Population Control

Published on 28 Jan 2025

According to UN estimates, India is presently the most populous country in the world with a population of over 1.42 billion. It is expected to reach 1.5 billion by 2030 and 1.64 billion in 2050. This increased population count may have a negative impact on the resources of the country and the society in general, thus raising the need for population control.

Need to adopt population control measures in India.

• Unemployment: A rapidly growing population can outpace job creation leading to high levels of unemployment and underemployment. This results in income inequality and a larger proportion of the population living in poverty.

• Example: Inequality in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra etc. are high as many people are unemployed.

• Resource depletion: Overpopulation is a direct cause of excessive resource exploitation, environmental degradation and deterioration.

• Example: According to WWF, by 2050, at least 30 cities in India will face severe water scarcity.

• Pollution: A growing population generates more waste, including municipal solid waste, industrial waste and electronic waste and improper disposal can result in pollution of air, soil and water.

• Example: Delhi, Patna, Muzaffarnagar, Noida are some populous cities featured in the world’s 20 most polluted cities.

• Spread of infectious diseases: Numerous infectious diseases have emerged as a result of concerns like urban overcrowding and environmental changes brought on by population growth.

• Example: Indian slum population are highly vulnerable to infectious diseases due to high population, congested housing, poor water and sanitation facilities.

• Climate change: Higher population levels contribute to increased emissions of greenhouse gases, exacerbating climate change and its associated effects.

• Example: Based on a study by Climate Central, high population cities like Bengaluru, Visakhapatnam and Thane have been classified as climate shift index level 5.

Challenges associated with population control 

• Cultural and social sensitivity: Cultural and social norms vary widely and implementing population control measures requires sensitivity to these differences.

• Example: In India, there still exist fundamentalist groups like the Roman Catholics that oppose the use of contraceptives as it is against the laws of nature.

• Ethical concerns: Balancing the need for population control with ethical considerations is challenging and coercive measures that infringe on individual rights can be ethically problematic and may face resistance from the public.

• Example: Ethical concerns regarding abortions result in unwanted pregnancies, thus increasing population.

• Economic factors: Economic challenges such as poverty and unemployment can contribute to higher birth rates.

• Example: According to IndiaSpend report, women in Bihar belonging to the lowest wealth quintile have a total fertility rate of 5.08, while women in the highest quintile have a fertility rate of 2.12.

• Lack of awareness: There is lack of education regarding the need to restrict population and on population control strategies, leading to unwanted pregnancies.

• Example: According to a study conducted in India, there were 70 unintended pregnancies per 1000 women aged between 15 to 49 years in India.

Way Forward

• Family planning education: Comprehensive sex education programs in schools and communities to raise awareness about family planning and contraception.

• Promote safe and legal abortion: Ensure quality abortions service is available to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies in India.

• Incentive mechanisms: Align certain non-essential government benefits with the size of the family, so as to nudge better family planning.

• Use of technology: Use data analytics to identify regions or communities with higher birth rates and tailor interventions accordingly. 

According to NFHS-5, India’s total fertility rate has declined below the replacement level, which shows the commitment of the public and government towards restricting the population growth.

Tags:
Social Justice

Keywords:
Population Control population Family planning Incentive

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 2

Topics:
Social Justice