{"id":65057,"date":"2026-01-24T17:47:57","date_gmt":"2026-01-24T12:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=65057"},"modified":"2026-01-24T17:55:11","modified_gmt":"2026-01-24T12:25:11","slug":"national-girl-child","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-01-2026\/national-girl-child","title":{"rendered":"National Girl Child Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Society; GS2\/Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National Girl Child Day<\/strong> is celebrated annually on<strong> January 24<\/strong>.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>National Girl Child Day has been observed annually on<strong> January 24 since 2008.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ministry:<\/strong> Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It promotes awareness of girls\u2019 rights, empowerment, and equal opportunities in India.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges Faced by India in ensuring Girls\u2019 Rights<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Cultural Preference for Sons:<\/strong> Sons were preferred for carrying on the family name, performing religious rites, and providing financial support in old age.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This led to a neglect of daughters, who were seen as a financial burden due to dowry practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Gender Discrimination: <\/strong>Girls have historically faced neglect in terms of nutrition, education, and healthcare, which contributed to higher mortality rates among females.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Female Infanticide:<\/strong> In some regions, female infants were either abandoned or killed due to their perceived lower value.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Sex-Selective Abortion: <\/strong>Advances in medical technology, such as ultrasound, enabled the practice of sex-selective abortion, leading to a disproportionate number of male births.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Economic Factors:<\/strong> In agrarian societies, the labor of sons was seen as more valuable for agricultural work, further reinforcing the preference for male children.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Lack of Access to Education:<\/strong> Limited access to quality education, especially in rural areas, affecting girls&#8217; future opportunities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Safety and Security: <\/strong>High rates of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment, domestic violence, and trafficking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Child Marriage: <\/strong>Prevalence of child marriage, particularly in rural areas, which affects women&#8217;s health, education, and autonomy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social Norms and Expectations:<\/strong> Rigid societal roles that limit women\u2019s freedom and opportunities for self-expression and growth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Government Initiatives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"bed6e2\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"744\" height=\"409\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-102.png\" alt=\"national girl child day\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-65072\" style=\"--dominant-color: #bed6e2; aspect-ratio:1.8191021967526266;width:388px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-102.png 744w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-102-300x165.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 744px) 100vw, 744px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Achievements<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Improved Sex Ratio:<\/strong> Significant progress has been made through sustained efforts, particularly under the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme, with the Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) rising from around 918 in 2014-15 to 930 in 2023-24&nbsp; at the national level.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Progress in School Education for the Girl Child: <\/strong>For the period 2024-2025, the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of girls at the secondary level has reached 80.2%, as per UDISE report.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>97.5 per cent of schools nationwide are equipped with girls\u2019 toilet facilities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"9ad3eb\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #9ad3eb;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"324\" height=\"254\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-101.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-65071\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-101.png 324w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-101-300x235.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Prevention of Child Marriage: <\/strong>As of January 2026, a total of 2,153 child marriages have been prevented, and 60,262 Child Marriage Prohibition Officers have been appointed across the country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Menstruation Care:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img data-dominant-color=\"bae1ee\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #bae1ee;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"354\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-100.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-65070\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-100.png 354w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-100-300x229.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 354px) 100vw, 354px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY):<\/strong> By 2024, more than 4.2 crore accounts had been opened nationwide, indicating strong public participation and confidence in the scheme.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Community Awareness and Education:<\/strong> Campaigns like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao should continue to raise awareness about the value of the girl child and the harmful effects of gender discrimination.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Improving Women&#8217;s Health and Access to Healthcare:<\/strong> Providing better healthcare access for women and girls, especially in rural areas, can help reduce female mortality rates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Changing Social Norms and Attitudes: <\/strong>Promoting gender-sensitive education, involving men in gender equality discussions, and tackling the dowry system can help break the traditional biases against girls.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Robust Data Collection and Research:<\/strong> Continuous monitoring and research into the reasons behind sex ratio imbalances can help tailor future interventions and track the success of existing initiatives.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2217624&amp;reg=1&amp;lang=1#:~:text=National%20Girl%20Child%20Day%20is,and%20overall%20welfare%20of%20girls.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">National Girl Child Day is celebrated annually on January 24.\u00a0<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> National Girl Child Day has been observed annually on January 24 since 2008. <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Ministry: Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD). <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> It promotes awareness of girls\u2019 rights, empowerment, and equal opportunities in India. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/24-01-2026\/national-girl-child \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-65057","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65057","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=65057"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65057\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":65085,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/65057\/revisions\/65085"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=65057"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=65057"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=65057"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}