`color{blue} ul(mathtt ("Amniocentesis"))`: A foetal sex determination test based on the chromosomal pattern in the amniotic fluid surrounding the developing embryo.


`color{green} ✍️ color{green} mathbf("KEY CONCEPT")`

● `color{Violet}"Successful implementation"` of various action plans to attain `color{Violet}"reproductive health"` requires strong infrastructural facilities, professional expertise and material support.

● These are essential to provide `color{Violet}"medical assistance"` and care to people in `color{Violet}"reproduction-related problems"` like pregnancy, delivery, STDs, abortions, contraception, menstrual problems, infertility, etc.

● Implementation of `color{Violet}"better techniques"` and `color{Violet}"new strategies"` from time to time is also required to provide more efficient care and assistance to people.

● `color{Violet}"Statutory ban"` on `color{Violet}"amniocentesis"` for sex-determination to legally check increasing `color{Violet}"female foeticides"`, massive child immunisation, etc., are some programmes that are carried out.



● Research on various `color{Violet}"reproduction-related areas"` are encouraged and supported by governmental and non-governmental agencies to find out `color{Violet}"new methods"` and/or to improve upon the existing ones.

`color{Brown}"E.g"`.: `color{Violet}"Saheli"`–a new `color{Violet}"oral contraceptive"` for the females–was developed by scientists at `color{Violet}"Central Drug"` `color{Violet}"Research Institute"` (CDRI) in Lucknow, India.

● Thus improved reproductive health of the society is indicated by:
`star` `color{Violet}"Better awareness"` about sex related matters.

`star` Increased number of `color{Violet}"medically assisted deliveries"` and better `color{Violet}"post-natal care"` leading to decreased maternal and infant mortality rates.

`star` Increased number of couples with `color{Violet}"small families"`.

`star` Better detection and cure of `color{Violet}"STDs"`.

`star` Overall increased `color{Violet}"medical facilities"` for all sex-related problems, etc.

● In the last century an `color{Violet}"all-round development"` in various fields significantly improved the `color{Violet}"quality of life"` of the people.

● However, increased health facilities along with better living conditions had an explosive impact on the `color{Violet}"growth of population"`.



● The world population which was around `color{Violet}"2 billion in 1900"` rocketed to about `color{Violet}"6 billion by 2000"`.

● A similar trend was observed in `color{Violet}"India"` too.



● India’s population which was approximately `color{Violet}"350 million"` at the time of independence reached close to the billion mark by 2000 and crossed `color{Violet}"1 billion"` in May 2000.

● That translates to, `color{Violet}"every sixth person"` in the world being an `color{Violet}"Indian"`.

● A rapid decline in death rate, `color{Violet}"maternal mortality rate"` (MMR) and `color{Violet}"infant mortality rate"` (IMR) as well as an increase in number of people in reproducible age are probable reasons for this.

● Though the `color{Violet}"RCH programmes"` brought down the population growth rate, it was only marginal.

● According to the `color{Violet}"2001 census"` report, the population growth rate was still around `color{Violet}"1.7 per cent"`, i.e., 17/1000/year, a rate at which India’s population could double in 33 years.

● Such an `color{Violet}"alarming growth rate"` could lead to an absolute `color{Violet}"scarcity"` of even the basic requirements, i.e., food, shelter and clothing, in spite of significant progress made in those areas.

● Therefore, the government was forced to take up `color{Violet}"serious measures"` to check this population growth rate.