Demographic Profile of IndiaCHAPTER 1

Total population of India according to latest survey (census 2001) was projected to be 1028.7 million. India at present is in late expanding phase of demographic cycle, with high birth rate i.e. 23.5 per thousand in 2006 and low death rate of 7.5 per thousand population in 2006, resulting in high population growth rate. Its current population growth is worrisome and enough to neutralize efforts taken to conserve resources and environment.

The age composition of India's population is changing with time. The population below 15 years, currently 35% is projected to decline to 28% by year 2016. Population in age group 15-59 years, currently 58% is projected to rise to nearly 64% and the population in the age group of 60 plus year is projected to increase to nearly 9% by 2016 from current 7%. These changes are to be taken into consideration while policy making.

India has 29 states, 8 union territories, 593 districts and approximately 600,000 villages. There are striking demographic diversities among different states of India. At least 9 states (Goa, Nagaland, Delhi, Kerala, Pondichery , Andaman and Nicobar Icelands, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, and Mizoram) have already achieved total fertility rate (TFR) of replacement level. However, at least 12 states and Union Territories have TFR over 3.0, which includes five states known as Empowered action group (EAG) states. These EAG states, earlier referred as BIMARU states, include Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Orrisa, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, These 5 states currently constitute 44% of total Indian population and projected to contribute to 48% of total population by 2016. Demographic trends in these states will determine the time and size of population at which India would achieve population stabilization.

Sex ratio (number of females per 1000 males) of India has been steadily declining from year 1901 to 1991; it has declined from 972 to 927. The skewed sex ratio overall reflects poor societal status of females and is perceived to be a manifestation of female feticide and infanticide as well as higher mortality rates. According to census 2001, India's sex ratio is 933 with sex ratio in rural communities being higher i.e. 946 than in urban communities i.e. 900. Kerala is the state with the highest sex ratio of 1058 whereas state of Haryana had the lowest ratio of 861 despite high income levels.

Maternal mortality ratio (MMR), which is defined as number of maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, is unacceptably high, 408 per 100,000 live births, (1997) in India. MMR is the lowest in Kerala, 87 per 100,000 live births whereas it is more than 450 per 100,000 live births for 5 EAG states namely Bihar—451, Madhya Pradesh—498, Rajasthan—607, Uttar Pradesh—707, and Orrisa—739.

Infant mortality rate (IMR) has decreased from 146 per 1000 live births in 1951 to 72 per 1000 live births in 1997. However, there are wide inter-state differences in IMR. It is the lowest in Kerala with IMR of 16, less than 50 for other states with TFR of replacement level and more than 85 for the 5 EAG states. Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) i.e. infant deaths below 28 days of life constitutes approximately two-thirds of total infant mortality. While there has been impressive decline in overall IMR largely due to reduction in postneonatal mortality rate, the decline in NMR has been negligible.

There is a growing urbanization in India, with increase in urban population from 15% in 1901 to 26% in 1991. It is projected that in next few decades urbanization would increase to such an extent that rural majority will turn into minority and it would be a social crisis which would ultimately impair quality of life of its people.

The 2005-2006 National Family Health Survey (NFHS 3) provides the latest information on population from India and its 29 states. The survey is based on sample of household which is representative at national and state level. The survey revealed increasing urbanization with 32.6% urban and 67.4% rural population. TFR though showing favorable trend, is still much higher than replacement level i.e. 2.7. Only 56% of currently married women in 15-49 years age are practicing some form of contraception i.e. couple protection rate of 56%. Though 77% of women have sought for any form of antenatal care, only 41% of deliveries were institutional. The present infant mortality rate is 57 per 1000 live births which is much higher than the projected IMR of less than 30, to be achieved by National Population Policy (NPP) 2000. Only 44% of children in age group 2-23 months are receiving coverage for all recommended vaccines.

Unmet need of contraception is defined as the gap between women's reproductive intention and their contraceptive behaviors as indicated through answers to questions administered to them in well designed surveys. In other words, it is the percentage of married women who do not want children anymore or want to wait before having another child but do not use any contraceptive method. In India, NFHS surveys have shown a steady decline in the unmet need for family planning −19.5% in the year 92-93 (NFHS 1), 15.8% in the year 98-99 (NFHS 2), and 13.2% in the year 2005-06 (NFHS 3). According to NFHS 3 survey unmet need for spacing is 6.3% and for limiting family is 6.8%. Unmet need is highest in Bihar and UP. With current Indian population of 1028 million, it is estimated that almost 40 million married women have unmet need for contraception. Though percentage of unmet need of women has declined over the years, total number is much larger and if these women would be using any form of contraception it would have resulted in a definite impact on TFR.

In conclusion, India faces huge challenges in terms of rapidly growing population, low literacy, unfavorable sex ratio, high mortality indices of females and children. There is a huge disparity between states. The recent economic developments have not manifested as improved quality of life for a large section of the society.

It was revised in 1983 with the goal of achieving TFR at replacement level by year 2000. Inspite of all efforts India's population is alarmingly increasing and on 11th may 2000, it has projected to have crossed 1 billion.

The NPP has been reformulated in 2000 with following objectives:

The NPP 2000 stresses upon the commitment of government towards voluntary and informed choices and consent of people while availing reproductive health care services, and continuation of target free approach.

In order to achieve these objectives following national demographic goals to be achieved by 2010 have been formulated:

Twelve strategic themes have been identified in order to achieve national demographic goals for 2010: