“Have Three Children”: RSS Chief’s Call and the Demographic Debate
In a speech marking the 100th anniversary of the RSS, chief Mohan Bhagwat urged families to have three children, arguing that India should keep its population “controlled, yet sufficient.” The remarks arrive just as India’s fertility rate drops below 2 children per woman, a modern low that aligns with global trends but has sparked debate on jobs, ageing, and social policy. Reuters The numbers behind the noise Recent estimates show India’s total fertility rate slipping under replacement level, with declines visible across communities, including Muslims. That may ease long-term population growth but raises fresh questions: can India’s economy create enough productive, high-skill jobs before the demographic dividend fades? And how does the state balance women’s workforce participation, childcare, and elder care as society ages? Reuters Why this call, why now? Proponents say a below-replacement TFR risks labour shortages in some […]