Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
The ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ scheme is aimed at improving the child sex ratio and promoting the education and protection of girls in India. Since its launch, the scheme has raised awareness about the value of girls and encouraged greater community participation in supporting their rights.
Key Highlights
- Main Objective: Improve the child sex ratio and promote girls’ education in India
- Target Areas: Gender equality, women's empowerment, and girl child protection
- Official Ministries: Ministry of Women and Child Development, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Applicable Across: All states and union territories in India
What is Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao?
The Beti Batao, Beti Padhao scheme was launched on 22 January 2015, in Panipat, Haryana, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address India's declining Child Sex Ratio. Three ministries jointly run the schemea selected district,:
- Ministry of Women and Child Development
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
- Ministry of Education
It was first introduced in the and now it has expanded to over 640 districts. Currently, BBBP is part of the Mission Shakti programme. It works to protect, educate, and empower girls and women while promoting gender equality throughout the country.
Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao 2.0
Since it had a positive impact from launch, it was further strengthened with the launch of BBBP 2.0 in 2026. The updated phase focuses on:
- Better use of digital tools for monitoring progress
- Skill development for girls
- Encouraging education linked with jobs and careers
- Stronger community participation
Objectives of Beti Bachao Beti Padhao
The objectives of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) are streamlined into three main pillars and specific, measurable targets:
- Prevent: Eliminate gender-biased, sex-selective elimination (female foeticide).
- Protect: Ensure the survival, health, and safety of the girl child.
- Empower: Secure the education, skilling, and equal participation of girls.
Key Features of the BBBP Scheme
The following are the key features of BBBP scheme:
- 100% Centrally Funded: It is fully funded with no direct cash transfers (DBT) or infrastructure asset building.
- Pan-India Scale: It has universal coverage across the country.
- SRB-Linked Grants: Funding is divided into three tiers (₹40 lakh, ₹30 lakh and ₹20 lakh) based on local Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) metrics.
- Cross-Sectoral Focus: Integrates health, education and child development initiatives to improve healthcare access and school enrolment for girls.
- Financial Security: Promotes the long-term financial well-being of the girl child by encouraging parents and legal guardians to invest in the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana.
Chosen Audience Under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Initiative
The following table show the target audience under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao Initiative:
| Audience Category | Target Groups |
| Primary Audience | Young married couples, pregnant women, and lactating mothers |
| Secondary Audience | Diagnostic centres, private hospitals, nursing homes, in-laws, young boys and girls, and medical practitioners |
| Tertiary Audience | Frontline workers, religious leaders, media, medical associations, and voluntary organisations |
BBBP Implementation & District Strategy
The following table shows how the BBBP scheme was introduced in phases and gradually expanded to cover more districts across India:
| Phase | Year | Coverage | Key Highlights |
| Phase 1 | 2015 | 100 districts | The scheme initially targeted 100 districts with low Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB), identified using Child Sex Ratio (CSR) data which served as the foundation for localised, multi-sectoral interventions. |
| Phase 2 | 2016 | 261 districts (cumulative) | Based on early implementation insights, the scheme expanded to include 161 additional districts experiencing declining sex ratios. |
| Pan-India Expansion | 2018 | 640 districts | In March 2018, BBBP was extended to all 640 districts in India (as per the 2011 Census). |
Measurable Performance Targets
Under the 15th Finance Commission guidelines, district performance is monitored through the following annual targets:
- Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB): Improve by at least 2 points each year at the district level.
- Institutional Deliveries: Achieve or maintain 95% or higher deliveries in healthcare facilities.
- Antenatal Care (ANC): Increase first-trimester ANC registrations by at least 1% annually.
Eligibility under Bet Bachao, Beti Padhao
Since Beti Bachao Beti Padhao is a government awareness programme and not a benefit scheme that people apply for, it does not have a direct eligibility criterion for individuals.
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojna under Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao
Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) is a government savings scheme for girl children launched under the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao initiative. It allows parents or legal guardians to open a Sukanya Samriddhi Account in the girl's name at registered banks and post offices and earn interest on their deposits.
To apply for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, a Sukanya Samriddhi Account (SSA) must be opened in the name of the girl child.
Key Features of the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) Account
The Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) offers several benefits designed to support a girl child's financial future, including:
- Competitive interest rate: The scheme offers a government-notified interest rate that is revised periodically and compounded annually.
- Withdrawal flexibility: Partial withdrawals are permitted for higher education after the girl child turns 18, subject to applicable conditions.
- Maturity and closure: The account matures after 21 years, with provisions for premature closure in specific circumstances, including marriage after attaining 18 years of age.
- Simple account opening: Accounts can be opened through authorised banks and post offices with a minimum deposit of ₹250.
- Defined eligibility criteria: The scheme specifies age limits, account ownership rules, family account limits, and documentation requirements for opening an account.
The scheme has specific eligibility conditions, documentation requirements, account-opening procedures, government-notified interest rates, tax benefits, and withdrawal provisions that parents and guardians should review before opening an account.
SSY vs PPF vs FD — Which is Better for Your Daughter's Future?
The table below compares the Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) with other popular tax-saving investment options:
| Feature | Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana (SSY) | Public Provident Fund (PPF) | Tax-Saving Fixed Deposit (FD) |
| Current Interest Rate | 8.2% p.a. (Compounded annually) | 7.1% p.a. (Compounded annually) | Typically 7.0%–7.5% p.a. (Varies by bank) |
| Eligibility | Girl child below 10 years of age; account opened by a parent or legal guardian | Any resident Indian individual; accounts can also be opened for minors | Any resident individual |
| Lock-in / Tenure | 21 years from account opening (or earlier closure under specified conditions) | 15 years, extendable in blocks of 5 years | 5-year mandatory lock-in period |
| Tax Treatment | Contributions eligible under Section 80C; interest and maturity proceeds are tax-free | Contributions eligible under Section 80C; interest and maturity proceeds are tax-free | Investment qualifies under Section 80C; interest earned is taxable |
| Investment Limits | ₹250 minimum to ₹1.5 lakh maximum per financial year | ₹500 minimum to ₹1.5 lakh maximum per financial year | Varies by bank; Section 80C deduction available up to ₹1.5 lakh per financial year. |
| Partial Withdrawals | Up to 50% of the balance allowed after the girl child attains 18 years of age, subject to scheme conditions | Permitted from the 7th financial year onwards, subject to applicable limits | Premature withdrawals generally not allowed during the lock-in period |
| Risk Profile | Sovereign guarantee backed by the Government of India | Sovereign guarantee backed by the Government of India | Low risk; deposits insured up to ₹5 lakh per depositor per bank under DICGC guidelines |
| Best Suited For | Parents seeking long-term savings for a girl child's education and future expenses | Individuals looking for long-term, tax-efficient wealth creation | Conservative investors seeking fixed returns and tax benefits |
BBBP Impact & Achievements (2015–2026)
The achievements of the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (BBBP) scheme up to 2026 includes:
- Rising National Sex Ratio: The national Sex Ratio at Birth improved steadily from 918 in 2014–15 to 930 by the mid-2020s.
- Massive School Enrollment Boost: The Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) for girls at the secondary education has increased from 75.51% to 80.2%.
- Strategic Shift to Advanced Skilling: Under its 15th Finance Commission integration with Mission Shakti, the program successfully scaled up STEM enrollment, digital literacy and more.
Budget Allocation for BBBP
The following tells how the budget is allocated for BBBP:
- Fiscal Allocation: Funded via the Ministry of Women and Child Development's consolidated ₹26,890 crore budget under the "Sambal" vertical of Mission Shakti.
- Performance-Linked Model: Annual district funding is strictly data-driven and tied directly to local Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) metrics.
- High-Priority Funding: Districts with an SRB of 918 or lower receive maximum grants of ₹40 Lakh per year for aggressive legal enforcement.
- Medium-Priority Support: Districts with an SRB between 919 and 952 receive ₹30 Lakh annually to bridge remaining gender gaps.
- Progressive Continuity: Districts with an SRB above 952 receive ₹20 Lakh annually to pivot towards advanced career skilling.
Final Word
Beti Bachao Beti Padhao has successfully changed national mindsets by keeping girls safe, healthy, and in school through its partnership with Mission Shakti. By using a smart, data-driven funding system, the government sends money directly to the districts that need the most help with their girl-to-boy birth ratios.
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear offers taxation & financial solutions to individuals, businesses, organizations & chartered accountants in India. Clear serves 1.5+ Million happy customers, 20000+ CAs & tax experts & 10000+ businesses across India.
Efiling Income Tax Returns(ITR) is made easy with Clear platform. Just upload your form 16, claim your deductions and get your acknowledgment number online. You can efile income tax return on your income from salary, house property, capital gains, business & profession and income from other sources. Further you can also file TDS returns, generate Form-16, use our Tax Calculator software, claim HRA, check refund status and generate rent receipts for Income Tax Filing.
CAs, experts and businesses can get GST ready with Clear GST software & certification course. Our GST Software helps CAs, tax experts & business to manage returns & invoices in an easy manner. Our Goods & Services Tax course includes tutorial videos, guides and expert assistance to help you in mastering Goods and Services Tax. Clear can also help you in getting your business registered for Goods & Services Tax Law.
Save taxes with Clear by investing in tax saving mutual funds (ELSS) online. Our experts suggest the best funds and you can get high returns by investing directly or through SIP. Download Black by ClearTax App to file returns from your mobile phone.
Office Address - Defmacro Software Private Limited, C 245A, Ground floor, Room No 1, Vikas Puri, West Delhi, New Delhi, Delhi 110018, India
Cleartax is a product by Defmacro Software Pvt. Ltd.
ISO 27001
Data Center
SSL Certified Site
128-bit encryption