Son Meta Preference: Sex-Determination Rackets in India

Son Meta Preference: Sex-Determination Rackets in India – Causes, Law, Data & Solutions

Explore the growing issue of Son Meta Preference in India — the illegal sex-determination rackets operating despite the PCPNDT Act, 1994.

Table of Contents

Despite over three decades of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, India continues to struggle with illegal sex-determination rackets and a strong cultural bias favouring sons. Recent crackdowns across Karnataka–Andhra, Haryana–U.P., Gujarat, and Delhi have exposed the persistent and organised networks facilitating sex-selective abortions. This deep-rooted issue, often termed “Son Meta Preference,” reflects a dangerous mix of patriarchy, technology misuse, and weak enforcement.

What is Son Meta Preference?

Son Meta Preference refers to the cultural and economic bias towards having male children, often leading families to resort to illegal sex-determination tests and sex-selective abortions. It operates through covert networks linking agents, diagnostic clinics, and pharmacies, frequently moving across district or state borders to avoid legal scrutiny.

These rackets combine medical complicity, market demand, and social pressure, creating a shadow economy that undermines gender justice and child rights.

Current Trends and Data

Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) remains below natural levels:
- Delhi’s SRB declined from 933 (2020) to 920 (2024).
- According to the Sample Registration System (SRS 2023), India’s SRB improved slightly to 917 females per 1,000 males (2021–23), but still below the natural ratio of 952.
- The Civil Registration System (CRS 2023) reports India’s SRB at 928, with Arunachal Pradesh (1085) being the highest and Jharkhand (899) the lowest.
Around 5% of girls are “missing” at birth — translating to over 8 lakh female foetuses lost every year.

Laws and Policies Against Sex Determination

Legislation/Policy	Key Provisions and Objectives
PCPNDT Act, 1994 (Amended 2003)	Prohibits pre- and post-conception sex selection; regulates ultrasound and diagnostic centres; ensures record-keeping and appeal against acquittals.
MTP Act, 1971 (Amended 2021)	Legalises abortion on medical or humanitarian grounds but bans abortions for sex selection.
Drugs & Cosmetics Act/Rules	Controls sale of abortion-inducing drugs; targets illegal over-the-counter sales aiding sex-selective terminations.
ART Act, 2021 & Surrogacy Act, 2021	Ban embryo sex selection and ensure registration of IVF clinics and gamete banks.
Government Schemes	Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, conditional cash transfers, and digital monitoring to promote gender equality and birth transparency.

Why Implementation Fails

Weak Enforcement: District-level PCPNDT committees meet irregularly; inspections are infrequent.
Low Convictions: Poor investigations and lack of appeals lead to repeated acquittals.
Medical Complicity: Associations protect violators, calling serious breaches “clerical errors.”
Technological Evasion: Newer tools like Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing (NIPT) and portable ultrasounds outpace regulators.
Market Leakage: Abortion pills and illegal referral networks thrive in rural and border areas.

Social and Economic Implications

Skewed Birth Ratios: Persistently low female-to-male ratios reflect deep-rooted gender bias.
Cycle of Violence: Discrimination begins before birth and continues through neglect and violence.
Economic Roots: Dowry, inheritance bias, and undervaluation of women’s labour perpetuate patriarchy.
Trust Deficit: Over-surveillance of women undermines faith in the healthcare system.
Demographic Imbalance: A surplus of men fuels human trafficking, forced marriages, and social unrest.

Way Forward: Breaking the Son Meta Cycle

1. Stronger Enforcement

Conduct monthly inspections and decoy operations.
Freeze assets of repeat offenders and ensure mandatory appeal filing after acquittals.

2. Data Integration

Link PCPNDT–CRS–SRS–HMIS data for anomaly detection (e.g., ultrasound use vs. birth rates).

3. Technological Regulation

Licence NIPT under strict medical indications with tamper-evident audit logs.
Use geotagged ultrasound machines and digital forensic audits.

4. Curb Supply Chains

Monitor abortion-drug sales and regulate e-pharmacies to prevent misuse.

5. Empower Communities

Incentivise families with daughters through cash transfers, education, and property rights.
Encourage fatherhood campaigns and local influencers to change gender norms.

6. Medical Accountability

Mandatory ethics training (CME) for doctors.
Publicly blacklist convicted clinics and practitioners.

Conclusion

The persistence of sex-determination rackets in India reveals how culture, commerce, and weak governance intersect to devalue the girl child. Laws alone cannot succeed without social transformation and economic empowerment.

India can reverse the “son meta preference” only by choking illegal supply chains, enforcing accountability, and creating a culture that values daughters equally — in law, assets, and life.