Amid India’s demographic shift, opportunity for Bihar

I have written elsewhere that the future of Bihar lies in the hands of Biharis themselves. This belief is becoming stronger. In states such as Kerala, migration is circular. Workers return with savings, skills, and new ideas. Jobs left behind are filled by others. Bihar's experience is different — that of one-way migration. Talent leaves, but rarely returns.

- Madhavi Singh

This is now sharper than ever. Almost 73,000 workers from Bihar went abroad in 2023. Nearly one crore live in other states. Bihar bleeds human capital while its own economy stagnates, How do we build a system where Biharis go, learn, earn, and then bring back knowledge and investment?

The latest fertility data show rural fertility in India has fallen to the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. In urban areas, it has been below that mark for almost two decades. The clear trend means India's window toreap the demographic dividend is narrowing fast. When fertility falls below replacement, the workforce shrinks while the share of the elderly rises. India must invest more in skilling, total factor productivity, health, and education for expansion of growth.