General Studies Paper 1 — Population and Development | Source: The Hindu

1. What happened

The Office of the Registrar General of India released the Sample Registration System Bulletin 2024. The data shows India’s birth rate and infant death rate have both fallen sharply over the last ten years — a sign of real progress. But big gaps between rural and urban areas, and between states, still remain a serious concern.

2. Key numbers — what changed in 10 years

Note : A Total Fertility Rate below 2.1 means Indian women are having fewer than 2 children on average — a historic milestone. Population will eventually stabilise on its own.

3. State-wise picture

• Highest birth rate: Bihar — 26.8 (very high, still in early stage of transition)
• Lowest birth rate: Andaman and Nicobar Islands — 9.9
• Highest Infant Mortality Rate: Chhattisgarh — 36 (1 in every 28 children born here dies before age 1)
• Lowest Infant Mortality Rate: Manipur — 2 (exceptional performance)
• Kerala — Infant Mortality Rate of 8, lowest among major states; Natural Growth Rate of just 3.9 — near stabilisation
• Tamil Nadu — Infant Mortality Rate of 11, among the best-performing large states

4. Challenges still ahead

• Rural Infant Mortality Rate (27) is still 59% higher than urban (17) — the gap is unacceptably wide
• India’s national Infant Mortality Rate is 24 — still above the Sustainable Development Goal target of 12 per 1,000 live births by 2030
• High-fertility states like Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh continue to pull down national averages
• Urban death rate rose slightly — likely due to lifestyle diseases and an ageing urban population

5. Value box — key terms, bodies and programmes

• Sample Registration System: Run by the Office of the Registrar General of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Continuous local recording by field workers, plus independent checks every six months — to give annual data on births, deaths, and infant mortality.
• Infant Mortality Rate: Number of children dying before completing one year of age, per 1,000 live births. 
• National Health Mission (2005): Covers rural and urban health. Includes Accredited Social Health Activist workers, Janani Suraksha Yojana for safe delivery, and mother-child health services.
• Mission Parivar Vikas (2017): Targets 146 high-fertility districts across 7 states — Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Assam — to bring Total Fertility Rate to replacement level.
• LaQshya Programme: Focuses on improving quality of care in labour rooms and maternity operation theatres in government hospitals.

Q.4. Consider the following statements based on the Sample Registration System Bulletin 2024:

1. India’s Total Fertility Rate is currently above the replacement level of 2.1, indicating that the population is still growing rapidly.
2. Among all major states, Kerala has the lowest Infant Mortality Rate, while Chhattisgarh has the highest.
3. The Sample Registration System is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Correct answer

(b) 2 and 3 only