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 โ€“ 1050
  • Andaman & Nicobar Islands โ€“ 984
  • Meghalaya โ€“ 974
  • Mizoram โ€“ 972
  • Kerala โ€“ 970

Lowest SRB

  • Nagaland โ€“ 865
  • Lakshadweep โ€“ 865
  • Jharkhand โ€“ 890

Biological (Natural) Sex Ratio at Birth โ€“ Prelims Important

  • Natural SRB is 950โ€“975 females per 1,000 males (or 102โ€“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.