General Studies Paper-3 Context: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister pointed to a declining fertility rate in southern states, which has dropped to 1.6—well below the national average of 2.1. Trends in Southern India Population Declining Fertility Rates: Southern Indian states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala have already reached or are nearing replacement-level fertility (2.1 children per woman). For instance: Andhra Pradesh achieved this in 2004. Kerala reached this level as early as 1988. These states have significantly lower fertility rates compared to Northern India, contributing to slower population growth. Aging Population: With lower fertility rates and increasing life expectancy,....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context: The ageing phenomenon is the most notable experience of the 21st century with remarkable improvement in human longevity complemented by the lowest levels of reproduction. About the Ageing Population in India India is experiencing a significant demographic shift, with its elderly population projected to double by 2050. The current elderly population of 153 million (aged 60 and above) is expected to reach a staggering 347 million by 2050. According to the United Nations Population Fund’s India Ageing Report 2023, the percentage of the elderly population in India is estimated to grow from 10.5% in 2022....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context Article unveils critical Insights into Elderly Care in India. About The world’s population is living longer and growing older. Embracing and planning for this massive demographic transition is one of the greatest social challenges of the 21st century. Data Analysis India is moving towards a future where the elderly will make up a significant proportion of society, primarily due to advances in health care and increased life expectancy. The current elderly population of 153 million (aged 60 and above) is expected to reach a staggering 347 million by 2050. According to Census 2011, India has....Read More

General Studies Paper -3 Context: According to a recent report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), India’s population is estimated to have reached 1.44 billion, with 24% in the 0-14 age bracket. About The UNFPA’s State of World Population – 2024 report, titled ‘Interwoven Lives, Threads of Hope: Ending Inequalities in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights’, revealed that India’s population is estimated to double in 77 years. India leads globally with an estimated population of 1.44 billion, followed by China at 1.425 billion. India’s population was recorded at 1.21 billion during the last census, conducted in 2011. Demographic....Read More

General Studies Paper 1 Context: The State of World Population Report, 2023 by the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) was recently released. About the Report The State of World Population report is UNFPA’s annual flagship publication. It has been published yearly since 1978. It shines a light on emerging issues in the field of sexual and reproductive health and rights, bringing them into the mainstream and exploring the challenges and opportunities they present for international development. Report highlights Population data: India Overtaking China: India is set to overtake China to become the world’s most populous country by the middle of 2023, according to data released....Read More

General Studies Paper 1 Context: Recently, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation has released Women and Men in India 2022 report. What are the Findings of the Report? Sex Ratio: The sex ratio  at birth went up by three points to 907 in 2018-20 from 904 in 2017-19. India’s sex ratio (females per 1,000 males) is expected to improve to952 by 2036, up significantly from 943 in 2011. Labour Force Participation: India’s Labour Force Participation Rate for those above 15 years of age has been on the rise since 2017-2018. However, women are severely lagging behind The rate was 77.2 for....Read More

General Studies Paper 1 Context: Population growth is a function of fertility and life expectancy. India had about 1.38 billion (138 crore) people in 2020. Two recent studies estimate the country’s population to peak at 1. 5-1. 6 billion somewhere between 2040 and 2048. India’s population has been on a decline,and several figures point in this direction. Every year since 2003 the number of live births has been falling consistently. Fertility rate(average number of children born to a woman) came down to 2 – well below the world average in 2019. It took only 14 years for the fertility rate to fall by 50% (from 3....Read More