R. Suryamurthy
India has reported progress in child health, education and protection, with infant mortality and school dropout rates declining and adoption figures rising, according to a government report released Thursday. But experts caution that the data may overstate progress, masking stubborn gaps in nutrition, learning outcomes and gender equality.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) unveiled its latest publication, Children in India 2025, at the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) in Chandigarh. The report compiles data from multiple ministries and agencies, offering what officials called a “comprehensive analysis” of children’s well-being.
Encouraging trends
- Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) dropped to 25 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2023, down from 44 in 2011.
- Under-five mortality fell to 29 in 2023, from 30 the previous year.
- School dropout rates decreased to 8.2% in 2024-25, compared with 13.8% in 2022-23.
- Early marriage among women aged 20-24 years declined to 23.3% in 2019-21, from 26.8% in 2015-16.
- Adoptions rose to 4,515 in 2024-25, compared with 3,927 in 2017-18.
Concerns over hidden realities
While officials hailed the figures, child rights campaigners said the data presented a partial picture. “Mortality may be falling, but malnutrition continues to be rampant. A child may survive infancy, but anaemia, stunting and lack of access to health services remain widespread,” one activist said, pointing to NFHS-5 findings that 36% of Indian children are stunted.
Education specialists also questioned whether reduced dropout rates equated to better learning. “Retention is not the same as education. Many children in Class 5 still cannot read a Class 2 text. If the focus is only on enrolment and not learning outcomes, we risk fooling ourselves with numbers,” said another campaigner.
The report also highlighted gender parity in enrolment, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) above 1.0 at the secondary level. But activists noted that nearly one in four young women were still married before 18, underlining that deep-rooted norms remain resistant to change.
Data reliability questioned
Analysts noted that much of MoSPI’s data is secondary, sourced from other ministries, raising concerns about reliability. “Enrolment figures often reflect names on registers, not actual attendance or learning. Dropout reductions could be as much about reporting practices as real improvements,” said a rights researcher.
The bigger challenge
Experts warned against what one described as “statistical comfort” — relying on averages that obscure inequalities. Children from tribal, Dalit and migrant backgrounds remain at greater risk of poor nutrition, lack of schooling and early marriage.
MoSPI said the new edition had been restructured, adding indicators such as adoption statistics, causes of death and children’s use of mobile devices, with QR codes linking to detailed tables. Officials said the findings would help “strengthen evidence-based policy.”
But critics argued that unless policies move beyond headline figures to tackle entrenched social and economic divides, India’s children will continue to face challenges hidden behind official progress.