Date: 2025-10-28Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda convenes 31st Meeting of the Central Supervisory Board to reiterate the Nation’s commitment to strengthen the implementation PC&PNDT Act, 1994
On October 28, 2025, Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda convened the 31st meeting of the Central Supervisory Board (CSB) in New Delhi. The meeting reiterated the nation’s commitment to strengthen the implementation of the PC&PNDT Act, 1994, and to prevent the misuse of medical technologies for sex selection and sex determination.
The 2021–23 Sample Registration System (SRS) Report indicates that India has made improvements in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), with many states recording SRB figures above the national average of 917. Shri Nadda underlined the need for sensitization and capacity building, along with stringent implementation of the PC&PNDT Act during the CSB Meeting.
The meeting agenda included detailed discussions on addressing gender balance issues and reviewing progress on various action points from the last CSB meeting. Participants discussed technology-driven challenges, the importance of state-level workshops, stakeholder discussions, and effective actions against digital-era challenges. Sensitization activities, state-wise interactions, reviews, and sharing best practices were identified as crucial.
States such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, and Haryana were noted for their proactive measures and innovative strategies to combat gender-biased sex selection.
Union Health Secretary Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava detailed the measures taken to strengthen the implementation of the PC&PNDT Act. The health and well-being of the girl child remains a key priority. The meeting also addressed the recently concluded Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA) in collaboration with MoWCD to strengthen healthcare services for women & children across India.
Smt. Savitri Thakur, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development, discussed steps taken to prevent gender-biased sex selection and highlighted the impact of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative.
Members of the CSB deliberated on various challenges and suggested forward measures, emphasizing the need to strengthen PC&PNDT Act implementation through constant dialogue with key stakeholders.
The Union Health Minister reiterated that the CSB will continue to provide direction and oversight to fulfil the Board’s mandate.
Dr. Byreddy Shabari, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Dr. Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice; Dr. Sunita Sharma, Director General of Health Services; Union Health Ministry; Shri Lav Agarwal, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development; Ms. Gayatri A. Rathore. Pr. Secretary, HFW, Rajasthan; Ms. Meera Srivastava (JS, MoHFW); Shri. Rajesh Kr. CEO, I4C (MHA); Dr. Kousthubha Upadhyaya (Adv.) and senior officials of the Union Government were present on the occasion.
Release ID: 2183560, Visitor Counter : 121.
Key Entities Referenced
PC&PNDT Act, 1994: The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, aimed at preventing sex-selective abortion in India.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare: The Union ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs in India.
Central Supervisory Board (CSB): A board established under the PC&PNDT Act to oversee its implementation and provide directions.
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao: A government initiative to promote the value of the girl child and improve the child sex ratio.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Union Health Minister Shri J P Nadda
convenes 31st Meeting of the Central
Supervisory Board to reiterate the Nation’s
commitment to strengthen the implementation
PC&PNDT Act, 1994
The 2021-23 SRS data indicates that India has made
improvements in Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), with many
states recording SRB figures above the National average
of 917: Shri Nadda
Union Health Minister underlines the need for sensitization
and capacity building and stringent implementation of the
PC&PNDT Act 1994 during the CSB Meeting
Posted On: 28 OCT 2025 9:37PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda convened the 31st meeting
of the Central Supervisory Board (CSB) here, today to reiterate the nation's commitment to strengthen
the implementation of the PC&PNDT Act and to prevent the misuse of medical technologies for sex
selection and sex determination. The meeting agenda included detailed discussions to address the
issues of gender balance and review the progress made on various action points that were decided
during the last CSB meeting.Addressing the gathering, the Union Health Minister took note of the latest Sample Registration
System (SRS) Report for 2021–23, which have shown improvement in the National SRB. The State
wise progress was also discussed. The performance outcomes highlighted through settlement of court
matters, inspections of premises, and registration of facilities, reflected continued improvement over a
period of time. The major topics of discussion focused on ensuring that effective action both at the
National & the sub-national level is the need of the hour to further the gender balance.
Shri Nadda also mentioned about the National Sensitization Workshop held on 6th October 2025 to
address technology-driven challenges and underlined the need for more state-level workshops and
discussions amongst key stakeholders to strengthen enforcement and awareness, stressing upon
effective actions on the emerging digital-era challenges such as portable diagnostic devices and online
advertisements for sex determination. He stated that sensitization activities, state-wise interactions &
reviews, and sharing of best practices should be a regular process. Effective action is a driver in
propagating the importance of ensuring gender balance through strict enforcement of the PC&PNDT
Act.
The Union Health Minister also noted the proactive measures taken by states like Madhya Pradesh,
Rajasthan, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Haryana, etc. including their innovative strategies to combat
gender-biased sex selection.
Union Health Secretary, Smt. Punya Salila Srivastava detailed the measures taken with due
commitment of the Union Health Ministry for strengthening the implementation of the PC&PNDT
Act for further improving the SRB. She also underscored the need for ensuring that the health & well-
being of the girl child remains a key priority area, which was also taken up during the recently
concluded Swasth Nari Sashakt Parivar Abhiyaan (SNSPA) in collaboration with MoWCD to
strengthen healthcare services for women & children across India.Smt. Savitri Thakur, Union Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development, discussed
on the various steps taken by the Govt. of India to prevent gender biased sex selection. She
highlighted the impact of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao initiative in promoting the value of the girl
child. While discussing the improvement in the Sex Ratio at Birth, she emphasized that the progress
and the concerted efforts should continue.
The CSB members deliberated on various challenges and suggested way forward measures while also
giving valuable inputs & insights on the various aspects to be taken cognizance of. Key areas
discussed on various agenda points emphasized the need to continuously focus upon the strengthening
the implementation of the PC&PNDT Act in comprehensive manner through constant dialogue with
key stakeholders and continued monitoring activities.
The Union Health Minister reiterated that the CSB will continue to play an active role in providing
directions and oversight to fulfil the mandate of the Board and make continuous endeavours to
strengthen the implementation framework of the PC&PNDT Act.Dr Byreddy Shabari, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha); Dr. Ajeet Madhavrao Gopchade, Member
of Parliament (Rajya Sabha); Dr. Anju Rathi Rana, Secretary, Ministry of Law & Justice; Dr. Sunita
Sharma, Director General of Health Services; Union Health Ministry; Shri Lav Agarwal, Addl.
Secretary, Ministry of Women & Child Development; Ms. Gayatri A. Rathore. Pr. Secretary, HFW,
Rajasthan; Ms. Meera Srivastava (JS, MoHFW); Shri. Rajesh Kr. CEO, I4C (MHA); Dr. Kousthubha
Upadhyaya (Adv.) and senior officials of the Union Government were present on the occasion.
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SR
HFW- HFM Convenes 31st CSB Meeting/28th Oct 2025/2
(Release ID: 2183560) Visitor Counter : 121