Monday, 06 Oct, 2025
The report presents an in-depth assessment of the status and well-being of children in India, covering critical aspects such as education, health, nutrition, and child protection. Image Source: UNESCO
India has recorded steady progress in key child health and education indicators, according to the latest government data.
The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, launched the fourth edition of its publication “Children in India 2025” on 25th September 2025, during the 29th Conference of Central and State Statistical Organizations (CoCSSO) in Chandigarh. MoSPI has been bringing out this occasional publication since 2008, with the 2025 release being the fourth in the series. The report presents an in-depth assessment of the status and well-being of children in India, covering critical aspects such as education, health, nutrition, and child protection. It aims to provide reliable insights and data to support evidence-based policymaking and targeted interventions for safeguarding children’s rights and enhancing their overall development. The information in the report has been compiled from secondary sources, drawing upon data from various Ministries, Departments, and Government organizations.
The 2025 edition is structured into seven chapters: Overview; Population and Vital Statistics; Health & Nutrition; Education & Development; Crimes Involving Children and Child Protection; Policy & Legal Framework; and Sustainable Development Goals related to Children. India has recorded steady progress in key child health and education indicators, according to the latest government data. Figures for 2023 show that the country’s Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) has dropped to 25 deaths per 1,000 live births, down from 26 in 2022. The data also highlights a slight gender difference, with male infants registering a marginally higher IMR of 26 compared to 25 for females.
The Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Report 2023 further reveals an improvement in the under-five mortality rate (U5MR), which now stands at 29, a decline from 30 in the previous year. However, disparities remain between rural and urban areas, with U5MR at 33 in villages and 20 in cities. Meanwhile, India’s birth rate continues its downward trend. In 2023, the national average was 18.4 per 1,000 population, with rural areas (20.3) reporting higher rates than urban regions (14.9).
Source: Sample Registration System, O/o RGI, Ministry of Home Affairs
On the education front, the report points to encouraging signs of narrowing gender gaps. The Gender Parity Index (GPI) for 2024–25 indicates that India has achieved parity across all education stages, with the secondary level showing the highest score of 1.1. This suggests that more girls are not only enrolling but also staying in school, challenging long-standing gender stereotypes around career and educational opportunities.
Source: UDISE+, Department of School Education & Literacy, Ministry of Education
Equally significant is the sharp decline in student dropout rates. At the preparatory level, the dropout rate has plummeted from 8.7 percent in 2022–23 to just 2.3 percent in 2024–25. Middle-level rates fell from 8.1 percent to 3.5 percent over the same period, while secondary-level dropouts dropped from 13.8 percent to 8.2 percent.
Taken together, the figures underline India’s continued progress in improving child survival rates and strengthening educational retention, signaling important gains in the country’s efforts to secure a healthier and more equitable future for its children.
Malnutrition among children under five continues to be a pressing public health issue in India, given its long-term impact on human development and the particular risks it poses in the early years of life. Undernutrition, which results from inadequate intake or poor absorption of essential nutrients such as proteins, vitamins, and minerals, leads to serious nutritional deficiencies. One of the most critical indicators of chronic malnutrition is stunting, measured by the height-for-age index. Children who fall short of the expected height for their age are classified as stunted, reflecting a cumulative growth deficit. Stunted children often face lasting consequences, including impaired cognitive abilities and lower educational outcomes compared to their well-nourished peers.
Data from NFHS-5 (2019–21) estimates that 35.5 percent of children in India are stunted. The problem is more prevalent in rural areas (37.3 percent) than in urban settings (30.1 percent), and slightly higher among boys (36.2 percent) compared to girls (34.6 percent). State-level figures reveal wide disparities, with Meghalaya reporting the highest rate at 46.5 percent, followed by Bihar (42.9 percent), Uttar Pradesh (39.7 percent), Jharkhand (39.6 percent), Gujarat (39 percent), and Madhya Pradesh (35.7 percent). These numbers highlight the persistent challenge of tackling child malnutrition, particularly in some of India’s most vulnerable regions.
