More Than 25% Of Babies In India Now Born Through C-Sections; Private Hospitals Cross 50%, Telangana Tops

India is witnessing a significant shift in the way babies are being delivered. According to the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) for 2023-24, more than 25% of births in the country now take place through Caesarean section (C-section), a surgical procedure used to deliver babies.

The data shows that 27.2% of births in the five years preceding the survey were delivered through C-sections. This marks a sharp rise from 21.5% recorded in the previous NFHS-5 survey conducted in 2019-21.

The figures have sparked fresh discussions among healthcare experts, especially because the rise is being driven largely by private hospitals, where more than half of all births are now taking place through surgery.

What Is a C-Section?

A Caesarean section is a surgical procedure in which a baby is delivered through an incision made in the mother's abdomen and uterus.

Doctors usually recommend a C-section when a normal vaginal delivery may pose risks to the mother or baby. Common reasons include complications during labour, multiple pregnancies, abnormal positioning of the baby, or medical emergencies.

While C-sections can save lives when medically necessary, health experts warn that unnecessary surgeries may expose mothers and babies to avoidable health risks.

India's C-Section Rate Continues to Rise

The latest survey reveals that India's overall C-section rate has increased considerably over the last few years.

Today, more than one in every four babies born in the country is delivered through surgery. This trend places India well above the level suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has stated that population-level C-section rates above 10-15% are unlikely to provide additional health benefits.

The growing numbers suggest that factors beyond medical necessity may be contributing to the rise.

Private Hospitals Driving the Surge

One of the most striking findings in the survey is the huge gap between private and government healthcare facilities.

In private hospitals, 54.1% of all deliveries are now conducted through C-sections. This means that more than every second birth in the private sector involves surgery.

In comparison, public hospitals reported a much lower C-section rate of 16.9%.

The difference has raised concerns among public health experts, who have repeatedly called for greater monitoring and auditing of delivery practices in private healthcare institutions.

Many experts argue that such a large gap cannot be explained by medical factors alone and requires closer examination.

Urban India Sees Higher Surgical Births

The survey also highlights a clear urban-rural divide.
In urban areas, 40.5% of births are delivered through C-sections, while the figure in rural India stands at 22.8%.

Experts believe that greater access to private healthcare facilities, changing patient preferences, higher maternal age, and increased medical interventions during pregnancy may be contributing to the higher rates in cities.

Southern States Continue to Lead

Southern India continues to report the highest levels of Caesarean deliveries in the country.

Telangana has once again emerged as the state with the highest C-section rate, with an astonishing 62.2% of births taking place through surgery.

Andhra Pradesh follows closely with 52.2%, meaning more than half of all deliveries in the state are surgical.

Tamil Nadu recorded a rate of 46.9%, while Karnataka saw one of the sharpest increases nationwide, reaching 45.7%. Kerala also reported a high rate of 41.3%.

The concentration of high C-section rates in southern states has attracted attention from health researchers, who are trying to understand the combination of medical, social and institutional factors behind the trend.

Why Are Health Experts Concerned?

Doctors stress that C-sections are often necessary and life-saving when complications arise. However, unnecessary surgical deliveries can carry additional risks.

Compared to normal childbirth, C-sections generally involve longer recovery periods, higher medical costs, increased chances of infection, and greater risks in future pregnancies.

For newborns, unnecessary early surgical deliveries may sometimes affect breathing and other health outcomes.

Because of these concerns, health experts argue that C-sections should be performed based on medical need rather than convenience or financial incentives.

A Positive Sign Hidden in the Data

Despite concerns about rising surgical deliveries, the survey also contains encouraging news. Institutional births in India have continued to increase, reaching 90.6%. This means more women are delivering their babies in hospitals and healthcare facilities rather than at home.

The survey also found that 91.3% of deliveries were attended by skilled health personnel, reflecting improvements in maternal healthcare access across the country.
These achievements have contributed to better maternal and child health outcomes over the years.

The Debate Is Likely to Continue

The latest NFHS findings are expected to reignite the debate around C-section practices in India.

While improved access to healthcare has helped more women deliver safely in hospitals, the rapid rise in surgical births-particularly in private hospitals-has raised important questions about whether all these procedures are medically necessary.

As policymakers, doctors and public health experts examine the latest data, the focus is likely to remain on ensuring that C-sections are used when needed while avoiding unnecessary surgeries that may place additional burdens on mothers and families.