India’s population is set to make a new record. It is about to fall as its total fertility rate(TFR) or the average number of children born to a woman over her lifetime has dropped below for the first time and is now 2. It has dropped below replacement level
This new data revelation was revealed in the National Family Health Survey data for 2019-2021 on Wednesday, 24th of October 2021. The survey was done for phase-2 states along with all India surveyed. The (TFR) is a replacement level at which the population replaces itself every year. This year the value of TFR is 2.1 which is set to fall below replacement level.
The three major and populous states, Among larger states, Bihar (, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand have a TFR at 3.0, 2.4 and 2.7 respectively. The TFR of these big states is above the replacement level. In NFHS-3 in 2005-06, India’s TFR was 2.7. It went down to 2.2 by 2015-16. Currently, it is 2.0 on this year’s survey. Some of the most populous states, such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar in that order, have shown a significant decline in TFR. The recent activeness of the family planning department and the ministry of health has helped India’s overall rate fall below the replacement level. Rural TFR is above replacement level in States like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. In Meghalaya, Manipur, and Mizoram, the smaller states., The TFR is above replacement level
Phase-1 of the NFHS-5 survey was conducted from June 17, 2019-January 30, 2020 and phase-2 from January 2, 2020, to April 30, 2021. 22 states and UT’s we’re covered in phase 1 of the survey.14 states namely Arunachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, National Capital Territory of Delhi, Odisha, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and other Union Territories were surveyed in phase 2. Except for Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh, all other states surveyed have a TFR that is at or below the replacement level. We’re covered in the second phase of the survey. All States have been found below replacement level except Bihar and other UT’s.
The government-sponsored family planning programme was launched in 1952 in India to curb down population growth. It faced challenges in its initial years due to poor strategy. The rural women largely started using contraceptives. The choice of contraceptives for young couples was low. People were not educated enough to adapt to new contraceptive methods, and it led to a huge rise in population. It led to bombing populations. Due to advancements and the new introduction of methods, the population has been under control. The Officials of the Health Ministry say that the changes introduced over the years have led to improved results and a population decline. People should be aware of the choices and the global effect of family planning. India has been working for a long time on population control. India is the first country to launch a national-level family planning programme, The Centre, and the state has been putting combined efforts into solving the issue.
Among other countries, Nepal has the lowest fertility of 1.9. India and Bangladesh’s fertility rate is below (2). All geographic regions have achieved a replacement-level fertility rate of 2.1 or rates. Asia’s TFR is 2.15.
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