Civil Registration System (CRS) Report 2024
Subject: Polity & Governance
The Civil Registration System (CRS) Report 2024 shows that India has achieved over 99% registration of births and deaths, while the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) remains below the natural biological norm.
Key Highlights
- Birth Registration: 99.1%
- Death Registration: 99.4%
- Reflects near-universal civil registration and improved quality of demographic data.
Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)
- India’s SRB (2024): 917 females per 1,000 males.
- Indicates improvement in registration but continued concern over gender imbalance.
Highest SRB
- Arunachal Pradesh – 1050
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 984
- Meghalaya – 974
- Mizoram – 972
- Kerala – 970
Lowest SRB
- Nagaland – 865
- Lakshadweep – 865
- Jharkhand – 890
Biological (Natural) Sex Ratio at Birth – Prelims Important
- Natural SRB is 950–975 females per 1,000 males (or 102–107 boys per 100 girls).
- A ratio close to this range indicates minimal human intervention.
- A significantly lower SRB may indicate:
- Son preference.
- Sex-selective abortions.
- Gender discrimination before birth.
Stillbirths
- 81,117 stillbirths recorded in 2024.
- Around 69% occurred in urban areas.
Significance of CRS
- Provides reliable data for:
- Population estimation.
- Public health planning.
- Welfare schemes.
- Policy formulation.
- Monitoring demographic trends.
- Higher registration reflects better data coverage, not necessarily an increase in births or deaths.
Key Takeaway
- India has achieved near-universal birth and death registration, strengthening governance and evidence-based policymaking.
- However, improving the Sex Ratio at Birth remains a priority through effective implementation of measures against gender discrimination and sex-selective practices.
