National Girl Child Day 2025: Date, History and Significance
National Girl Child Day 2025 is observed annually in India on January 24 to highlight the issues faced by girls in our nation and to advocate for their rights and welfare.
National Girl Child Day, celebrated every year on January 24 in India, is a significant occasion dedicated to highlighting the rights, education and welfare of girls. Initiated in 2008, by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the day aims to raise awareness about the importance of empowering girls and creating an environment where they can thrive without the barriers of gender discrimination.
National Girl Child Day 2025, launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development, seeks to highlight the difficulties encountered by girls. It highlights important problems like gender inequality, where girls frequently face discrimination in education and healthcare. This day also emphasizes the damaging practice of child marriage, which hinders girls from seeking education and attaining a brighter future.
National Girl Child Day celebrates the achievements of girls and women while addressing the systemic challenges they face. By coinciding with the day, Indira Gandhi assumed office, it serves as a reminder of the progress made in women’s empowerment and the continued fight for gender equality in India.
Government schemes for the girl child in India:
Laws That Protect Girls In India:
Sex Ratio :
The Report of the Technical Group on Population Projections for India and States 2011-2036 indicates that India’s population in 2036 is expected to be more feminine compared to the 2011 population, as reflected in the sex ratio which is projected to increase from 943 in 2011 to 952 by 2036, highlighting a positive trend in gender equality.
Sex Selection and Abortion in India:
The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) PNDT Act of 1994, later amended in 2002, was enacted with the objective as stated in the Preamble provide for the prohibition of sex selection, before or after conception, and for regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for the purposes of detecting genetic abnormalities or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or certain congenital malformations or sex-linked disorders and for the prevention of their misuse for sex determination leading to female feticide and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto.
PNDT Act prohibits the use of all technologies for the purpose of sex selection, which would also include the new chromosome separation techniques.
With the blanket prohibition contained in sections 3, 4 and 5 of the PNDT Act, there is effectively a ban on sex selection in India. It is not possible to use pre-natal diagnostic techniques to abort fetuses whose sex and family history indicate a high risk for certain sex-linked diseases, or to choose a fetus whose sex is less susceptible to certain sex-linked diseases.
This blanket prohibition may appear to be a contradiction to the provisions of the MTP Act, which permits the abortion of a fetus that is at a risk of being born with serious physical or mental disabilities.
While it is legally permissible to abort a fetus at risk of serious physical or mental disabilities, it is not permissible to select a fetus of a sex which is less likely to suffer from a sex-linked disease.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Why in News? | National Girl Child Day is observed annually on January 24, emphasizing the rights, education, and welfare of girls in India. |
| Date | January 24, 2025 |
| History | – Launched in 2008 by the Ministry of Women and Child Development. |
| – Highlights issues such as gender inequality, child marriage, and discrimination in education and healthcare. | |
| Significance | – Celebrates the achievements of girls and women. |
| – Coincides with the day Indira Gandhi assumed office, symbolizing progress in women’s empowerment and gender equality. | |
| Government Schemes for Girls | – Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana: Encourages savings for girl children. |
| – Balika Samriddhi Yojana: Promotes the education of girls in rural areas. | |
| – Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao: Focuses on reducing child mortality and improving education for girls. | |
| – Mukhyamantri Kanya Suraksha Yojana, Ladli Lakshmi Yojana, and others. | |
| Laws Protecting Girls | – Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006: Penalizes child marriage. |
| – POCSO Act, 2012: Prevents child sexual abuse. | |
| – Juvenile Justice Act, 2015: Ensures care and protection of children. | |
| – Mission Vatsalya: Provides child development services like the Child Helpline and Track Child portal for missing children. | |
| – PM CARES for Children Scheme: Supports children orphaned by COVID-19. | |
| Sex Ratio in India | – 2011 Sex Ratio: 943 females per 1000 males. |
| – Projected 2036 Sex Ratio: 952 females per 1000 males, indicating improved gender equality. | |
| Sex Selection and Abortion | – PNDT Act, 1994 (amended in 2002): Prohibits sex selection and misuse of prenatal diagnostic techniques. |
| – MTP Act: Allows abortion of fetuses with risks of severe physical or mental disabilities but prohibits sex-based selection, even for genetic diseases. |
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