India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1, sparking a debate on demographic shifts and reproductive choices
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Health policy & public health· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1, sparking a debate on demographic shifts and reproductive choices.
Background
India's current TFR is 1.9 children per woman. The benchmark for population sustainability (replacement level) is 2.1. Factors include increased education, contraceptive access, and rising living costs.
Facts for Prelims
- FactIndia's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is currently 1.9 children per woman.
- FactThe replacement level fertility rate required for population sustainability is 2.1.
- S&TEgg freezing is a medical procedure used to preserve fertility for women delaying childbearing.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the socio-economic factors contributing to the decline in India's Total Fertility Rate and its implications for the country's demographic dividend.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Economic trade-off: Rising cost of living and career prioritization leading to delayed childbearing among urban youth.
- Healthcare access: Improved contraceptive availability and reproductive health awareness as drivers of fertility decline.
- Policy vacuum: Absence of a cohesive national policy to address sub-replacement fertility levels despite state-level incentives.
Keywords: Demographic Dividend · Replacement Level Fertility · Socio-economic Determinants · Population Sustainability · Reproductive Health
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