The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) convened a National Sensitization Meeting on October 6, 2025, in New Delhi, focusing on strengthening the implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PC&PNDT Act).
The meeting addressed emerging challenges and emphasized coordinated efforts to ensure compliance and prevent gender-biased sex selection, particularly in the digital domain.
Key Focus: Prevention, Morality, and Health
In her keynote address the Additional Secretary & Mission Director (NHM), MoHFW, stressed that the PC&PNDT Act serves as a moral and social safeguard. She urged a shift in focus:
She stated, “Instead of taking against action Gender-Biased Sex Selection, we should focus on the Prevention Part of the PC&PNDT Act.”
She emphasized that society should prioritize “having a healthy Child rather than Gender of the child.”
She noted that women are naturally more resilient and have stronger immune systems, making the survival of the female child naturally more possible than a male child.
Progress Reflected in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)
The Additional Secretary highlighted the positive impact of enforcement efforts, citing national data that reflects improving gender balance:
The national Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) has increased by 18 points according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2023.
The national SRB currently stands at 917 females per 1,000 males for the period 2021-23, up from 899 females per 1,000 males during 2016-18.
Tackling Digital and Online Challenges
A core focus of the deliberation was the urgent need to address violations in the digital ecosystem:
- The session addressed the pressing issue of online violations and misuse of new technologies, reinforcing the need for proactive engagement with digital intermediaries and stronger compliance mechanisms.
- Discussions focused on Section 22 of the PC&PNDT Act, which explicitly prohibits advertisements and promotions related to pre-conception and pre-natal sex determination.
- The meeting also focused upon the directions issued by the Supreme Court of India in the case of WPC No. 341 (2008), strengthening the legal framework against sex selection and highlighting the role of online intermediaries and digital platforms, and the monitoring compliance in the digital ecosystem.
The inaugural session marked the release of IEC material, including a TVC video, radio jingle, and informative posters, as part of a 360-degree communication campaign with the theme, “जब लड़का लड़की है बराबर, तो पूछना क्यों?” (When boy and girl are equal, why ask?).
Representatives from various state governments, including Telangana, Haryana, and Gujarat, shared their enforcement good practices, while representatives from online platforms participated in discussions on strengthening compliance with digital advertising regulations.