The number of females per thousand males in a given area and at a specified time is called sex ratio. It is an important indicator of gender balance in the population. In India parents still prefer to have son rather than a daughter and it is clearly evident from day today media reports. This is due to social and cultural the reasons.

Indian states like Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, and Maharashtra have the lowest sex ratio.

The most probable reasons for preference of male child over female child maybe the following

1) Religion and cultural beliefs that a son is entitled to perform funeral and obeisance of his parents. In absence of son this right goes to next male heir but never to their daughters.

2) Ignorant parents assume that daughters have to leave their home after marriage and even their caste is changed on the day of marriage. However, sons live with them and share common food, house, customs and rituals. So they hope that son will look after them in old age.

3) People in Indian society having ignorant conservation attitude are still not ready to give equal status to daughter because they think that during old age they will be dependent on the son.

4) The main occupation of Indian society is agriculture. Villagers have a thinking that landed property cannot be given to girls because after marriage they will go to another village, town or city. Neither girl child can get her share of load nor can she take care of the land.