India, May 17 -- When N Chandrababu Naidu, the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, announced cash incentives for families if they have a third and a fourth baby, he argued the state's overall population is ageing as "young couples these days are not having enough children".

Data bears some of that out, but there's also a wider political play involved, as the timing suggests.

Naidu announced Rs.30,000 for families having a third child, and Rs.40,000 for a fourth, as part of the new Population Management Policy the TDP-led NDA government has been developing since early 2026.

That's in contrast to the two-child policy - 'Hum do, Hamare do' - promoted throughout India for decades.

The announcement, made at a public event in Narsannapeta, Sr...