Karnataka has recorded the sharpest decline in reported spousal violence among all Indian states, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) fact sheet.

The percentage of ever-married women reporting spousal violence in the state dropped from 44.4% in NFHS-5 (2019-21) to 14.1% in NFHS-6 (2023-24), marking a decline of more than 30 percentage points.

Dramatic shift from previous survey

The latest findings represent a remarkable turnaround for Karnataka. In NFHS-5, the state had recorded the highest prevalence of spousal violence in the country, ahead of states such as Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Chhattisgarh.

In NFHS-6, Karnataka now falls closer to the national average and reports significantly lower rates than several other states. Bihar recorded 36.1%, Telangana 30.8% and Tamil Nadu 28.5% in the latest survey.

Nationally, the prevalence of spousal violence declined from 29.2% to 22.3%.

Experts cite social progress

Researchers and social scientists attribute the improvement to a combination of factors, including declining child marriage rates, improved access to education, greater financial inclusion and stronger participation of women in household decision-making.

Experts suggest that long-term empowerment measures may have contributed to creating safer and more equitable family environments.

Questions remain over scale of decline

While the improvement has been welcomed, experts note that a decline of more than 30 percentage points within a single survey cycle is unusual and warrants closer examination.

Comparisons between NFHS-5 and NFHS-6 indicate that the survey questions and methodology related to spousal violence remained largely unchanged, suggesting that the change is unlikely to be the result of questionnaire modifications alone.

Researchers believe further insights may emerge once the detailed Karnataka NFHS-6 report is released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

Hope alongside caution

Despite questions surrounding the magnitude of the decline, experts agree that the broader national trend points towards a reduction in domestic violence.

The findings offer reason for optimism while also underscoring the need for continued efforts to strengthen women’s safety, empowerment and access to support systems across the state.