In 2015, India faced a troubling reality. The Child Sex Ratio (CSR) — the number of girls per 1,000 boys aged 0–6 — had been declining for decades, driven by gender-biased sex selection, female infanticide, and deep-rooted social prejudice against girl children. In some districts of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, the ratio had fallen to alarmingly low levels, threatening the social fabric of entire communities.
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme was the Government of India’s direct, determined response. Launched by Prime Minister Modi on January 22, 2015, from Panipat, Haryana, BBBP is the Government of India’s flagship initiative aimed at addressing gender imbalance, empowering girls, and driving societal transformation.
In January 2025, the scheme celebrated its 10th anniversary. The Ministry of Women and Child Development celebrated the 10th anniversary of BBBP, marking a decade of relentless efforts to protect, educate, and empower the girl child in India, aligning with India’s vision of a Viksit Bharat 2047 and the global shift from women’s development to women-led development.
Ten years on, the results are measurable, meaningful, and still unfinished.
Table of Contents
What Is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao?
The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana is a national initiative run jointly by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW), and Ministry of Human Resources Development (MoHRD).
This three-ministry structure is deliberate—saving and educating a girl child requires action on health (preventing female foeticide and ensuring nutrition), welfare (empowering families to value daughters), and education (keeping girls in school through secondary and higher education).
Objectives of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
The BBBP scheme aims to achieve the following core goals:
- Prevent gender-biased sex-selective elimination—ending the practice of sex-selective abortions and female infanticide
- Prevent Gender-Based Discrimination—curbing sex-selective abortions and ensuring equal rights for girl children
- Ensure Survival and Protection of Girls — promoting healthcare and nutrition for girls to improve their survival rates
- Promote Education for Girls—encouraging families to enrol girls in schools and higher education
- Create Awareness and Change Mindsets—encouraging community participation in addressing gender discrimination
- Improve the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) in select gender-critical districts by 2 points every year
Key Components of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
1. Awareness and Advocacy Campaigns
BBBP runs one of India’s most extensive public awareness campaigns — through television, radio, print, social media, and community events — to change deeply ingrained attitudes about the value of girl children. The “Selfie With Daughter” campaign became a viral national movement celebrating fathers’ pride in their daughters.
2. Enforcement of PCPNDT Act
A central pillar of BBBP is strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, which bans sex determination of fetuses and sex-selective abortions. 9,000+ illegal sex-determination clinics have been shut down since the scheme began, and FIRs have been registered against violators across high-focus districts.
3. School Enrolment and Retention
BBBP works with the Ministry of Education to ensure girl children are enrolled in schools, provided with scholarships and free textbooks, given access to separate and functional toilets in schools, and supported through secondary and higher education.
4. Health and Nutrition
Coordination with the Ministry of Health ensures vaccination drives reach girl children, maternal nutrition is supported, and institutional deliveries are promoted to reduce maternal and infant mortality.
5. Community Mobilisation
Gram Panchayats, SHGs (Self-Help Groups), ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, and local NGOs are all mobilized under BBBP to create a community-level movement for girl child welfare.
Integration With Mission Shakti
The BBBP scheme is now integrated with Mission Shakti, a comprehensive program for women’s safety and empowerment, for implementation during the 15th Finance Commission period. This integration expands BBBP’s reach from girl children to adolescent girls and adult women—creating a seamless continuum of empowerment from birth through adulthood.
Achievements of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in 10 Years
After a decade, BBBP has delivered measurable gains on multiple fronts:
Improved Sex Ratio at Birth
In Haryana—one of the states with the worst sex ratio when BBBP was launched—the sex ratio at birth rose from 871 girls per 1,000 boys in 2014 to 916 in 2023, with a peak of 923 in 2019. The SRB as of November 2025 stands at 915.
Nationally, the sex ratio at birth has shown consistent improvement across hundreds of districts.
Girls in Education
4.3 million girls are now benefiting from education schemes connected to BBBP, with improved enrollment rates at primary, secondary, and higher secondary levels.
Reduction in Female Foeticide
A 32% reduction in female foeticide cases has been recorded, driven by PCPNDT enforcement, awareness campaigns, and community mobilization.
Clinics Shut Down
Over 9,000 illegal sex-determination clinics have been shut down nationwide, removing one of the primary enablers of sex-selective practices.
National Reach
640 districts are now showing an improved child sex ratio since the scheme’s launch—a remarkable geographic spread across all regions of India.
State-Wise Impact
BBBP has had particularly significant impact in states that were initially worst affected:
- Haryana: SRB improved from 871 (2014) to 916 (2023)
- Rajasthan: Consistent improvement in CSR across previously gender-critical districts
- Uttar Pradesh: Largest absolute number of girls benefiting from education components
- Maharashtra: Strong enforcement of PCPNDT Act, with major drives against illegal clinics
- Punjab and Delhi: Awareness campaigns significantly shifted community attitudes
Challenges That Remain
Despite its achievements, BBBP’s work is far from complete. Deep-rooted social norms mean the fight is far from over.
- Son preference remains embedded in many communities, particularly in rural areas
- Economic factors still drive gender discrimination—families perceive daughters as financial burdens due to dowry practices
- Dropout rates for girls at the secondary school level remain higher than for boys
- Enforcement of PCPNDT varies across states, with some regions still showing poor compliance
BBBP’s integration with Mission Shakti and its renewed focus as part of the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision signal the government’s commitment to addressing these remaining challenges with sustained effort.
BBBP and Complementary Schemes for Girl Children
BBBP works most effectively when combined with other girl-child welfare schemes:
- Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana — savings scheme for girl children offering high interest rates
- PM Scholarship Schemes — for higher education
- Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya—residential schools for girls from marginalised communities
- National Scholarship Portal — merit-based scholarships for girl students
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Is BBBP a direct benefit transfer scheme?
BBBP is primarily an awareness, advocacy, and enforcement scheme—not a direct cash transfer program. Its impact is measured through changes in sex ratio, school enrollment, and enforcement data rather than individual beneficiary numbers.
Q2. Who implements BBBP at the ground level?
District collectors, CDPOs (Child Development Project Officers), ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, teachers, and Gram Panchayat members are the frontline implementers of BBBP at the district and village level.
Q3. How is BBBP different from Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana?
BBBP is a behavior change and rights-protection program for girl children. Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a savings and financial investment scheme for girl children. Both are complementary and often promoted together.
Q4. What is the 10th anniversary event of BBBP?
The 10th-anniversary celebrations spanned from January 22, 2025, to March 8, 2025, culminating on International Women’s Day, with the launch of Mission Vatsalya and Mission Shakti portals.
Q5. What is the official website for BBBP?
wcd.nic.in (Ministry of Women and Child Development)
Conclusion
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is more than a government scheme—it is a mirror that India held up to itself, asking a fundamental question: do we truly value our daughters? Ten years on, the answer is moving in the right direction. Improved sex ratios in hundreds of districts, 4.3 million more girls in education, 9,000 illegal clinics shut down, and a 32% reduction in female foeticide—these are not just statistics.
They are daughters who were born, educated, and given a chance to contribute to India’s future. As the scheme enters its second decade, integrated with Mission Shakti and aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, the mission of saving and educating India’s daughters continues—because no nation can truly develop while leaving half its population behind.
Rohanshi Mhatre aims to bridge the gap between government initiatives and citizens by delivering clear, reliable, and easy-to-follow information so that everyone can take advantage of available schemes.
