Population Foundation of India: India’s Population Not a Crisis
India, with a population exceeding 1.46 billion, is now the most populous country in the world. However, this should not be seen as a crisis, according to Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India. She emphasised that the country is at a crucial demographic crossroads that demands smart, inclusive, and rights-based policy decisions.
Rights, Not Restrictions
Muttreja stressed that population concerns should not be framed in terms of control or collapse. Instead, the focus must be on providing people with access to education, healthcare, and choices in family planning. She underlined that current discussions must move beyond fear-based narratives and promote equity, dignity, and human rights.
She also highlighted the need for expanding access to a full range of contraceptive options, encouraging male participation, and moving away from an over-reliance on female sterilisation.
Three Urgent Policy Needs
- Wider Family Planning Access: Policies should ensure modern contraceptives are easily available and that both men and women are part of the reproductive health conversation.
- Youth Investment: With over 250 million young people, India needs urgent improvements in skill-building, education, and mental health infrastructure to harness its demographic dividend.
- Preparing for an Ageing Population: With fertility rates now around 2.0, below the replacement level, India must plan for increasing elderly care needs in the coming decades—pensions, healthcare, and infrastructure must adapt accordingly.
Policy Must Reflect Regional Realities
States like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh still experience high fertility, while Kerala and Tamil Nadu face population ageing. Muttreja called for policy flexibility that considers these regional differences. She said that India’s future depends on how it treats its people, not just how many it has.
With informed, inclusive action, she believes India can turn this demographic moment into a platform for equitable growth, not a looming crisis.
