest Sex Ratio in Five Years as Crackdown on Illegal Abortions Shows Results
Haryana has recorded a significant improvement in its sex ratio at birth (SRB) in 2025, offering a positive signal in the state’s long fight against gender imbalance. Official data shows that the SRB rose to 923 females per 1,000 males in 2025, marking a 13-point increase from 910 in 2024 and the highest level seen in the past five years.
According to government figures released on Friday, Haryana registered 5,19,691 births in 2025. Of these, 2,70,281 were male births and 2,49,410 were female births. In comparison, the state recorded 5,16,402 births in 2024, including 2,46,048 female births. Officials attribute this steady improvement to sustained action against prenatal sex determination, illegal abortions, and the misuse of medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits.
Stronger Enforcement Behind the Improvement
Health department officials said the turnaround followed stricter monitoring after a slight dip in SRB in 2024. A special task force was formed under Additional Chief Secretary (Health) Sudhir Rajpal, which conducted weekly review meetings involving officials from the health, AYUSH, women and child development departments, and the National Health Mission.
As part of intensified enforcement in 2025, authorities registered 114 FIRs under the MTP Act, filed 83 chargesheets, and conducted 154 raids under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act. During these inspections, 41 chemist shops were sealed, and 395 MTP centres were shut down for violations.
Officials said illegal sale of abortion kits and unregistered medical practices had been major contributors to gender imbalance in previous years, making enforcement a key focus area.
District-Level Performance
District-wise data highlights notable improvements across Haryana. Panchkula recorded the highest SRB in the state at 971, a sharp rise of 56 points from 915 in 2024. Other districts crossing the 950 mark included Fatehabad (961) and Panipat (951).
Several districts also reported SRB levels above the state average of 923. These included Ambala, Bhiwani, Hisar, Kaithal, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Mewat, Sirsa, and Yamunanagar. Karnal and Yamunanagar, in particular, showed steady improvement compared to previous years.
However, the data also revealed uneven progress. Gurugram saw only a marginal rise to 901, while Sonipat’s SRB declined to 894, and Jind slipped slightly to 918, indicating that challenges persist in urban and semi-urban belts.
Role of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini said Haryana’s progress reflects a decade-long effort that began after the BJP formed the government in 2014, when the state’s sex ratio stood at just 871, among the lowest in the country.
He credited the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in 2015, for changing social attitudes alongside strict enforcement. “The improvement in sex ratio shows that consistent policy action and social awareness can deliver results,” the Chief Minister said.
Grassroots Monitoring Made the Difference
Social activist G L Singal, associated with Haryana’s ‘Save Girl Child’ programme, said one of the most effective measures was reverse tracking of abortions, particularly monitoring cases involving women who were 12 weeks pregnant and already had a female child.
“This strategy helped identify illegal practices early. The results in 2025 show that targeted action works,” Singal said, adding that the 13-point rise was a major achievement after years of effort.
Our Final Thoughts
Haryana’s improved sex ratio in 2025 is an encouraging sign that sustained enforcement, data-driven monitoring, and social awareness can slowly reverse deep-rooted gender bias. While the progress is uneven across districts, the overall trend suggests that consistent policy focus, rather than short-term campaigns, delivers measurable change. The challenge now lies in maintaining momentum, especially in urban districts where improvement remains slow, to ensure that gender balance becomes a permanent reality rather than a temporary achievement.