India, Feb. 9 -- The news that India has surpassed China as the world's most populous nation does sound ominous.

However, contrary to the widely held belief that India is experiencing an uncontrollable population explosion, recent data indicate that the country is facing a significant demographic shift characterised by a declining youth population and a rapidly ageing society.

Projections indicate that by 2050, the number of elderly individuals in India will nearly double. This shift, in which the elderly population is expected to surpass the number of children, poses an alarming challenge for the country's social support, healthcare, and economic infrastructure.

Based on the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) State of World Popula...