Maharashtra Cracks Down on Illegal Sex Determination

Maharashtra has significantly escalated its efforts against illegal prenatal sex determination, filing 627 cases under the PCPNDT Act from March 2024 to March 2026. During this period, 127 convictions were secured, and 200 decoy operations were conducted, with 24 proving successful.

The state's Public Health and Family Welfare department inspected nearly all its registered sonography centers. This renewed focus comes as Maharashtra's sex ratio at birth is 899 girls per 1,000 boys, a decline from previous decades.

Officials note that addressing this issue requires more than just enforcement, emphasizing a need to change societal mindsets regarding gender preference. The state continues to expand decoy operations and offers a Rs 1 lakh reward for information leading to successful actions against illegal sex determination rackets.

Investigations reveal a rise in illegal sex determination facilitated by fake doctors and middlemen, often using portable ultrasound machines. Public reporting mechanisms, including toll-free helplines and an online portal, have received and resolved over 1,100 complaints and 103 complaints respectively.