Source: The post fertility in Bihar remains high despite progress has been created, based on the article “Is Bihar’s high replacement rate a consequence of poverty?” published in “The Hindu” on 16 May 2025. Fertility in Bihar remains high despite progress
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper1-Society- population and associated issues.
Context: The Sample Registration System report (2021) showed India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at 2.0, with Bihar recording the highest TFR at 3.0. Despite falling poverty and improved social indicators, fertility in Bihar remains high. This raises concerns about the roles of culture, poverty, gender norms, and development.
For detailed information on Issue of fertility rate in India read this article here
High TFR in Bihar: A Persistent Challenge
- Fertility Trends in Bihar: Bihar’s TFR has stayed near 3.0 for 6–7 years. It is expected to reach the replacement level (2.1) only by 2039, making it the slowest state in India’s fertility transition.
- Infant Mortality and Social Indicators: Infant mortality in Bihar has dropped from 42 to 27 per 1,000 live births. Women’s education levels have also improved. Yet, TFR remains high, indicating that improvements in health and education have not lowered fertility.
- Cultural Norms and Fertility Preference: While poverty plays a role, cultural attitudes matter more. Only 49.6% of women in Bihar think two children are ideal, compared to 67% nationally. This shows a persistent cultural preference for larger families.
Economic and Urban-Rural Dimensions of Fertility
- Urban-Rural Fertility Gap: Nationally, the TFR gap between rural (2.2) and urban (1.6) areas is 0.6 points. In Bihar, rural TFR is 3.1 and urban is 2.3, a 0.8 point gap. This small difference hides the real concern: Bihar’s urban TFR is significantly above the national average.
- Conscious Fertility Choices in Cities: Urban areas usually reflect lower fertility due to education and services. But in Bihar, the high urban TFR points to conscious choices. Fertility stays high even with better contraception use and declining child mortality.
- Economic Structure and Family Size: Bihar’s low industrialisation and dependence on agriculture encourage large families for labour and income. The lack of jobs and high migration further reinforce the need for more children, especially sons.
Literacy, Gender Norms, and Household Dynamics
- Female Literacy and Fertility Link: Female literacy in Bihar was only 53% in 2011. Government schemes to promote girls’ education exist, but the link between higher education and lower fertility still needs stronger impact at scale.
- Son Preference and Family Size: Among families who want three children, 88.2% desire two sons. Since the chance of having two sons in a row is only 26.4%, many families end up with larger families unintentionally.
- Decision-Making Power of Women: Many educated women are first-generation learners, with limited exposure and low decision-making power. In several households, mother-in-laws control interactions with ASHA workers, limiting women’s reproductive autonomy.
Political and Policy Implications of Fertility Disparities
- TFR and Delimitation Debate: High-fertility States like Bihar, UP, MP, and Rajasthan now account for a larger population share. In the future, this may lead to parliamentary constituencies with 25–30 lakh voters, raising concerns about disproportionate representation.
- Risks of Unequal Representation: States with lower TFR may have fewer seats and resources, despite social progress. This could penalise successful States under the current allocation methods.
- Need for Policy Convergence: If fertility divergence continues, it may lead to political and democratic imbalances. Policymakers must work toward a converging fertility trend to avoid deepening regional inequalities.
Conclusion
Bihar’s high fertility is rooted in culture, economics, and social norms. Without addressing these deeply, demographic and political challenges will intensify. The issue needs urgent and inclusive attention.
Question for practice:
Examine the key social, economic, and cultural factors contributing to Bihar’s persistently high Total Fertility Rate despite improvements in health and education indicators.
