Sharp Increase in C-Section Births
Caesarean section deliveries in India have increased more than fourfold over the past 16 years. According to the government, C-sections now account for over 27 percent of all reported childbirths in 2024–25.
In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Health Prataprao Jadhav stated that the total number of reported deliveries has remained relatively stable. Deliveries rose slightly from 1.88 crore in 2008–09 to 1.98 crore in 2024–25. However, during the same period, Caesarean births increased sharply from 12.03 lakh to more than 54.35 lakh.
Steady Year-on-Year Growth
Government data shows a consistent rise in the proportion of Caesarean deliveries. The share of C-section births first crossed the 10 percent mark in 2012–13, reaching 11.47 percent.
Subsequently, the figure crossed 20 percent in 2020–21. By 2023–24, approximately one in every four reported deliveries (25.27 percent) occurred through Caesarean section. The proportion increased further to 27.46 percent in 2024–25.
Factors Driving the Rise
As reported by The Tribune, the minister cited a 2022 study conducted by the Population Research Centre Dharwad to explain the growing trend. The study, titled “Understanding the Context of Caesarean Delivery from the Providers’ and Receivers’ Perspectives,” identified several contributing factors.
These include advanced maternal age, multiple pregnancies, fetal distress, previous Caesarean deliveries, prolonged labour, and maternal health complications. In addition, the study highlighted that both clinical decision-making by doctors and changing patient preferences play an important role in the increasing number of surgical deliveries.
Measures to Regulate Unnecessary C-Sections
To address concerns about unnecessary surgical deliveries, the government has introduced several monitoring measures. For instance, hospitals empanelled under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) must prominently display their ratio of Caesarean to normal deliveries.
Furthermore, under the LaQshya Initiative, authorities have incorporated a dedicated C-section audit component into the assessment checklist for maternity operation theatres in government hospitals.
At the same time, the government has launched training programmes such as Daksh, Dakshta, and the Skilled Birth Attendant (SBA) initiative to ensure the availability of trained healthcare professionals and promote safe normal deliveries.
Declining Maternal and Infant Mortality
Despite the rise in Caesarean births, health indicators have shown significant improvement. Government data indicates a steady decline in mortality rates over the years.
The Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) fell from 212 deaths per 1 lakh live births in 2007–09 to 88 in the 2021–23 period. Similarly, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) declined from 57 per 1,000 live births in 2006 to 25 per 1,000 live births in 2023, according to the Sample Registration System Statistical Report cited in the parliamentary reply.