Think back to 2015–17. For most families in India, particularly those in areas where gender discrimination has long been deeply entrenched, rural isolation, or rigid cultural attitudes have meant a daily balancing act. If a girl is not aware of it, if social pressure is there or if the diagnostic methods are not revealed to them, it would be easy to derail her basic right to life and future development. In the past, the institutional and protective safety nets for daughters were very localised, and a large proportion of the population was left entirely vulnerable to the gender imbalance of the past.

The latest national demographic tracking data tells a very different story. The social fabric in India has been increasingly becoming more equitable. As shown in the above graph, over less than a decade, the Sex Ratio at Birth (per 1,000 male live births) has climbed from 896 during 2015–17, up to 907 during 2018–20 and further increased to 918 during 2022–24.

This steady rise has captured the attention of the world. It has been acknowledged by social scientists and international institutions as one of the most extraordinary behavioural shifts in history, a positive trend of a more even gender balance at birth. This heavy lifting was embedded in a strong social policy framework and enforced by rigorous laws that millions of citizens are subject to daily. The government was able to overcome the societal fissures through the use of robust monitoring systems, digital tracking of maternal health, and financial incentives. Rather than young girls being victims of outdated prejudices, systemic protection now backs them up from conception.

On the ground, this shift is fuelled by a few mega-schemes that target the fundamental fears of bringing up a daughter. One of the key drivers of this progress is the flagship initiative of the Government of India, ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao' (BBBP). In this scheme, deep-rooted perceptions have been changed through intensive community-level campaigns. In an era where financial worries or marriage costs deter families from investing in their daughters' future, initiatives such as Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana have provided a secure platform for long-term savings, providing millions of families with high-interest savings options to support their daughters' education.

Beyond these flagship programs, a system of frontline digital platforms and tracking portals has been registered and tracked institutional deliveries, ensuring every newborn daughter has an identity and protection in the formal health system. Significantly, regional tracking centres have enhanced the implementation of the PC&PNDT Act, shutting down illegal networks and providing an important protective mechanism against gender-biased selection.

The results of these interventions are evident in India's changing population statistics, as thousands of young girls have been successfully welcomed into communities over the past decade. But it's not finished yet. There are pockets of the population that are still lagging behind the national average, such as in certain states. The next step in this gender equity journey will involve the smooth integration of state-level education grants and central welfare databases, and greater outreach to remote rural areas. The vision is clear: to leave no Indian daughter to deal with structural bias all by herself, with the policy makers working to close the last gaps.