Q1. India's demographics are an opportunity as well as a challenge to meet the Nation's Viksit Bharat goal. In light of the above, highlight the features and challenges of India's demographic landscape, and the rationale for setting up the Population Committee.

“India’s working-age population will reach nearly 1.04 billion by 2030, and the dependency ratio will fall to a historic low of 31.2%.”

This statistic captures the twin reality of India’s demographic landscape: an enormous opportunity to accelerate growth and a very narrow window of time to do so. To achieve the vision of a “Viksit Bharat” (Developed India) by 2047, India must leverage its demographic dividend while simultaneously addressing the challenges it brings. In this context, the call for a dedicated Population Committee becomes highly relevant.

Features of India’s Demographic Landscape

1. Large Working-Age Population

India has about 65-68% of its population in the 15-64 age group, a key feature of the demographic dividend. The median age is around 28–29 years, making India one of the youngest large populations globally.

This implies that if harnessed productively, India can benefit from high saving, investment and consumption growth.

Declining Fertility and Changing Age Structure

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has declined to around 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1. With fewer births and increasing longevity, population growth is slowing down, and a gradual transition to an ageing society is on the horizon. The dependency ratio is expected to be historically low by 2030 creating favourable conditions for economic growth.

Regional and Socio-Demographic Heterogeneity

• India’s demographic transition is uneven: some states have already reached low fertility and older age profiles, while others still have high TFR and younger populations.
• Haryana, for example, was reported in 2011 Census to have a population of ~25.35 million, literacy rate ~75.55 %.
• Migration, urbanisation, and internal mobility further complicate the demographic picture.

Urbanisation and Migration

• Rapid urban growth is underway, and India is expected to see half its population living in urban areas by mid-century.
• Internal migration flows impact regional labour markets, social services and infrastructure.

Challenges to Transforming Demographic Potential into Development

1. Employment and Skill Mismatch

• The World Bank warns that India may not be creating enough quality jobs to absorb its growing working-age population.
• Without adequate skill development and job creation, the demographic dividend may turn into a liability.

2. Human Capital Quality and Health

• Poor health outcomes, malnutrition, and inadequate education quality hinder productivity gains.
• As ageing sets in, health and social security burdens will increase.

3. Gender and Inclusion Issues

• Female labour force participation remains low.
• Gender imbalances at birth and skewed sex ratios at young ages (notably in some states) persist, affecting long-term social outcomes.

Regional Disparities

Some states have advanced in demographic transition; others lag. This creates uneven capacity to utilise the dividend.

Haryana, with relatively high density and growth, must manage urbanisation pressures and migration-driven demands for services.

Emerging Ageing Population Risk

The window for demographic dividend is finite: India must act quickly before the population structure ages and support ratios worsen.

Rationale for Setting Up the Population Committee

• A dedicated Population Committee is needed to provide strategic oversight, coordinate across ministries (health, education, labour, finance, urban development) and align population dynamics with national development goals.
  • It would help interpret demographic data, recommend policy for family planning, reproductive health, migration, labour force participation, especially in the context of the Viksit Bharat vision.
• Given the state-wise heterogeneity, the Committee can help tailor state-specific demographic strategies for example, handling growth in high-fertility states, or ageing in earlier transitioning ones.
• The Committee would also monitor emerging issues such as fertility below replacement level, urban migration, age structure changes, enabling proactive policy rather than reactive.

Such a mechanism is essential to ensure that India does not squander its demographic dividend but converts it into sustained economic and social gains.

Special Focus: Haryana Government Initiatives

• The Government of Haryana provides state-specific demographic data, such as a total child population (0-6 years) of 3,380,721 (male: 1,843,109; female: 1,537,612) as per 2011 Census.
• Haryana had enacted a law that barred persons with more than two children from contesting local body elections, indicating proactive population control policy.
• Campaigns like the “Daughter’s Nameplate Campaign” (Jind district) have addressed gender equity and sex-ratio issues, important for demographic balance.

India’s demographic profile young, large, and growing offers a once-in-a-century opportunity to accelerate growth and secure a Viksit Bharat 2047. At the same time, the window is finite, and risks of under-employment, regional lag, and ageing loom large.

A Population Committee can act as an institutional anchor to ensure that demographic trends are synchronised with policy across states, sectors and time. As Haryana’s initiatives demonstrate, state-level action aligned with national strategy will be a key determinant of success. The task is to act now, turn demographic promise into real progress, and avoid the peril of demographic regret.