The Sample Registration Survey (SRS) 2024 reveals that India is moving deeper into the demographic transition. Births per 1,000 people fell from 21 in 2014 to 18.3 in 2024, while deaths slipped from 6.7 to 6.4. The Infant Mortality Rate dropped from 39 to 24. However, stark rural‑urban gaps remain, underscoring the need for equitable resource allocation.
Key Developments
- National birth rate declined by 2.7 points (21 → 18.3) over the decade.
- Death rate reduced by 0.3 points (6.7 → 6.4).
- IMR fell by 15 points (39 → 24) nationwide.
- Urban areas outperformed rural ones: urban birth rate fell from 17.4 to 14.7, rural from 22.7 to 20.2.
- Urban IMR reached 17, while rural remained at 27.
Important Facts
- Rural birth rate: 22.7 → 20.2; urban birth rate: 17.4 → 14.7.
- Rural death rate: 7.3 → 6.8; urban death rate: 5.5 → 5.6.
- State‑wise leaders: Kerala (Natural Growth Rate 3.9%, IMR 8), Tamil Nadu (NGR 4.8%, IMR 11), Goa (NGR 4.2%, IMR 11), and Andaman & Nicobar Islands (NGR 4.1%, IMR 9).
- The National Health Policy aims for a single‑digit IMR, a goal still distant for most states.
Exam Relevance
Understanding the SRS data helps aspirants answer questions on demographic transition, health indicators, and the effectiveness of the National Health Policy. The rural‑urban disparity highlights challenges in policy implementation, a frequent theme in GS2 (Polity) and GS3 (Economy). State‑level performance (Kerala, Tamil Nadu) can be linked to better health infrastructure, useful for comparative analysis.
Way Forward
1. Strengthen primary health centres in rural districts to narrow the rural‑urban disparity.
2. Accelerate the rollout of maternal‑child health schemes under the National Health Policy.
3. Use SRS data for targeted resource allocation, ensuring states lagging behind receive focused interventions.
4. Promote awareness and education on family planning to sustain the decline in birth rates without compromising population growth needed for economic stability.