Cesarean section (C-section) deliveries are no longer just emergency medical interventions in India; they are rapidly becoming the norm. A striking new report from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) highlights an unprecedented rise in surgical births across the country.

The data reveals that the national average for C-section deliveries has jumped from 21.5% to 27.5%. However, the numbers in specific states are staggering:

• Jammu and Kashmir: Leading the country with a massive 90% of all deliveries conducted via C-section.

• West Bengal: Close behind at 87.7%.

• Telangana: Reporting an alarming 84% surgical delivery rate.

This is a massive historical shift. In 2005–06, India’s national C-section rate sat at just 8.5%. It climbed to 17.2% in 2015–16, and the upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing down—even spreading into rural areas where women are now actively choosing hospitals over home births and requesting surgical deliveries.

Why Are C-Sections Increasing? Experts Explain

Leading gynecologists note that while advanced medical technologies should theoretically make natural births safer and more common, several modern lifestyle and psychological factors are driving surgical numbers up, especially in urban pockets.

1. Delayed Planned Pregnancies

With a growing focus on higher education, career stability, and financial security, many women are choosing to conceive later in life, often after the age of 35. Late-term pregnancies naturally carry a higher risk of complications—such as gestational diabetes or hypertension—making a scheduled C-section the safer, preferred medical route when delivery time arrives.

2. The Tokophobia Factor (Fear of Childbirth Pain)

A significant driving force behind elective C-sections is the profound anxiety surrounding labor pain. Many expectant mothers opt for surgery simply to bypass the unpredictable hours of natural labor. However, medical experts