Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) released the 4th issue of Children in India 2025 report.
- Purpose: Provides detailed data on children’s education, health, nutrition, protection, and other indicators to guide evidence-based policies for improving children’s rights and well-being.
- Focus: Monitoring progress and identifying challenges in child development, protection, and policy implementation.
Key Highlights of Report
Health Indicators
Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
- Declined from 44 (2011) → 25 (2023) deaths per 1,000 live births.
- Gender-wise IMR (2023): Male – 25, Female – 26.
- State-wise highest IMR: Chhattisgarh & Madhya Pradesh (37); lowest: Kerala (5).
- Definition: Number of deaths of infants (<1 year) per 1,000 live births.
Under-Five Mortality Rate (U5MR)
- Overall India: 29 (2023), rural: 33, urban: 20.
- Highest U5MR: MP – 44; UP – 42; Chhattisgarh – 41.
- Lowest U5MR: Kerala – 8.
- Definition: Probability of a child dying before 5 years per 1,000 live births.
Birth Rate (per 1,000 population, 2023)
- National: 18.4; Rural: 20.3; Urban: 14.9.
- Highest: Bihar – 25.8; Lowest: Andaman & Nicobar Islands – 10.1.
- Source: Sample Registration System (SRS) by Office of the Registrar General, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Early Neo-natal Deaths
- ~48% linked to premature birth or low birth weight, 16% due to birth asphyxia/trauma, 9% due to pneumonia.
Neo-natal & Early Neo-natal Mortality Rates
- Neo-natal: Infant deaths <29 days per 1,000 live births.
- Early Neo-natal: Infant deaths <7 days per 1,000 live births.
Education
Dropout Rates (2024-25, UDISE+ data)
- Preparatory: 8.7% → 2.3%
- Middle: 8.1% → 3.5%
- Secondary: 13.8% → 8.2%
Gender Parity Index (GPI)
- National level achieved across 3 educational levels.
- Highest at Secondary level – 1.1.
Right to Education Act, 2009
- Elementary education is a fundamental right for children aged 6–14 years.
Women & Child Protection
Child Marriage (Women aged 20-24 married before 18)
- Declined from 26.8% (2015-16) → 23.3% (2019-21).
Child Adoptions
- Total adoptions increased: 3,927 (2017-18) → 4,515 (2024-25).
- In-country: 2,991–4,144 annually; Inter-country: 360–653 annually.
- Gender preference: Female children adopted more than males (2,336 female vs 1,819 male in 2024-25).
- Regulator: Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), Ministry of Women and Child Development.
Adolescent Health & Literacy
- Hypertension among teens: 5% nationally; highest in Delhi – 10%, UP – 8.6%, Manipur – 8.3%, Chhattisgarh – 7%.
- Child and adolescent literacy rate: 63.1% (national average).
About the Publication
- MoSPI has released the Children in India series since 2008; this is the 4th edition.
- Provides comprehensive data on child well-being, including health, education, nutrition, protection.
- Structured into seven chapters:
- Overview
- Population & Vital Statistics
- Health & Nutrition
- Education & Development
- Crimes & Child Protection
- Policy & Legal Framework
- Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for children
New Features in 2025 Edition
- Expert committee formed to expand scope, improve data quality and design.
- Chapter-wise organization with dedicated data tables.
- New data categories: Causes of Death, Adoption Statistics, Performance Comparison, Mobile/Device Usage.
About MoSPI
- Formed in 1999, merging the Department of Statistics and the Department of Programme Implementation.
- Mandate: Collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistical information; policy support via data-driven research.