India's population might be stabilising, not exploding

According to the United Nations Population Fund, if a country’s fertility rate is lower than 2.1, the current generation is not producing enough children to replace itself, leading to a decline in the population.

The fifth National Family Health Survey (2019-2021) reported that the total fertility rate (TFR) reduced to 2 from 2.2 over the last five years. A change in the TFR is determined by progress or deterioration in family planning, fertility, age of marriage and education levels.

A woman needs to have 2.1 children to keep the balance of births and deaths in a country. Some states in India still have a TFR above 2.1 — Bihar (3), Meghalaya (2.9), Uttar Pradesh (2.4), Jharkhand (2.3) and Manipur (2.2). West Bengal and Maharashtra have the lowest fertility rates in the country at 1.6.

Has this changed India's ‘population explosion’ narrative forever? What will happen to India's demographic dividend? Watch the video to know more.