Govt. proposal in 2024 for a panel on ‘demographic challenges’ never took off , Pg10

Key Highlights:

• In February 2024, a committee to address challenges from population growth was proposed but never formed.
• On Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi announced a High-Powered Demography Mission to address demographic changes.
• The last Census was conducted in 2011, with the next one expected in 2027.
• The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India was 2.0 in 2021, with Bihar having the highest (3.0) and Delhi and West Bengal the lowest (1.4).

Detailed Insights:

• A committee proposed in the Interim Budget 2024 by the Finance Minister to examine challenges of fast population growth was never notified.
• PM Modi stated that demographic changes are occurring as part of a conspiracy, necessitating the Demography Mission to address the looming crisis.
• Security agencies have raised concerns about demographic changes in border districts with Nepal and Bangladesh, potentially impacting national security.
• Research papers and reports, including those from the Intelligence Bureau, have highlighted demographic shifts using data from various surveys and voter lists.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Demography: The study of human populations, including their size, composition, distribution, and changes over time.
• Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years.
• Census: A complete enumeration of a population, collecting data on demographics, socio-economic status, and other characteristics.