Correct Option
The sex ratio in India, defined as the number of females per 1000 males, has exhibited a fluctuating trend over various census periods. Analysis of census data reveals a non-linear progression. For instance, the sex ratio was 934 in 1981, declined to 927 in 1991, subsequently increased to 933 in 2001, and further rose to 943 in 2011. This pattern of both decreases and increases across decades indicates that the sex ratio is not following a consistent linear trajectory but rather fluctuating. Such variations are influenced by a complex interplay of socio-economic factors, including gender-based mortality, practices like female infanticide and foeticide, migration patterns, and advancements in maternal and child healthcare.
Incorrect Options
(a) Declining: This statement is inaccurate because while a decline was observed between the 1981 and 1991 censuses, subsequent census figures showed an increase, indicating that the trend is not consistently downward.
(b) Stable: The provided census data clearly demonstrates variations in the sex ratio across different decades (e.g., 934, 927, 933, 943). These fluctuations refute the notion of a stable sex ratio.
(c) Increasing: While the sex ratio did show an increase in the 2001 and 2011 censuses, it had previously declined in 1991. Therefore, describing it as consistently increasing is not factually accurate over the observed period.