Politics · India Bureau
Supreme Court flags need to reassess two-child policy norms
India's top court has called for a comprehensive review of two-child policy provisions, citing the country's sharply declining fertility rate and emerging demographic challenges. The bench expressed concern over potential long-term consequences of an ageing population as birth rates continue to fall.
LSN India ·
The Supreme Court has initiated a significant discussion on India's population control measures, urging policymakers to reconsider two-child norms in light of shifting demographic realities. The court's intervention comes as India's fertility rate has declined to 1.9 in 2024, marking a substantial decrease from previous decades and approaching replacement-level fertility.
The bench raised concerns about the sustainability of current population-related policies against the backdrop of a rapidly ageing society. With fertility rates dropping significantly across urban and rural areas, the court indicated that policies framed during higher population growth periods may require fundamental reassessment to align with contemporary demographic trends.
The declining fertility rate reflects broader socioeconomic changes including increased female education, improved access to family planning, delayed marriages, and shifting preferences toward smaller families. However, the court's observations suggest that policymakers must now grapple with different challenges: an expanding elderly population, potential workforce shortages, and implications for pension and healthcare systems.
The Supreme Court's call for fresh examination of two-child policy provisions is likely to spur wider deliberation among government departments, demographers, and policymakers. The intervention highlights India's demographic transition from a high-fertility to a low-fertility society, requiring a comprehensive reorientation of policies that have traditionally focused on population control rather than population sustainability.