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A baby is born, but it is not clear whether it is male or female! 68 intersex newborns born in Mumbai municipal hospitals in eight years

Samira Vishwas | August 29, 2026 9:24 PM CST

of Mumbai Municipal Corporation Health According to the records of the department, the births of intersex babies have been reported in hospitals in the municipal area in the last few years. According to the data obtained from the Right to Information, a total of 68 newborn babies were born between 2019 and 2025. However, this reply also revealed that 24 ward-wise or religion-wise classification of these records is not available.(Photo courtesy – istock)

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RTI activist Chetan Kothari had sought year-wise, 24-ward-wise and religion-wise information on the births of intersex newborns from 2021 to 2026 from the BMC's F/South division. The public health department of the municipal corporation has given the statistics according to the available records. Accordingly, a total of 46 births were recorded in 2019, 21 in 2020, 6 in 2021 and 6 in 2021. After that there is no record in 2022 and 2023, the reply states. However, 22 more births have been recorded, 15 in 2024 and 7 in 2025. This brings the total number from 2019 to 2025 to 68.

Interestingly, while the application has sought 24 ward-wise and religion-wise details, the municipal corporation's reply has given only year-wise figures. Therefore, a question mark has arisen regarding the exact manner in which the municipality records the birth of intersex newborns and how much is its distribution in 24 wards.

Intrasex New Births : Statistics

2019: 21
2020: 19
2021: 6
2022: 0
2023: 0
2024: 15
2025: 7

Pointers:

Highest Record : 21 births in 2019
2022-23 : No birth recorded
2024-25 : A total of 22 births recorded

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'If there are some biological changes or deficiencies in the process of sexual development during the growth of the fetus, the structure of the genitals or sexual characteristics of the baby may differ from the usual male or female classification. Such a condition is called intersex. However, there is no single reason behind this. Various factors such as chromosomes, hormones and the process of sexual development in the fetus may be involved. Therefore, being intersex is not anyone's fault, it is an innate biological condition, informs Dr. Rajat Kapoor, Department of Plastic Surgery, J. J. The hospital has given.