- West Bengal's Caesarean section (C-section) rate has surged to nearly 1 in 2 births, far exceeding the WHO recommended threshold of 10-15%. - Over-medicalisation of childbirth, private healthcare incentives, and lack of adequate monitoring contribute to the high rate of unnecessary C-sections. - Excessive reliance on C-sections poses maternal and neonatal health risks, highlighting systemic flaws in public and private healthcare delivery. - There is a critical need for strict audits, ethical medical practices, and strengthening public healthcare infrastructure at the grassroots level. - **Caesarean section (C-section):** A surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus, essential when vaginal delivery poses risks, but increasingly driven by over-medicalization and commercial interests. - **World Health Organization (WHO):** The specialized United Nations agency responsible for international public health, which established benchmark guidelines indicating that ideal population-level C-section rates range between 10% and 15%. - **Maternal health audits:** Systematic clinical reviews of surgical birth indications and practices conducted in healthcare facilities to curb unnecessary procedures, monitor trends, and ensure rational obstetric care. **Introduction** The article examines the alarming rise of Caesarean section (C-section) rates in West Bengal, where nearly half of all births are now delivered via C-section. It analyzes the socio-medical drivers behind this trend, including the commercialization of healthcare and over-medicalisation, and stresses the urgent need for regulatory checks, maternal health audits, and robust public health interventions. **Core Issue and Detailed Points** - West Bengal's Caesarean section (C-section) rate has surged to nearly 1 in 2 births, far exceeding the WHO recommended threshold of 10-15%. - Over-medicalisation of childbirth, private healthcare incentives, and lack of adequate monitoring contribute to the high rate of unnecessary C-sections. - Excessive reliance on C-sections poses maternal and neonatal health risks, highlighting systemic flaws in public and private healthcare delivery. - There is a critical need for strict audits, ethical medical practices, and strengthening public healthcare infrastructure at the grassroots level. **Key Statutory Bodies, Acts & Concepts** - **Caesarean section (C-section):** A surgical procedure used to deliver a baby through incisions in the abdomen and uterus, essential when vaginal delivery poses risks, but increasingly driven by over-medicalization and commercial interests. - **World Health Organization (WHO):** The specialized United Nations agency responsible for international public health, which established benchmark guidelines indicating that ideal population-level C-section rates range between 10% and 15%. - **Maternal health audits:** Systematic clinical reviews of surgical birth indications and practices conducted in healthcare facilities to curb unnecessary procedures, monitor trends, and ensure rational obstetric care.