Iron in the Soul: Two-Child Norm in Population Policies Again

Abstract

In July 2021, Uttar Pradesh announced a population policy, Draft Uttar Pradesh Population Control, Stabilisation and Welfare Bill, 2021, that was astoundingly thoughtless, even as it was demographically unnecessary. That Assam and Uttar Pradesh have joined the long list of dismal states that advocate a stringent two-child norm in population policy is only reflective of how unthinking and thoughtless our policy planners are. They perhaps reflect carefully thought-out political strategies to weaponise demography, demonise Muslims, and consummate a Hindu vote bank? These policies ignore the fact that a sustained fertility decline is visible all over the country. Indeed the rate of decline of the fertility among Muslims is greater than among Hindus.