Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Data from the 2020 Sample Registration Survey (SRS) shows that the birth rate in Odisha has been continuously dropping. In the Odisha Assembly on Monday, Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling provided this information in response to a query from Rajnagar BJD MLA Dhruba Charan Sahoo.
In 2020, the state’s birth rate was 17.7, which was far lower than the 19.5 national average. According to the Minister, Odisha has the 19th-highest birth rate out of the 29 states.
Minister Mahaling credited the decrease to the state’s successful family planning programs. He said that because of these continued efforts, the birth rate may drop much more in the years to come. The data supports national health and demographic objectives while highlighting the state’s emphasis on population management.
