NEWS: India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to 2.0, falling below the replacement level of 2.1à Indicating population stabilization but raising concerns about ageing and future workforce availability.

About TFR

• Total Fertility Rate (TFR)à Average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years (15–49 years).
• Replacement Levelà TFR of 2.1, at which a population replaces itself without migration.
• TFR above 2.1 indicates population growth; below 2.1 suggests population ageing and eventual decline.

India's Current Scenario

• National TFR: 2.0.
• Urban TFR: 1.6; Rural TFR remains near replacement level.
• 31 out of 36 States/UTs have TFR below 2.1.
• Lowest TFR: Andaman and Nicobar Islands (0.9).
• Highest TFR: Bihar (2.7).

Reasons for Declining TFR

• Rising female education, employment, and delayed marriages.
• Improved maternal and child healthcare, reducing infant mortality.
• Urbanization and higher costs of education, healthcare, and housing.
• Family planning initiatives such as Mission Parivar Vikas.

Key Implications

• Rapid growth of elderly population and higher dependency ratio.
• Labour shortages in low-fertility southern states and migration pressures from northern states.
• Possible federal tensions over future parliamentary seat redistribution and resource allocation.
• Potential increase in women's workforce participation if supported by childcare and social infrastructure.

Suggested Measures

• Universal affordable childcare and parental support policies.
• Fertility incentives in low-fertility states.
• Regulation of education, healthcare, and housing costs.
• Removal of punitive two-child norms in government jobs and local elections