Latest Civil Registration Data of India

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Governance

Why in News?

The Office of the Registrar General of India released the Civil Registration System (CRS) report for 2024 on July 1, 2026.

Key Findings of CRS, 2024

Near-Universal Coverage - India has edged closer to full coverage with birth registration reaching 99.1% and death registration reaching 99.4% in 2024.
Registration Spurt - Registered births rose to 254.7 lakh (from 252.1 lakh in 2023), and registered deaths increased to 89.4 lakh (from 86.6 lakh in 2023).
An increase in registered numbers reflects improved systemic efficiency and data capture, not necessarily a sudden spike in actual fertility or mortality rates.
State-wise Performance - 13 States recorded above 90% birth registration, while 15 States achieved above 90% death registration.

Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB)

The Sex Ratio at Birth (number of girls born per 1,000 boys) serves as a critical proxy to measure the prevalence of sex-selective abortions and gender bias.
National Average - Standing at 917 females per 1,000 males, indicating a continuing masculine skew compared to the natural biological norm (which is globally around 950–952).
Top Performers
- Arunachal Pradesh leads the country with a sex ratio of 1,050.
- Followed by Andaman & Nicobar Islands (984), Meghalaya (974), Mizoram (972), and Kerala (970).
Bottom Performers
- Nagaland and Lakshadweep recorded the lowest SRB at 865.
- Jharkhand follows closely behind at 890.
- States like Haryana (834) and Punjab (846) historically held the lowest indicators during Census 2011, making the current underperformance of northeastern and island territories a notable shift.

Stillbirth Data

A total of 81,117 stillbirths were registered in 2024.
Urban-Rural Divide - The data reveals a heavy urban tilt, with 69% of all recorded stillbirths occurring in urban healthcare centers.
It is likely due to higher institutional delivery and reporting rates in cities.

Legal Framework

Registration Act - The registration of births and deaths is mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969.
Implementing Authority- The CRS operates under the aegis of the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (ORGI).
Nodal Ministry - Ministry of Home Affairs.

Reference

The Hindu | Births, deaths registered in 2024 report