Data are presented on life expectancy by sex for India and its constituent states for 1976-1980 using data from the Sample Registration System.  "There is a wide variation among states in the expectation of life at birth.  Uttar Pradesh has the lowest and Kerala has the highest expectation of life at birth.  Within a state, the expectation of life at birth is higher for urban areas than for rural areas.  Also the male expectation of life at birth is generally higher than female expectation in rural areas.  However, the pattern is reversed in urban areas."