Maarg Manthan · Topic 5.7

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao

Current Affairs & Government Schemes › Education and Skill Development Schemes · Topic 5.7

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP), meaning Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter, is a national campaign launched by the Prime Minister on 22 January 2015 at Panipat in Haryana to improve the Child Sex Ratio and promote the education and empowerment of girls. It is a joint effort of the Ministry of Women and Child Development, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Education, and began in 100 districts before covering all 640 districts. In the education lens, it works for girls' enrolment, retention and completion of schooling, with Samagra Shiksha, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas and school-level monitoring. The 2011 Census recorded a Child Sex Ratio of 918.

6 min read · UPSC Prelims · Current Affairs & Government Schemes · Education and Skill Development Schemes

At a Glance

Launched 22 January 2015, Panipat
Ministries WCD, Health, Education
Coverage All 640 districts
Education aim Girls’ enrolment and retention
Census 2011 CSR 918
Exam link UPSC Prelims, Current Affairs and Government Schemes: Education and Skill Development Schemes

Where Does It Fit?

This is the seventh topic of the macro on education and skill development. It covers the girls’ education side of the campaign, while the women and child welfare macro covers its sex ratio and safety side. Previous topic: National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS). Next topic: Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN).

What Is the Education Strategy of the Campaign?

Education measure	How it works
Three-ministry role	The Ministry of Education is the partner for universal enrolment, retention and completion of education of girls, while Health handles the sex ratio and Women and Child Development leads community mobilisation
Enrolment	Tracking of girl children to ensure that every girl is enrolled in school, along with efforts in low-enrolment districts
Retention	Reduce dropout in the transition from primary to upper primary and secondary stages, where girls leave in larger numbers
Safe schools	Functional girls’ toilets, safe transport and gender-sensitive teaching are part of the push
Residential schools	Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas offer residential schooling to girls from disadvantaged groups
Community role	Local officials and panchayats run awareness drives and honour schools with good records on girls
Monitoring	Progress is tracked by indicators such as the share of girls enrolled in secondary school and the number of girls in schools

How Does the Campaign Link With School Schemes?

Samagra Shiksha: girls’ education is supported through the main school scheme, as in Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya: these schools were started in 2004 for girls in educationally backward blocks and are funded through Samagra Shiksha
Right to Education: the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 guarantees schooling for ages 6 to 14, and a 25 per cent quota in private schools helps disadvantaged girls
School meals: meals in schools attract girls and improve attendance, as in Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN)
Sanitary and hygiene support: menstrual hygiene programmes and toilets in schools help keep adolescent girls in school
Scholarships: scholarship schemes for girls from Scheduled Castes, minorities and poor households support continued study, as in National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme
Girls in STEM: the National Education Policy 2020 sets up a Gender Inclusion Fund and special initiatives for girls in science and technology, as in National Education Policy (NEP) 2020
Women and savings: a savings scheme for the girl child supports future education costs, as in Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana

What Else Should You Remember?

Why BBBP began: the 2011 Census showed that the Child Sex Ratio had fallen to 918 girls per 1,000 boys in the age group 0 to 6, the lowest since independence, which was a sign of sex selection
Launch: the campaign was launched at Panipat in Haryana on 22 January 2015, in a state with one of the lowest sex ratios
Funding: the initial budget was Rs 100 crore, and the campaign is run as a component of Mission Shakti, in its Sambal vertical, from 2022
Coverage: it started in 100 districts with low Child Sex Ratio, was expanded in stages, and from 2018 it covered all districts, which total about 640
Sex ratio at birth: the Health Ministry’s data show the Sex Ratio at Birth rose from 918 in 2014-15 to above 930 in later years, as reported, though these data from the health information system and survey data differ
School data: official data show that the gender parity index in enrolment has improved at secondary and higher secondary levels, and girls now match or exceed boys in enrolment in many states
Gap: retention and quality still lag, and a large share of girls drop out because of household work, early marriage, distance and lack of toilets
Early marriage: the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006 sets minimum marriage ages, and efforts to curb child marriage support the education goals
Criticism: a Parliamentary committee noted that a large share of early spending went on advertising and media, and recommended greater use for local action
Evaluation: studies say improved sex ratios may reflect many factors, and it is hard to credit the campaign alone
Link to Mission Shakti: the full sex ratio, safety and welfare side is covered in Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Scheme
Constitutional link: Article 15(3) permits special provisions for women and children, and Article 21A gives the right to education

Why Does It Matter for the Exam?

Launch: 22 January 2015, Panipat
Ministries: three: WCD, Health, and Education
Phases: 100 districts at first and later all districts
Link: a part of Mission Shakti since 2022
Traps: BBBP is not a cash transfer scheme, and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana is a separate savings scheme launched alongside

As an analytical point, improving girls’ education is about removing barriers inside and outside schools. Safe toilets, transport, scholarships and delayed marriage matter as much as awareness drives, and sound indicators are needed to judge progress.

Why Is This Topic Important?

Facts Date, ministries, aim
Policy Gender and education
Mains Retention and quality

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the school meal scheme. Next topic: Mid-Day Meal Scheme (PM POSHAN).

Key People and Terms

BBBP Save and educate daughters
CSR Child Sex Ratio, 0 to 6
SRB Sex Ratio at Birth
KGBV Girls’ residential school
GPI Gender Parity Index
GER Gross Enrolment Ratio

Exam Corner

Points to Remember

Launched: 22 January 2015, Panipat.
Ministries: three.
Census 2011 CSR: 918.
Coverage: all districts.
Now in: Mission Shakti.

Do Not Confuse With

Child Sex Ratio and overall sex ratio Girls per 1,000 boys at ages 0 to 6 versus females per 1,000 males in all ages
Child Sex Ratio and Sex Ratio at Birth Census age group measure versus births registered in a year
BBBP and Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana Awareness campaign versus a savings scheme

Memory Hook

Save her at birth, school her for life, from Panipat to every district.

Mains Angle

Questions ask whether awareness campaigns change gender outcomes. These points give a frame.

Gains Awareness, enrolment
Gaps Retention and spending use
Way Local action and safe schools

A Question You May Face

An original practice question, not a past paper question.

“Examine the role of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao in improving girls’ education and discuss the barriers that remain.”

How to Answer

Intro State the campaign and its education aim.
Role Enrolment, retention, schemes in convergence.
Barriers Dropout, early marriage, safety, toilets.
Way Safe schools, scholarships, local funds, data.

GS Relevance

Prelims: launch, ministries, aim and districts of BBBP. GS Paper 1: women's issues, social empowerment; GS Paper 2: education, welfare schemes for women and girls.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Beti Bachao Beti Padhao?

Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a national campaign launched on 22 January 2015 at Panipat in Haryana to improve the Child Sex Ratio and ensure the education and empowerment of girls. It is run jointly by the Ministries of Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, and Education.

Which ministries run Beti Bachao Beti Padhao?

The Ministry of Women and Child Development leads the campaign along with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Education. Women and Child Development drives community mobilisation, Health addresses sex selection and the sex ratio, and Education promotes girls' enrolment, retention and completion of schooling.

How does Beti Bachao Beti Padhao support girls' education?

It promotes enrolment and retention of girls through convergence with Samagra Shiksha, Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas, school toilets, scholarships and mid-day meals. Local officials track girls who are out of school, and awareness drives encourage families to delay marriage and send daughters to school.

What was the Child Sex Ratio in Census 2011?

Census 2011 recorded a Child Sex Ratio of 918 girls per 1,000 boys in the age group 0 to 6 years, which was the lowest since independence and the main reason for the campaign. The overall sex ratio in the same census was 943 females per 1,000 males.

What is the latest status of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao?

Since 2022 the campaign is part of the Sambal vertical of Mission Shakti and covers all districts. The Health Ministry's data report the Sex Ratio at Birth rising above 930 from 918 in 2014-15, as reported, and the continuation for the next cycle should be checked in official releases.

PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis

1 Beti Bachao Beti Padhao was launched at Panipat on 22 January 2015.

True

In Haryana.

2 Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is run only by the Ministry of Education.

False

Three ministries run it jointly.

3 The Child Sex Ratio in Census 2011 was 918.