Context
The NFHS-6 (2023–24) data highlight a persistent gender imbalance in family-planning responsibility in India. While 36.5% of women reported female sterilisation, only 0.5% of men reported male sterilisation, even as India’s fertility rate has fallen below replacement level.
Explanation
- India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined from 5.2 in 1971 to 1.9 in 2025, below the replacement level of 2.1.
- Use of any contraceptive method among married women aged 15–49 increased from 66.7% in NFHS-5 to 69.1% in NFHS-6.
- However, use of modern contraceptive methods declined from 56.4% to 52.7%, while traditional methods increased.
- Female sterilisation remains dominant at 36.5%, compared with only 0.5% male sterilisation.Male sterilisation declined from 3.5% in NFHS-1 to 0.5% in NFHS-6.
- Vasectomy is comparatively less invasive and can generally be performed under local anaesthesia.
La Excellence IAS Academy, the best IAS coaching in Hyderabad, known for delivering quality content and conceptual clarity for UPSC 2026 preparation.
FOLLOW US ON:
◉ YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@CivilsPrepTeam
◉ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LaExcellenceIAS
◉ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laexcellenceiasacademy/
GET IN TOUCH:
Contact us at info@laex.in, https://laex.in/contact-us/
or Call us @ +91 9052 29 2929, +91 9052 99 2929, +91 9154 24 2140
OUR BRANCHES:
Head Office: H No: 1-10-225A, Beside AEVA Fertility Center, Ashok Nagar Extension, VV Giri Nagar, Ashok Nagar, Hyderabad, 500020
Madhapur: Flat no: 301, survey no 58-60, Guttala begumpet Madhapur metro pillar: 1524, Rangareddy Hyderabad, Telangana 500081
Bangalore: Plot No: 99, 2nd floor, 80 Feet Road, Beside Poorvika Mobiles, Chandra Layout, Attiguppe, Near Vijaya Nagara, Bengaluru, 560040
Contraceptive Gender Gap: India’s Family Planning Challenge