The correct answer is: a) Lower than the national average.
The sex ratio in Bihar is 918 females per 1000 males, which is lower than the national average of 940 females per 1000 males. This means that there are fewer females than males in Bihar.
There are a number of reasons for this gender imbalance, including female infanticide, sex-selective abortion, and early marriage. Female infanticide is the practice of killing female babies at birth or shortly after. Sex-selective abortion is the practice of aborting a fetus based on its sex. Early marriage is the practice of marrying girls at a young age.
All of these practices contribute to the low sex ratio in Bihar. Female infanticide and sex-selective abortion are often carried out because families prefer to have sons. Early marriage is often carried out because families believe that it will protect girls from sexual violence.
The low sex ratio in Bihar has a number of negative consequences. It can lead to social isolation for women, as they may be seen as less valuable than men. It can also lead to a shortage of women in the workforce, which can impact the economy.
There are a number of things that can be done to address the low sex ratio in Bihar. These include raising awareness of the issue, providing support to families who have daughters, and enacting laws that protect women and girls.