Syllabus: 

GS-2: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation. 

Context: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the publication titled “Children in India 2025”.

Key Highlights of the Publication

• Infant Mortality Rate: In 2023, the national Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) in India was 25 deaths per 1,000 live births, reflecting an improvement from 26 in 2022. 

• The IMR was slightly higher for males (26) compared to females (25), based on data by sex and residence across major states. 

• Birth Rate: The birth rate showed a decreasing trend in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, the national birth rate was 18.4 per 1,000 population, with a higher rate in rural areas at 20.3 compared to 14.9 in urban areas.

• Under-five mortality rate (U5MR): U5MR is estimated at 29, which is an improvement from 2022 figures (30), and it varies from 33 in rural areas to 20 in urban areas (As per Sample Registration System (SRS) – Statistical Report 2023).

• Drop Out Rate: The dropout rate improved significantly in 2024-25, falling to 2.3% at the preparatory level, 3.5% at the middle level, and 8.2% at the secondary level, down from higher rates in previous years. 

• Child Adoption Rate: The number of in-country adoptions has ranged between 2,991 and 4,155 annually, while inter-country adoptions have varied from 360 to 653 per year. 

• In 2024-25, there were 4,155 in-country adoptions, with 2,336 female and 1,819 male children adopted, indicating a possible preference for female children in both in-country and inter-country adoptions.

• Women: The percentage of women aged 20-24 years who had married before the of age 18 years has reduced from 26.8 in 2015-16 to 23.3 in 2019-21.

About the Publication

• The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been releasing an ad-hoc publication titled "Children in India" since 2008. 
• It is the fourth such publication on the status of children in India. The publication provides a comprehensive and detailed analysis of the well-being of children in the country. 
• The publication offers data and insights on education, health, nutrition, and child protection to support evidence-based policies for improving children's well-being.
• The report is structured into seven chapters: Overview, Population & Vital Statistics, Health & Nutrition, Education & Development, Crimes & Child Protection, Policy & Legal Framework, and Sustainable Development Goals for children.

• This year’s changes in the publication are:

• An expert committee with representatives from relevant Ministries and demography experts was formed to advise on expanding scope, data sources, and design improvements.
• The publication is now organized chapter-wise, with dedicated data tables included in each chapter for easier reference.
• New data categories added include Causes of Death, Adoption Statistics, Overall Performance Comparison, and Usage of Mobile and Other Devices.

Sources:

PIB
Mospi