INDIA'S declining fertility rates, once hailed as a success of family planning policies and socio-economic progress, are now the subject of renewed debate. Recent statements by the CMs of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu and the RSS chief underscore a pressing issue: the implications of India's declining fertility for economic growth and sustainability.
Despite achieving replacement-level fertility, India now faces the challenge of below-replacement fertility, which presents new socio-economic hurdles.
India's total fertility rate (TFR) fell to 2.0 in 2019-21, below the replacement threshold of 2.1. Urban areas report a TFR of 1.6, while rural areas remain at 2.1, with only five states—UP (2.3), Bihar (3.0), Jharkhand (2.3), Meghalaya (2.9), and Manipur (2.2)—exceeding this level. Equally important is the net reproduction rate (NRR), which for India is below 1. It suggests the total population will gradually decline as there aren't enough daughters being born to replace the current generation. Can India capitalize on this change for sustainable development, or does it signal an impending crisis?
India has long been seen as poised to benefit from a demographic dividend—a youthful working-age population that could drive economic growth. However, this is contingent on policies that translate a large working-age population into actual economic participation. India's persistently low labour force participation rates pose a significant challenge. So, can India fully harness its demographic dividend when a substantial portion of its population remains economically inactive or underemployed?
This story is from the January 03, 2025 edition of The New Indian Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 03, 2025 edition of The New Indian Express.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Rajkumar Periasamy teams up with Bhushan Kumar
AMARAN filmmaker Rajkumar Periasamy and T-Series managing director and producer Bhushan Kumar, have announced a new project.
'Independent cinema doesn't have a support system in India'
Producers Guneet Monga and Achin Jain reflect on the shrinking space for indie projects in the country, the rising costs of filmmaking and distribution, and why Kill got a lukewarm response
GOOD BAD UGLY TO HIT THEATRES IN APRIL
ON Monday, the makers of ajith Kumar and adhik ravichandran’s Good Bad Ugly announced that the film is all set to hit the theatres on april 10.
First look out for GV Prakash's Kingston
ACTOR Sivakarthikeyan, on Monday, unveiled the first look poster of actor-music composer GV Prakash's Kingston.
BRING IN SOME BURSTS OF COLOUR
If you've visited a plant nursery recently, chances are you've spotted petunias everywhere. Colourful and vibrant, these stunning blooms are hard to resist.
Growing roots of an urban home
\"I USED to be like many urban people, dreaming of moving to the mountains, owning an acre of land, and growing food,\" muses Anita Tikoo, a landscape architect by profession, urban gardener by passion, and home chef and blogger by delight.
Saddled up for success
FOR most of us, the idea of riding a horse sounds like a fairy tale - galloping through fields, wind in our hair, like something out of a movie. But for the young riders at the Chennai Equitation Centre (CEC), this is reality.
A Legend Celebrated
Known for revolutionising Carnatic music by emphasising laya control and simplifying gamakas, Gudalur Narayanaswamy Balasubramaniam's (GNB) contributions to the art form have left an indelible mark.
Seeking the divine in steps
According to mythology, Lord Krishna is believed to have said that among the months He is Margazhi, indicating its auspiciousness.
Raising the bar pays off for hockey coach Sangwan
A SNUB can either break one down or spur the individual on to scale new heights. Unfortunately, a majority of people end up heartbroken. But a better future awaits those who manage to swallow the bitter pill. Haryana hockey coach Sandeep Sangwan falls under the second category.
