Haryana sees sex ratio rebound after years of slide, but why Gurgaon, Faridabad and Rewari still lag

Haryana’s annual sex ratio at birth (SRB), the number of girls born per 1,000 boys, rose to 923 in 2025, marking the first increase since 2019, according to official figures cited by TOI. The improvement comes after the ratio fell to 910 last year, its lowest since 2016, when the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign was launched to combat female infanticide and promote gender equality.

State Health Officials Attribute Improvement to Crackdowns

Health department officials told TOI that the rise in SRB was the result of strict enforcement measures throughout 2025 against sex-selective abortions and the sale of illegal medical termination of pregnancy (MTP) kits.

While 923 girls per 1,000 boys remains low compared to other states, it is the highest figure Haryana has achieved in a decade. Officials noted that the SRB has fluctuated over the years rather than showing steady progress.

District-Level Performance Shows Significant North-South Divide

According to Civil Registration System (provisional) data, Haryana recorded 519,691 births in 2025, comprising 270,281 boys and 249,410 girls.

The highest-performing districts included:

• Panchkula: 971 SRB
• Fatehabad: 961 SRB
• Panipat: 951 SRB
• Karnal: 944 SRB
• Yamunanagar: 943 SRB

Other districts above the state average included Sirsa, Nuh, Kurukshetra, Ambala, Hisar, Bhiwani, and Kaithal.

In contrast, southern districts near Delhi lagged significantly. Gurgaon registered 901, Faridabad 916, Rohtak 898, and Sonipat 894, while Rewari was at the bottom with 882.

Long-Term Trends Highlight Persistent Gaps

Panchkula saw the most notable long-term rise, from 909 in 2015 to 971 in 2025, despite occasional dips. Fatehabad climbed steadily from 893 to 961, while Panipat improved from 892. Even Gurgaon, despite weaker performance, improved from 858 in 2015.

Task Force and Crackdowns Drive Change

Following the 2024 dip in SRB, a state-level task force was established in March 2025, with officers from the health department, police, women and child development, AYUSH, NHM, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) monitoring SRB weekly.

The director of NHM Haryana Dr Virender Yadav said: "A total of 114 FIRs were registered under the MTP Act and 16 under the PCPNDT Act in 2025. Ultrasound inspections nearly doubled from 3,072 in 2024 to 5,836 in 2025. Reverse tracking of abortions beyond 12 weeks among women with previous girl children led to 68 FIRs against clinics, chemists, peddlers and middlemen."

FDA Seizes Thousands of Illegal MTP Kits

Authorities intensified crackdowns on abortion kit sales, sealing 44 chemist shops and registering 59 FIRs, including 17 for online sales. More than 6,000 kits were seized.

The number of abortions carried out beyond 10 weeks fell from 21,498 in 2024 to 14,204 in 2025, while 495 out of 1,500 registered MTP centres were closed for violations.

Urban-Industrial Belts and Border Districts Still at Risk

Officials warned that urban-industrial belts and border districts remain vulnerable due to the presence of covert sex-selection clinics. Haryana continues joint raids with neighbouring states targeting clinics using portable ultrasound devices.

Additional chief secretary (health) Sudhir Rajpal said: "While the state average has improved, micro-level monitoring will continue in districts still below 900. Districts bordering other states will be under tight scrutiny, as we aim to improve SRB further in the coming months."

Inputs from TOI