Delimitation has triggered justifiable apprehensions - specifically from the southern states – about inequitable representation in Parliament and the possible hegemony of the North in terms of numerical strength and policy issues, in both Lok Sabha and consequently Rajya Sabha. The angst against delimitation was also inevitable, since the southern states which had deployed dedicated family planning measures to reduce the population, is ironically countering the prospect of pruned numbers in Parliament. But, incentivizing and asking the populace to “go forth and multiply” is illogical, irrational and definitely not the panacea for the negatively impacted states. Such paranoiac policies will only prove to be counterproductive, and a deterrent to development. The proposal by certain asinine and brain-faded political honchos to promote prolific production through financial incentives will derail population control objectives.
Of course, such disastrous decisions do not impact these political proponents who have accumulated huge wealth and ensured security for their own families and generations to come. At a humungous 147 crore, India’s populace - specifically in the rural areas - is deprived of even the basic essentials and livelihood options for dignified living. According to a World Bank report, 5.3% of India population is below the extreme poverty line threshold of $3 per day (PPP). In other words, one in twenty Indians live in extreme poverty. In India national currency, the $3 (PPP) per day threshold corresponds to ₹60 per person per day. The Country's fiscal resources and social sector infrastructure - comprising health, education, housing, water etc., is squealing and cracking under the herculean burden of incessant demands of increasing populations. The incapability of the government in preventing the widening chasm between demand and supply is reflected in its declining allocations for Social Sector. The expenditure on this sector has dived from 30% of the total Central Budget in 2020-2021 to 17% in 2025-2026. The percentage of expenditure vis-a-vis GDP has also more than halved from 5.3% to 2.3%, during the same period.
The country’s rural healthcare sector continues to present a narrative of neglect and deficiencies of infrastructure and services. For Patients in rural areas. the long and arduous trek to the nearest healthcare facility proves to be futile due to dearth of treatment infrastructure. The rural areas will encounter multi-dimensional problems if such illogical and nonsensical policies are implemented as a consequence of population boom. The increased populations have to contend with status quo ante social sector infrastructure and food insecurity. India's ruling political establishments have proved to be incompetent and incapable of solving the innumerable problems of existing populations – specifically the impoverished and economically marginalized. So how are they going to ensure security and salvage livelihood sources for the increasing numbers, from the totally stressed-out resources and infrastructure? Resort to unwieldy borrowings and enforce tax burdens on the people of the country? According to official sources, India’s total debts and liabilities as of 2025-26 was at 218 lakh crore, of which, internal commitments constituted a whopping Rs. 190 lakh crore and external debts were at around Rs.7 Lakh crore. The Centre’s revenues from direct and indirect taxes were around 44.04 lakh crore.
India’s population is on a de-growth mode and heading towards controllable state from 2.15% in 1987 1.16% in 2015, 1.04% in 2020. According to projections the growth rate will decline to 0.75 in 2030 ,0.45% in 2040. The fertility rate is also on a declining trend. It is unfortunate that India policy making processes are dominated by myopic politicos with regressive mindsets who conceive and implement socially and economically disruptive and destructive schemes.