The correct answer is: a) Significantly lower than the national average.
The sex ratio in Andhra Pradesh is 988 females per 1000 males, which is significantly lower than the national average of 940 females per 1000 males. This means that there are 12 fewer females for every 1000 males in Andhra Pradesh.
There are a number of factors that contribute to the low sex ratio in Andhra Pradesh, including female infanticide, sex-selective abortion, and early marriage. Female infanticide is the practice of killing newborn girls, and sex-selective abortion is the practice of aborting female fetuses. Early marriage is the practice of marrying girls at a young age, which can lead to health problems and social isolation.
The low sex ratio in Andhra Pradesh has a number of negative consequences, including a shortage of women in the workforce, an increase in crime, and a decline in the quality of life. The government of Andhra Pradesh has taken a number of steps to address the issue of the low sex ratio, including providing financial incentives for families to have more girls, and increasing awareness of the issue. However, more needs to be done to address this serious problem.
Option b) is incorrect because the sex ratio in Andhra Pradesh is not slightly lower than the national average. Option c) is incorrect because the sex ratio in Andhra Pradesh is not approximately the same as the national average. Option d) is incorrect because the sex ratio in Andhra Pradesh is not higher than the national average.