Understanding the Population and Demographic Challenge

India's population is a complex issue with significant regional variations and political implications.

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aimed to reduce birth rates to stabilise the population at a level appropriate for supporting the nation's economic needs. The initiative was designed to align demographic growth with the sustainable requirements of the economy, reflecting a forward-thinking approach to population management during a critical period in the country's development.

The National Health Policy established in 1983 set an ambitious goal for India to achieve replacement TFR levels by 2000. This policy emphasised the importance of population control to ensure sustainable development. Fast forward to May 11, 2000, when India introduced its National Population Policy This forward-looking policy sought to comprehensively address the nation's reproductive and child health requirements while outlining a strategic plan to stabilise the population by 2045. Through a multifaceted approach, the policy aimed to promote health, empower families, and ensure a balanced demographic future.

In 2023, India officially surpassed China as the world's most populous nation, with the United Nations reporting a population of 1,425,775,850, determined through a combination of census data and analyses of birth and death rates. Projections indicate that India's population may peak at 1.7 billion by 2064. Approximately 86,000 children are born daily in India, compared to 49,400 in China, which implemented a stringent one-child policy in the 1980s.

Challenging the prevailing narrative, Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India (PFI), says, "India's population debate needs a shift from fear-mongering to empowering policies. The declining fertility rate is not a crisis but an opportunity to invest in health, education, and gender equality."