Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, chaired the 31st meeting of the Central Supervisory Board (CSB) to review progress and reinforce the nation’s commitment to strengthen implementation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC&PNDT) Act, aimed at preventing the misuse of medical technology for sex selection and sex determination.
The meeting focused on policy-level interventions and reviewed the implementation status across states, highlighting efforts to improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) and ensure gender balance. Shri Nadda took note of the Sample Registration System (SRS) 2021–23 Report, which indicates an improvement in the national SRB, and commended the states for their continued efforts. He also reviewed progress on court case resolutions, facility registrations, and inspections — all reflecting a positive trend in enforcement over time.
Emphasizing the importance of coordinated action, Shri Nadda stated that “effective action both at the national and sub-national levels is the need of the hour to further the gender balance.” He underlined the significance of sustained sensitization efforts, including state-level workshops, digital awareness programs, and multi-stakeholder dialogues, to combat emerging challenges such as portable diagnostic devices and online advertisements promoting sex determination.
The Minister referenced the National Sensitization Workshop held on 6th October 2025, which addressed technology-driven violations, and urged states to regularly conduct similar sessions. “Sensitization activities, state-wise interactions, and sharing of best practices should be a regular process. Effective action is the driver in propagating the importance of ensuring gender balance through strict enforcement of the PC&PNDT Act,” he emphasized.
Shri Nadda also commended states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Haryana for their innovative enforcement and awareness strategies to curb gender-biased sex selection.
wareness strategies to curb gender-biased sex selection.
Union Health Secretary, Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava, detailed the Ministry’s ongoing initiatives to strengthen implementation of the Act, stressing that the health and well-being of the girl child remains a central policy priority. She also referenced the Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA), implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), to enhance healthcare access for women and children.
Smt. Savitri Thakur, Union Minister of State, MoWCD, highlighted the progress achieved under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative, noting its pivotal role in changing social attitudes and improving the SRB. She reiterated that “progress achieved must be sustained through continued and coordinated efforts.”
The meeting concluded with a collective policy consensus on enhancing inter-ministerial coordination, technology-based monitoring, and stricter enforcement mechanisms. Shri Nadda reaffirmed that the CSB will continue to guide and oversee national efforts to fulfill the Act’s mandate, ensuring accountability and reinforcing India’s long-term commitment to gender equality and the protection of the girl child.
Senior officials from MoHFW, MoWCD, Ministry of Law & Justice, and the Ministry of Home Affairs, along with Members of Parliament and state representatives, attended the meeting.
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