Latest news with #CivilRegistrationSystem
Indian Express
12 hours ago
- Health
- Indian Express
6.5 lakh death registrations in 2022, decline to normal range after 2021 Covid peak: CRS data
A new set of data from the Civil Registration System (CRS) shows that about 86.5 lakh deaths were registered in the country in 2022, substantially lower than the peak of 2021 which had seen a big spike in deaths due to Covid pandemic. The new data, released on Thursday night, still does not mention the level of registration of births and deaths in the country, a crucial piece of information that used to be made available in the pre-pandemic years. In 2019, about 92% of all deaths had been registered, and this number was showing an increasing trend. However, this number for the pandemic years has been missing in the CRS data. The death registration data is now available for all the three years of the pandemic, and the numbers clearly show that the official count of deaths caused by Covid-19 was a severe under-reporting of the actual situation. According to the official count, about 5.3 lakh people died due to Covid-19 in India in the three-year period of 2020 to 2022. The CRS data for these years shows that the actual number could be anywhere between 20 lakh and 25 lakh, or may be a little more, about four to five times the official count. However, in the absence of information about the proportion of deaths getting registered, a more realistic estimate of the deaths caused by Covid19 still remains elusive. But it is also clear now that estimates of several research studies, which had been putting India's Covid-19 death count in the range of five to six million, or even higher, were grossly exaggerated. The CRS-2022 also shows a reversal of trends in birth registrations. The years 2020 and 2021 had seen a drop in registrations of births compared to 2019, the year before the pandemic. In 2019, 2.48 crore births were registered in the country, but this number dropped to about 2.42 crore in 2020 and 2021. In the year 2022, more than 2.54 crore births were registered, the maximum ever. The 86.5 lakh deaths registered in 2022 is also the highest number of registration for deaths ever, apart from 2021. Past data from 2007 to 2019 shows that about 83.5 lakh people die in India every year, on an average. The estimate for actual number of deaths during these years has varied from 81.17 lakh in 2017 to 85.89 lakh in 2012. During these years, the proportion of deaths getting registered increased from 69% to 92%. If it is considered that the registered deaths in India now closely approximate the actual number of deaths, then the 86.5 lakh deaths for 2022 does not appear to be a major deviation from the normal range. It could fall just outside the upper bound of the range seen in data from 2007 to 2019. This is very unlike the data for 2021, when 1.02 crore deaths were registered, and clearly reflected the impact of the second wave of the pandemic in the middle of 2021. A separate set of data, about the medical cause of deaths, released simultaneously, shows that 25,393 deaths in 2022 were attributed to Covid-19. For 2021, this number was 4,13,580. But barely a quarter of the registered deaths in India get a medical certification.
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Bihar Records Lowest Sex Ratio At 891, Nagaland Tops List With 1,068
Last Updated: Infant deaths increased slightly to 1.43 lakh in 2022 from 1.36 lakh in 2021. Urban areas saw 81.5 per cent of these. The latest Civil Registration System (CRS) Report 2022, released by the Office of the Registrar General of India, reveals a major gender imbalance in birth statistics. The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), defined as the number of female births per 1,000 male births, is very low in several states. As per registered births in 2022, Nagaland recorded the highest SRB at 1,068, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (1,036), Ladakh (1,027), Meghalaya (972), and Kerala (971). On the other hand, Bihar reported the lowest SRB at 891, followed by Maharashtra (906), Telangana (907), Haryana (909), and Uttarakhand (910). The report also says the States of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have not provided any information in the report on imposing penalties for non-registration, non-reporting and for negligence or refusal to register the event. 'The State of Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Nagaland, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand have not furnished the details of birth & death certificate issued under Section 17 of the Act, although such details are given under Section 12 of the Act. Section 12 and 17 wise break-ups has not been provided by Rajasthan, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi and Jammu & Kashmir," the report says. Infant Deaths Slightly Up, Mostly Urban Infant deaths increased slightly to 1.43 lakh in 2022 from 1.36 lakh in 2021. Urban areas saw 81.5 per cent of these, with rural areas accounting for just 18.5 per cent. Birth Registrations Rise Registered births increased to 2.54 crore in 2022, up from 2.42 crore in 2021. Of these, 52.4 per cent were male and 47.6 per cent female. Urban areas accounted for 56.5 per cent of these births, while rural areas contributed 43.5 per cent. Fewer Registered Deaths in 2022 The number of registered deaths declined from 1.02 crore in 2021 to 86.5 lakh in 2022. This does not reflect a drop in registration performance, but rather a likely return to pre-pandemic mortality levels. Institutional Events Dominate A significant 75.5 per cent of births and 25 per cent of deaths were reported from health institutions. This indicates greater medicalisation of births and deaths, particularly in urban areas. Timely Registration Still Lagging Only 13 States/UTs achieved over 90 per cent timely birth registration (within 21 days of occurrence). For deaths, 9 States/UTs met the same threshold. Digitisation Grows, But Uneven Online birth and death registration via is widespread but not universal. States like Rajasthan, Goa, and Kerala have nearly full digitization, while rural and remote regions still face connectivity gaps. Penalties Rarely Enforced Despite legal provisions, most States did not impose penalties for delayed or non-registration of births and deaths. States like Kerala and Rajasthan reported a few actions, but compliance enforcement remains weak. First Published: June 06, 2025, 12:02 IST
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
17 outsourced employees axed in GHMC over issue of fake birth and death certificates
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has terminated the services of a total 17 employees appointed through outsourcing, reportedly holding them responsible for issue of fake birth and death certificates. Previous GHMC Commissioner and the present secretary, Municipal Administration, K. Ilambarithi, issued the orders for termination on March 29, which the chief medical officer, Health, implemented on June 3, duly communicating the same to the two outsourcing agencies concerned. As per the orders, nine computer operators from Kapra, Uppal, Hayatnagar, LB Nagar, Goshamahal, Khairatabad, Ramachandrapuram, & Patancheru, Qutbullahpur, and Gajularamaram Circles, and eight health assistants from Malakpet, Santhoshnagar, Charminar, Falaknuma, Rajendranagar, Goshamahal, Ramachandrapuram & Patancheru, and Qutbullahpur Circles have been removed from the services. Further, two birth and death registrars have been repatriated, and two more are in the pipeline, Additional Commissioner, Health, S. Pankaja informed at Wednesday's Council meeting, responding to members' questions as to why officials have been spared while outsourcing staff were punished. The computer operators have been approving the applications using the passkey of the birth & death registrars, and to stop this practice, OTP generation has been introduced to the mobiles of the registrars, officials informed under the condition of anonymity. Even after this, irregularities have not stopped, and recently it has been revealed that four home births were approved against the norms. Corporator Thokala Srinivas Reddy alleged that the employees removed in one circle are joining another circle to continue their illegal operations, which came to fore when the respective recipients of birth certificates applied for passports. Ms. Pankaja said in order to prevent irregularities, efforts are being made to move to the Civil Registration System of the central government.
The Wire
28-05-2025
- Health
- The Wire
COVID-19 Led to Decline in Life Expectancy in India, Reveal Three Analyses
Menu हिंदी తెలుగు اردو Home Politics Economy World Security Law Science Society Culture Editor's Pick Opinion Support independent journalism. Donate Now Top Stories COVID-19 Led to Decline in Life Expectancy in India, Reveal Three Analyses Banjot Kaur 17 minutes ago Since the 1970s, life expectancy in India had continued to increase by a couple of years to a few decimal years on a year-on-year basis. Medics prepare a ward for COVID-19 patients at Gandhi Hospital. Photo: PTI Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute now New Delhi: The year-on-year trend of increasing life expectancy in India, observed for the last few decades, declined for the first time in 2021, albeit marginally. From 2016-20, the life expectancy in India was 70 years. From 2017-21, the recorded life expectancy dropped to 69.8 years, according to SRS abridged life tables. Since the 1970s, the life expectancy had continued to increase by a couple of years to a few decimal years on a year-on-year basis. For example, the life expectancy 69 years between 2013-17, 69.4 years (2014-2018), 69.7 years (2015-19) and 70 years (2016-20) as per SRS abridged tables. Between 2017-21, this trend changed and life expectancy dropped to 69.8 years from 70 years in 2016-20, a difference of 0.2 years. According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) update, life expectancy in India was 70.7 years in 2019, 70.2 in 2020 and 67.3 in 2021, clearly revealing the impact of the pandemic. The life expectancy recorded in 2010 was 67.5 years, according to the WHO, in India. Thus, COVID-19 brought the life expectancy down to what it was 15 years ago. The preliminary results of another recent study, which is yet to be published, conducted by researchers at International Institute for Population Sciences pointed out that life expectancy in 2021 declined by 1.6 years in the deadly second wave of COVID-19 in India. The study, as reported in Times of India, found that Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana witnessed the sharpest decline, where life expectancy dropped by 3 years. This preliminary analysis came in the backdrop of the Union government releasing Samples Registration System and Civil Registration System data for 2021 which revealed that the official death count of COVID-19 in India was seven times lesser than the estimated deaths. Also read: Covid Excess Death Study Revives Debate on Government's No-Undercounting Claim This decline in life expectancy was in line with the global trends as far the COVID-19 years are concerned. In fact, according to the WHO, Covid-19 eliminated a decade of progress in life expectancy around the world. 'Between 2019 and 2021, global life expectancy dropped by 1.8 years to 71.4 years (back to the level of 2012),' the WHO said. 'The 2024 report also highlights how the effects have been felt unequally across the world. The WHO regions for the Americas and South-East Asia were hit hardest, with life expectancy dropping by approximately 3 years and healthy life expectancy by 2.5 years between 2019 and 2021,' the WHO added. Life expectancy decline in line with other health indicators The decline in life expectancy in India in 2021 is also in line with the decline in other major health indicators of the country. For example, COVID-19 reversed decades of progress India had made in TB elimination. The notification of TB cases – or the number of TB cases that went undiagnosed – increased across the world in 2020 and India was hit the hardest. Similarly, the childhood immunisation rates dropped sharply, pushing India several years back. The number of children missing key vaccines in India lead to significant drop in overall immunisation coverage. The coverage of some of the vaccines in 2020 reached 2010 levels. In subsequent years, the rates improved as the impact of COVID-19 faded and the routine healthcare services resumed. Another case in point is the malaria elimination programme. Malaria cases and deaths rose greatly in 2020. In Southeast Asia, which accounted for 2% of the global cases, India accounted for 83% of them alone. Leading causes of deaths in 2021 The leading cause of deaths in India in 2021 was COVID-19 according to the WHO. It caused 221 deaths per 100,00 population. COVID-19 was followed by Ischemic heart diseases, which caused 110.8 deaths per 100,000 population. The impact of COVID-19 on death figures is evident in the fact that it caused more than twice as many deaths as the second leading cause. The third leading cause was Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease, which caused 70.5 deaths per 100,000 population. Other causes included strokes (53.5 deaths per 100,000 population), diarrheal diseases (34.3 deaths per 100,000 population), lower respiratory infections (27.8 deaths per 100,000 population), tuberculosis (25.4 deaths per 100,000 population), diabetes mellitus (23.1 deaths per 100,000 population), liver cirrhosis (18.9 deaths per 100,000 population)) and falls (16.5 deaths per 100,000 population). It must be noted that due to the shutdown of major services, it is likely that many deaths due to reasons other than COVID-19 could have gone unrecorded. Make a contribution to Independent Journalism Related News India's Net Foreign Direct Investment Plummets by 96.5% to Reach Record Low The Small Peak in COVID-19 Cases in South East Asia Is No Cause For Panic We Must Assess Sudden Deaths Which Took Place as a Consequence of COVID-19 The Many Failures of Operation Sindoor Undercounting of COVID Deaths: Two Million More People Died in 2021 Compared to 2020, Shows Govt Data SIPs, Usually Popular, See Decline in New Registrations India in Bottom 10-20% Bracket on Academic Freedom Index, Ranks 156th Globally Trump, Tariffs and a 200-Year Old Warning About the Tyranny of the Majority India's Outreach to Kabul Amid Simmering 'Pashtunistan' Demand Could Give It Leverage Over Pakistan View in Desktop Mode About Us Contact Us Support Us © Copyright. All Rights Reserved.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Worrying signs for Odisha as sex ratio slips to 933
BHUBANESWAR: Prohibition of sex determination and strict enforcement notwithstanding, the sex ratio at birth in Odisha has recorded a worrying decline over the past decade. As per the Civil Registration System (CRS) report released by the Ministry of Home Affairs recently, the sex ratio at birth in the state stood at 933 women per 1,000 men in 2021. The ratio has significantly dropped from 979 recorded during 2011-12. Odisha is among the bottom-10 states with low sex ratio. The lowest 863 was recorded in Assam, 905 in Rajasthan, 908 in Bihar, 909 in Gujarat, 910 in Maharashtra, 911 in Haryana and 922 in Telangana. The highest sex ratio at birth has been reported by Arunachal Pradesh (997) followed by Uttar Pradesh (995), Uttarakhand (975), Manipur (974), and Kerala (967). Surprisingly, the sex ratio in Odisha had dropped from 979 in 2011 to 930 in 2017 and then went up to 947 in 2019 before falling again to 933. The data is considered more authentic as it is based on registered births worked out after deducting the respective time delay in birth registration of more than one year. The latest data has highlighted growing gender disparities in the state, despite several government interventions aimed at promoting girl child welfare and curbing sex-selective practices. Experts attributed the sharp decline to a combination of deep-rooted patriarchal norms, single child norm and preference for sons. Senior gynaecologist Dr GSS Mohapatra said sons continue to be seen as bearers of the family legacy and financial security for ageing parents, while daughters are often perceived as an economic burden in many communities across Odisha. Many are choosing to not go for a second child if the first one is a son, he said.
