Dehradun, June 24 -- The Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, N Chandrababu Naidu, has surprised many with his request to families of his state to have more children, reversing his earlier stance on population control. He has announced financial incentives for those who have a third and fourth child. It is a recognition of the declining birth rates, particularly in South India. He fears that 21 percent of the state's population would be elderly by 2047. The financial and social implications of this can be seen by what is being experienced by Japan and many western countries.
Overall, India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has dropped decisively to 1.9, falling below the long-term replacement benchmark of 2.1. This historic milestone shifts the ec...