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Editorials · 26 May 2026 · Social Justice & Development

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26 May 2026

GS-2Editorials26 May 2026thehindu.com

​From black to grey: on the Sample Registration System – Statistical Report, 2024

The article analyzes the Sample Registration System – Statistical Report, 2024, highlighting India's significant demographic shift. It notes a falling Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1, and a slowing population growth. While India still has a demographic dividend with a young population (median age 29.2), the report signals a transition towards an aging population and a shrinking workforce expansion. Factors like urbanization, education, contraception access, and improved healthcare contribute to these changes. The article also points out vast regional and rural/urban disparities in demographic indicators, particularly in child survival rates, necessitating targeted interventions and forward planning for a 'greying nation'.

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GS-2Editorials26 May 2026thehindu.com

​Baby bait: on the Andhra Pradesh government’s proposed incentives for families

The Andhra Pradesh government has proposed incentives for families to have three or more children, a departure from India's traditional family planning policies. This move is in response to the state's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropping to 1.5, well below the replacement rate of 2.1, and concerns about an aging population and a smaller future workforce. The proposed incentives include cash payments, free education, monthly support, enhanced 'Thalliki Vandanam' funding, longer maternity leave, and childcare support. The article critically analyzes these incentives, suggesting that one-time payments are unlikely to produce sustained increases in fertility and may disproportionately impact economically vulnerable families. It emphasizes the need for comprehensive social infrastructure, citing examples from France and Nordic states, and highlights potential conflicts with increasing women's labor force participation and long-term environmental concerns. The article also touches upon the constitutional issue of population-based delimitation.

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