According to statistics, India is currently the second most populated country. It is expected to topple China, the top-ranked, by 2027. The total estimated population of India is 1.38 billion people, which is about 17% of the total world’s population. As per the last census conducted in 2011, the growing population can be advantageous to India with a proper structure as India possesses one of the youngest global populations with an average national age of approximately 29 years, while 41 per cent of our population is below 18 years of age. This implies that most Indians have a preponderance of their working years ahead of them. This population can add to nation-building and economy if provided with the right skills, education and employment. However, population increase or explosion has many downsides too. It can hinder the overall growth of a country. So let us further analyse whether population control is needed in India or not.
Recently, Union Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said a law for population control will be brought soon. The Union Minister for food processing industries was in Raipur to attend ‘Garib Kalyan Sammelan’ at ICAR-National Institute of Biotic Stress Management, Baronda. When asked by reporters about a law on population control, Patel said, “It will be brought soon, don’t worry. When such strong and big decisions have been taken then the rest too.”
Population dynamics can pose both challenges and opportunities to development efforts because even when one country may be struggling to ensure universal access to services due to rapid population growth, another may see the realisation of demographic dividend derived from the decline of fertility and mortality.
If demographic changes can be harnessed for success and sustainability of development strategies at the international, regional and national levels is determined by the implementation of effective population policies.Rapid population growth remains a concern for many countries primarily in the least developed countries while the more developed countries face issues like slower population growth, such as population aging and decline.
