Using fixed effects model of pooled least squares for the last four decennial census data across fifteen major states in India; the paper examined the determinants of declining child sex ratio in India. The results suggest that the child sex ratio is inversely related to the spatial socio-economic characteristics, in particular, female literacy rate and female economic activity rate; with relatively higher elasticity coefficients for urban India. The spatial spillover effects associated with juvenile sex ratio is controlled in the models, however the spatial dependence of the phenomenon was found insignificant. The monotonic decline in the juvenile sex ratio over the last four decades despite the improving socioeconomic characteristics reinforces the existence of gender discriminatory practices which starts even before birth; which requires urgent attention of public policy, as improving literacy and economic value of woman is necessary but not sufficient for enhancing the relative life chances of girl child.