Haryana's Sex Ratio Plummets Amidst Sex-Determination Rackets

Haryana's sex ratio at birth (SRB) has significantly declined to 898 girls per 1,000 boys in early 2026, a stark contrast to previous years' improvements. This drop coincides with the re-emergence of illegal sex-determination rackets operating openly in cities like Gurugram and Faridabad. A recent raid in Gurugram dismantled a syndicate charging ₹40,000 for prenatal gender testing.

The 'Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' campaign, launched in 2015, appears to be losing momentum. Enforcement efforts, including raids and FIRs, have decreased substantially since 2016. Officials attribute this decline to a loss of focus, reduced top-level monitoring, and a shift in priorities, leading to complacency among enforcement teams.

Deep-rooted son preference continues to drive these practices, with many families seeking male heirs. Misuse of portable ultrasound devices and repeat offenders pose ongoing challenges. Concerns have also been raised about potential statistical manipulation to inflate the reported SRB figures for 2025.

Health officials acknowledge a post-pandemic slowdown in enforcement from 2019 to 2024, which weakened surveillance. While authorities claim revived monitoring and a focus on targeting illegal abortions, challenges persist. The trend suggests a critical need for sustained crackdowns and renewed vigilance to address the skewed sex ratio.