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The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Bihar had lowest sex ratio at birth in 2022, in decline for three years: CRS data
Bihar has recorded the lowest sex ratio at birth for 2022 among all States and Union Territories, reporting just 891 girls born for every 1,000 boys, according to the Civil Registration System's vital statistics report, released this week by the Office of the Registrar General of India. Bihar is also the only State that has seen its sex ratio at birth declining consistently since 2020, the year from which this data is available for the State. In 2020, the State reported a sex ratio at birth of 964, which fell to 908 in 2021, before further dipping to 891 in 2022. This comes ahead of the Bihar Assembly election, at a time when political parties have been actively targeting women voters, including with promises of cash transfers in polls in Haryana, Maharashtra, and Jharkhand. In 2024, 47.6% of Bihar's 7.64 crore electors were women, though voter turnout in the State during the 2024 general election showed that 50.4% of votes polled came from women. Other States with low sex ratios at birth in 2022 were Maharashtra (906), Telangana (907), and Gujarat (908). On the other hand, Nagaland had the highest figure of 1,068, followed by Arunachal Pradesh (1,036), Ladakh (1,027), Meghalaya (972), and Kerala (971). Assam, which had reported 863 girl babies born in 2021 for every 1,000 boys, the lowest ratio for that year, showed an improvement to 933 in 2022. Delayed reports A month after the Office of the RGI released the Civil Registration System (CRS), Sample Registration System (SRS), and Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) reports for 2021, after a four-year-delay, the government this week released the CRS and MCCD data for 2022 as well. However, the SRS report for 2022 has not yet been made public. The SRS is the largest demographic survey in the country, meant to provide annual estimates on fertility and mortality indicators, including birth and death rates. The CRS and MCCD reports provide data on registered births and deaths, and the causes of medically certified registered deaths respectively. Drop in deaths in 2022 The CRS report showed that there were 86.5 lakh registered deaths in 2022, a stark drop from the 102.2 lakh registered deaths in 2021, the year in which the COVID-19 pandemic took its highest toll in the country. The Hindu has previously reported on how the 2021 data, recording 'excess deaths' in comparison to the norm, showed that the initial government reporting of COVID-19 deaths for the year was an underestimate. The CRS 2022 data also showed a hike in registered births, rising to 254.4 lakh registered births, in comparison to 242 lakh the previous year. Birth, death registration trends State-level birth registration statistics in the 2022 report show that, since 2013, States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Uttarakhand have seen a general trend of registered births rising, despite occasional dips. On the other hand, States and UTs like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and Delhi saw a general decline in registered births, despite fluctuations. Of the total registered births in 2022, 52.4% were boys while 47.6% were girls. While about 43% of the births were registered in rural areas, 56.5% were registered in urban areas. The report added that the number of registered stillbirths in 2022 fell to 1.15 lakh from 1.24 lakh the previous year. Of the total registered deaths in 2022, the shares of men and women were 60.4% and 39.6% respectively. The report showed that 59.5% of the registered deaths were in rural India while 40.5% were in urban areas.
Hindustan Times
21 hours ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
12 states, UTs undercounted Covid deaths in 2022: Report
New Delhi: India registered 8.6 million deaths in 2022, the least deadly year of the Covid-19 pandemic. This represents a 15% decline from 2021, the deadliest pandemic year, with the death rate likely returning to pre-pandemic levels. This suggests mortality was normalising as Covid-19 infections became less severe and vaccines were deployed. However, signs of health system stress persisted due to the virus. Excess deaths, or the surplus over the number of deaths that would have happened at the death rate seen in 2019, were higher than the Covid-19 tally issued by states in 2022. This suggests that states undercounted deaths related to Covid-19. Data suggests at least 12 states and union territories evidently did so. Moreover, the proportion of deaths without medical attention remained elevated compared to pre-pandemic levels. These findings come from two reports published on Thursday by the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI), under the ministry of home affairs: Vital Statistics of India Based on the Civil Registration System (CRS) 2022, and the report on the Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) 2022. CRS records all registered births and deaths in the country and is the most important source of statistics related to them. The MCCD captures a fraction of the CRS deaths where deaths are medically certified. The CRS report shows India registered 8.6 million deaths in 2022 compared to 10.2 million in 2021. The 2021 figure was a sharp increase from 7 million, 7.6 million, and 8.1 million deaths in 2018, 2019, and 2020 respectively. To be sure, mortality rates are typically assessed after adjusting for population. For instance, the Sample Registration System (SRS) reports use sample surveys to estimate the crude death rate (CDR) per thousand population. CDR shot up to 7.5 in 2021 from 6.0 in 2020 and 6.2 in both 2018 and 2019. The lower CDR in 2020 was likely because accidental deaths decreased in the year, as HT explained on May 8. Since ORGI hasn't published the 2022 SRS report, no survey-based CDR estimate is available. However, using registered deaths and National Commission on Population projections, CDR in 2022 was 6.3—close to 2018-2019 levels. The SRS may arrive at a higher 2022 CDR estimate since not all deaths are registered in the CRS. Historically, SRS estimates exceeded CRS-based calculations by 1.0 and 0.5 per thousand population in 2018 and 2019, though this gap disappeared in 2020 and 2021. While the estimated death rate suggests the health system was normalising, other indicators show incomplete recovery. At the 2019 death rate of 6.2, deaths in 2022 would number 8,554,450. This is 95,480 deaths more than the 8,649,930 deaths registered in the 2022 CRS. Pandemic bulletins issued by states in the year only counted 50,435 deaths from Covid-19. At least 12 states and UTs undercounted Covid-19 deaths, according to the MCCD report. These jurisdictions reported 6,076 Covid-19 deaths in 2022, while the MCCD attributed 12,818 deaths directly to or related to Covid-19 in these jurisdictions. See Chart To be sure, the MCCD data doesn't show national-level undercounting for 2022. Nationally, only 25,393 deaths were attributed to Covid-19 in MCCD data, compared to 50,435 in pandemic bulletins. This likely reflects that MCCD captures just over 20% of registered deaths, with coverage varying by state. Despite this limitation, MCCD found 413,580 Covid-19 deaths nationally in 2021 compared to 332,510 in pandemic bulletins. The partial recovery in 2022 is also seen in another set of numbers from the CRS. Some 50.7% of registered deaths occurred without medical attention, compared to 47.3% in 2021, 45% in 2020, and 34.5% in 2019.
News18
2 days ago
- Health
- News18
Only 22% Deaths Medically Certified In India In 2022, Heart Disease Tops Causes
Last Updated: Despite a legal mandate under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, the MCCD scheme is underutilised, with only 54 per cent of covered hospitals reporting data. Heart disease remained to be the leading cause of death in India, accounting for more than 40 per cent of 'medically certified" deaths in 2022, according to the latest 'Annual Report on Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD)" released by the Office of the Registrar General of India. However, only 22.3 per cent of the 86.5 lakh registered deaths were medically certified, raising concerns over the reliability of mortality data in the country. Out of 19.32 lakh certified deaths, diseases of the circulatory system — particularly ischemic heart disease and other heart conditions — were the top cause, followed by respiratory diseases (9.7 per cent), and infectious and parasitic diseases (7.4 per cent). Neoplasms (4.3 per cent), renal failure, and diabetes were also major contributors. The report highlights disparities across states. Goa reported 100 per cent medical certification of deaths, while states like Bihar (5.4 per cent) and Uttar Pradesh (10.4 per cent) lagged far behind. Medical certification coverage fell slightly from 23.4 per cent in 2021 to 22.3 per cent in 2022. Male deaths dominated the certified data at 64 per cent, with female deaths at just 36 per cent. Alarmingly, younger populations (15–34 years) faced high death rates due to cardiovascular conditions and injuries, while perinatal conditions remained the leading cause for infants. Despite a legal mandate under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, the MCCD scheme is underutilised, with only 54 per cent of covered hospitals reporting data. Experts warn this undermines efforts in health policy planning and disease prevention. The report urges stronger implementation, especially in rural and non-institutional settings, to improve India's mortality data and public health response. The failure to fill MCCD Forms (Form 4/4A) as required leads to poor data capture. The report calls for better training of doctors, improved monitoring systems, and stricter follow-up mechanisms. Certification Crisis: Only 22% of Deaths Accounted For Out of 86,49,930 registered deaths, only 19,32,540 (22.3 per cent) were medically certified. This marked a drop from 23.4 per cent in 2021. Moreover, just 46.5 per cent of the deceased who received any medical attention before death had their deaths certified. This low coverage impedes efforts to accurately assess disease burden, track health trends, and design responsive policies. State-Wise Gaps: Goa at 100%, Bihar at 5.4% The report shows vast disparities in certification. Goa (100 per cent), Lakshadweep (99.2 per cent), and Puducherry (91.4 per cent) led with the highest certification rates. In contrast, Bihar (5.4 per cent), Nagaland (9.0 per cent), and Uttar Pradesh (10.4 per cent) recorded the lowest. Young Adults Vulnerable to Heart Disease and Injuries In the 15–24 and 25–34 age groups, circulatory diseases were the leading cause of death, contributing 29.6 per cent and 32.2 per cent of deaths respectively. Injuries, poisoning, and other external causes followed closely, accounting for 13.7 per cent and 10.8 per cent in these age groups. Infant Mortality Still Driven by Perinatal Issues Infants under 1 year represented 6 per cent of medically certified deaths. Among these, 64.5 per cent were attributed to perinatal conditions, including birth asphyxia, hypoxia, and neonatal infections. Male Deaths Outnumber Female by Nearly 2:1 Of the medically certified deaths, 64 per cent were male (12,36,683), and 36 per cent female (6,95,805). The sex ratio of certified deaths stood at 563 female deaths per 1,000 male deaths, highlighting significant gender disparity. Call for Full MCCD Implementation Across India Though all states except Kerala, Ladakh, and Meghalaya have notified the scheme, implementation is inconsistent. Of 87,809 hospitals with in-patient facilities, only 41,549 (54.4 per cent) reported certified cause-of-death data. The report urges full coverage of private hospitals, rural health centres, and non-institutional deaths. Without universal implementation, India risks flying blind on crucial health data needed to drive policy and preventive strategies. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : heart disease Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 06, 2025, 12:45 IST News india Only 22% Deaths Medically Certified In India In 2022, Heart Disease Tops Causes
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
High-speed chase through northeast Georgia ends in arrest
The Brief A high-speed chase began when a driver in a Range Rover used the emergency lane to bypass traffic on Interstate 85 North, leading authorities through multiple counties in northeast Georgia. Motor Carrier Compliance Division officers deployed spike strips, deflating the vehicle's front tires, and state troopers took over the pursuit. The chase concluded with the driver attempting to flee on foot, but was apprehended using a Taser; no injuries were reported. CARNESVILLE, Ga. - A driver was taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon after leading authorities on a high-speed chase through multiple counties in northeast Georgia, according to the Georgia Department of Public Safety. What we know The incident began around 3:34 p.m. when state troopers spotted a black Land Rover Range Rover passing vehicles in the emergency lane on Interstate 85 North near mile marker 157. Troopers activated emergency lights to stop the vehicle, but the driver accelerated and continued using the emergency lane to bypass traffic. After exiting the interstate at Exit 166 onto Highway 106, the driver was spotted by Motor Carrier Compliance Division (MCCD) officers, who attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle fled, initiating a pursuit that continued onto Georgia Highway 59. The driver briefly turned around on Church Street in Carnesville before heading back north on GA-59. MCCD officers deployed spike strips, successfully deflating both front tires. State troopers then took over the pursuit as the primary agency. The chase ended when the vehicle left the roadway and came to a stop. The driver attempted to flee on foot, but troopers deployed a department-issued Taser after multiple commands to stop. The suspect was taken into custody without further incident. No injuries were reported. What we don't know The man's name and charges have not been released. The Source The details in this article were provided by the Georgia State Patrol.
The Hindu
17-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Estimates of existence: How does India count the lives of its citizens?
The story so far In May 2025, the Office of the Registrar General of India (ORGI), functioning under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), released three key reports for the reference year 2021: the Sample Registration System (SRS) Statistical Bulletin, the Civil Registration System (CRS) Vital Statistics, and the Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) Annual Report. This long-delayed release—nearly four years after the reference year—offers a snapshot of India's demographic numbers. While the numbers have triggered debates among policymakers and analysts, what deserves deeper understanding is the machinery behind the statistics. What are vital statistics? Vital statistics refer to data on life events—births, deaths, marriages, migration and stillbirths—within a population. They form the backbone of demographic analysis, enabling accurate social planning, health policy, and welfare distribution. Reliable vital statistics are essential for designing targeted programmes and tracking national development indicators over time. Vital statistics, including the registration of births and deaths, are listed under Entry 30 of the Concurrent List in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution. A colonial blind spot Mahatma Gandhi, during the Independence movement, said, '100,000 Englishmen simply cannot control 350 million Indians if those Indians refuse to cooperate.' While this emphasised the power of non-violent resistance, it may not have taken into account, another, invisible force at play that enabled colonial rule: data. The British Raj mastered the art of governance through record-keeping—be it through the Survey of India (1767), the Great Trigonometrical Survey(1802), Geological Survey of India (1851), Archaeological Survey of India (1861), Census (from 1865), Botanical Survey of India (1890), and Zoological Survey of India (1916). These surveys, rudimentary by today's standards, were among the most sophisticated data collection tools of their time. Through them, the British measured human lives, understood flora and fauna, culture and ethnicity, and mapped the length and breadth of land, rivers, mountains and seas across the Indian subcontinent —enabling taxation, land control, plunder of natural resources and military interventions. In short, colonisation was underwritten by meticulous measurement of land, sea, river, culture and its people. While India inherited systematic record-keeping from the British, its evolution has fallen short of the digital age. Reliance on the decennial censuses (the last being in 2011), sample-based SRS, partially filled Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD) forms, incomplete CRS coverage, and the absence of full digitisation (currently ongoing) of vital events underscores the inadequacy of our present infrastructure for real-time, responsive governance. Census The census in India is conducted once a decade using the de-jure method by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India (ORGI). It is the largest administrative exercise in the country, covering every household, individual, and structure. The Census collects data on age, sex, religion, language, literacy, marital status, employment, migration, disability, and housing conditions. It is conducted in two phases: the House listing and Housing Census, followed by the Population Enumeration. While exhaustive and universal, its decadal frequency makes it unsuited for timely policy planning or dynamic welfare targeting. Given the Census is decennial, India requires systems like CRS, SRS, and MCCD to capture vital events every year to support timely policymaking. Sample Registration System The Sample Registration System (SRS) was born as a stopgap and introduced on a pilot basis in 1964–65 and became fully operational in 1969–70 with 3700 sampling units. It was conceived to temporarily supplement the Civil Registration System (CRS), which was still under development following the passage of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act 1969. Yet, even today, SRS remains the mainstay for estimating India's birth rate, death rate, infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate, cause of death, abridged life tables and fertility patterns. The SRS begins with a baseline survey, during which a map of the sample area is prepared, all households are listed, and demographic details—including age, sex, education, marital status, and reproductive history—are recorded. This is followed by continuous enumeration of vital events, especially births and deaths, by part-time local enumerators (typically local Anganwadi workers or teachers). Full-time supervisors independently conduct retrospective surveys every six months to update household rosters and verify reported events. The data from both sources are then matched. Unmatched or partially matched events are re-verified through field visits to ensure accuracy and completeness. SRS then deploys 'Verbal Autopsy' to ascertain causes of death that are without medical certification. Trained investigators collect narratives from family members of the deceased, which are reviewed by two independent physicians under the Minerva project, coordinated with the Centre of Community Medicine, AIIMS. The causes of death are classified per the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), ensuring comparability with global health standards. The SRS currently operates across 8,842 sample units—4,959 rural areas and 3,883 urban locations. It covers approximately 8.4 million people—barely 0.6% of India's population. Each SRS sample unit covers around 2,000 people in rural areas and 750–1,000 in urban enumeration blocks. The sampling units are updated once in 10 years, the last being in 2014. By its very nature, SRS carries an inherent scientific limitation: it is an estimate based on a sample of roughly 8.4 million people used to extrapolate for a population of over 1.4 billion. Hence, all indicators carry upper and lower confidence intervals with no district-level data. While SRS remains a methodologically rigorous source for national-level mortality and fertility estimates, these figures must be interpreted with statistical caution—they are informed estimates, not actual counts. It was designed to provide annual estimates of vital indicators at state and national levels—not exact counts. Civil Registration System Enacted through the Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act 1969, the Civil Registration System is the system that records births, deaths and stillbirths universally across India as a continuous, compulsory, and routine process. Much of the data is generated within the health system that reports events to the registrar. However, for vital events occurring outside health facilities, the revenue department and gram panchayats play a vital role in registration. In 2021, the CRS recorded 2.42 crore births, 1.02 crore deaths, and over 50,000 stillbirths. These are actual counts, not estimates, and provide legal documents necessary for inheritance, education, and social benefits. CRS data is also used to calculate future population projections, sex ratio, medical research and provide real-time data at the sub-district level. MCCD The Medical Certification of Cause of Death (MCCD), introduced alongside the RBD Act, mandates that deaths in medical institutions be certified by a physician (Sections 10(2) and 10(17)). Yet, coverage remains dismal. In 2021, only about 23% of all registered deaths had a medically certified cause. This gap has serious consequences. Cause-specific mortality statistics are crucial to track health trends, plan interventions, and advance research. Physicians certify the cause of death using WHO standards in Form IV/IVa, detailing immediate, antecedent, and comorbid conditions. Vital events like births and deaths though biological means, establish legal existence, underpinning citizenship, internal security, benefits and inheritance. Thus, data for MCCD, SRS and CRS originates in the health system, but ORGI, under MHA, compiles and publishes it for use across welfare ministries. NFHS Beyond SRS and CRS, India has also been conducting health surveys since the 1990s. Foremost among them is the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), initiated in 1992–93 and conducted by the International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai. NFHS gathers data on nutrition, fertility, reproductive health, child immunisation, contraception, domestic violence, and non-communicable diseases. While NFHS offers invaluable insights into health behaviours and socio-economic determinants of health, it is a sample survey, not a registry. It cannot be used for administrative purposes like issuing documents or real-time tracking. The need for a continuous population registry In an era of digital governance, periodic surveys and retrospective registrations like SRS, CRS, and NFHS are no longer adequate. A Continuous Population Registry (CPR)—a real-time, digital database that continuously records births, deaths, and migrations—is already used in some countries. India needs such a unified system. The SRS, though useful, is a sample and a stopgap; MCCD remains incomplete, and NFHS is not governance-oriented. A CPR is essential to citizen-focused data infrastructure for timely, targeted policymaking. (Dr. C. Aravinda is an academic and public health physician. The views expressed are personal. aravindaaiimsjr10@
