The Ministry of Women and Child Development provided an update on the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, launched on January 22, 2015, as a collaborative effort between the Ministries of Women & Child Development, Education, and Health and Family Welfare. The scheme aims to address Child Sex Ratio (CSR) issues and empower girls and women by preventing gender-biased sex selection, ensuring survival and protection of girl children, and promoting their education.
During the 15th Finance Commission Period, BBBP has been expanded as a component under the SAMBAL vertical of Mission Shakti to cover all districts nationwide through multi-sectoral interventions. The scheme has transformed from a policy initiative into a national movement by mobilizing government agencies, media, civil society, and the public. BBBP is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme with the Central Government providing 100% financial assistance to States and Union Territories, while overall implementation responsibility lies with State Governments and UT Administrations.
Key outcomes include improvement in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) from 918 in 2014-15 to 929 in 2025-26 (provisional) according to Health Management Information System data from MoHFW. Additionally, the Gross Enrolment Ratio of girls at secondary level increased from 75.51% in 2014-15 to 83.4% in 2025-26 as per UDISE data from the Ministry of Education.
The scheme released a standardized Operational Manual on October 11, 2022, to strengthen convergence among stakeholder Ministries and ensure effective grassroots implementation. The manual includes a thematic calendar for district-level convergence activities with monthly specific themes for holistic development of the Girl Child and year-round engagement of girls, families, and communities.
Convergence activities with the Ministry of Education include ensuring functional toilets for girls in schools, training teachers on gender-sensitive education, promoting gender equality, providing career counselling and life skills education, organizing self-defence training, and making sanitary napkins available in educational institutions. The ministry also encourages girls' participation in science and vocational education through science fairs, exhibitions, and exposure visits.
Convergence with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare involves creating awareness on nutrition, menstrual hygiene, anemia prevention among adolescent girls, strengthening Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), implementing School Health Ambassador Initiative, conducting comprehensive sexuality education sessions, and sensitizing communities about the PCPNDT Act and MTP Act.