With reference to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme, consider the following statements: 1. The sex ratio at birth recorded by the BBBP dashboard rose from 919 in 2015-16 to approximately 930. 2. The highest sex ratios at birth were recorded in states including Punjab and Haryana. 3. The report found a 10 to 15 percentage point rise in the probability of a second child being a girl. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

BBBP programme improved birth outcomes, adding about 15 girls per 1,000 births

GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Vulnerable sections (SC/ST, minorities, disabled, elderly, children)· Prelims + Mains· 8 October 2026

Gender imbalance and social engineering: a key GS2 topic on social justice and demographic shifts.

Why in news

A report titled 'Policy Interventions and the Sex Ratio at Birth: Evidence from India' revealed that the Beti Bachao

Background

The report found a 3.7 to 5.3 percentage point rise in the probability of a second child being a girl for families whose first child was a girl. India's sex ratio at birth rose from 919 in 2015-16 to approximately 930 according to the BBBP dashboard.

Facts for Prelims

FactBBBP dashboard recorded a rise in sex ratio at birth from 919 (2015-16) to around 930.
FactThe report found a 3.7 to 5.3 percentage point rise for second children after a girl.
PlaceGoa, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Kerala recorded the highest sex ratios at birth.
SchemeBeti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) is a large-scale social and behavioural intervention to address gender imbalance at birth.

Prelims practice question

With reference to the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme, consider the following statements:

The sex ratio at birth recorded by the BBBP dashboard rose from 919 in 2015-16 to approximately 930.
The highest sex ratios at birth were recorded in states including Punjab and Haryana.
The report found a 10 to 15 percentage point rise in the probability of a second child being a girl.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a)1 only
(b)2 only
(c)3 only
(d)1 and 2 only

Show answer

Answer: (a) 1 only — Statement 1 is correct. Statement 2 is incorrect: The highest sex ratios at birth were recorded in Goa, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, and Kerala. Statement 3 is incorrect: The report found a 3.7 to 5.3 percentage point rise.

For Mains

Q. Examine how large-scale social and behavioural interventions like BBBP can effectively address the deep-seated cultural drivers of son preference in India.

Dimensions to cover in your answer

Behavioral shift: Impact on second-child birth outcomes specifically in households with a first-born girl
Data-driven governance: Utilizing the BBBP dashboard to monitor and evaluate sex ratio improvements at the district level

Keywords: Sex Ratio at Birth · Son Preference · Behavioral Intervention · Gender Imbalance · Social Engineering

Read the full news →Source: NDTV ↗Also: GS1 · Women & gender issues Also: GS2 · Government policies & schemes

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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.