India’s Demographic Advantage and Challenges

Source: This article on India’s Demographic Advantage and Challenges  is based on article “ India’s asset-less, ageing population with poor health is a crisis in the making” published in The Indian Express on 17^th December 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS 3-  Indian Economy and issues relating to Planning, Mobilization of Resources, Growth, Development and Employment 

Context: The article critically examines India’s demographic situation, highlighting the gap between its potential demographic dividend and the challenges hindering its realization. India, currently at its demographic prime, has a substantial proportion of its population in the working-age group (15-59 years), which will continue for the next few decades. However, the article underscores that demographic advantage alone is not sufficient unless accompanied by the right policies and investments to ensure high productivity, education, skills, and health.

What is India’s demographic status, and what are the key challenges?

1. India is in its demographic prime, with 3% of its population aged 15-59 years, a unique advantage expected to last for three more decades.
2. By 2030, India will have the largest workforce in the world, but this can only translate into economic growth if supported by proper education, skills, and health.
3. However, current challenges include:

• Education: Only 41% of women and 2% of men (15-49 years) have 10+ years of schooling.
• Health:
  • Anaemia: 57% of women and 25% of men are anaemic.
  • BMI: 18.7% of women and 16.2% of men have a BMI below normal.
• Learning Outcomes: Among adolescents, only 77% of 17-18-year-olds can read a Class 2 textbook, and just 35% can perform division.

How do nutrition and health issues among children impact India’s future workforce?

1. Under-5 Health:
   • Stunting: 35.5% are stunted.
   • Wasting: 19.3% are wasted.
   • Underweight: 32.1% are underweight.
   • Anaemia: 67.1% of children (6-59 months) are anaemic.
2. Diet: Only 3% of children under two years receive a minimal adequate diet. Poor nutrition hinders 90% brain development, which occurs before age five, affecting future cognitive abilities.

What is the risk of an ageing population post-2030?

1. After 2030, India will start ageing, with the workforce shrinking and the elderly population rising.
2. Without intervention, India risks a large, asset-less, ageing population in poor health, creating economic burdens rather than growth opportunities.

What urgent steps must India take to harness its demographic dividend?

1. Conduct a real-time analysis of the demographic situation.
2. Redesign policy frameworks to strengthen:
   • Nutrition: Ensure minimal adequate diets for children.
   • Healthcare: Address anaemia, undernutrition, and physical health gaps.
   • Education: Improve learning outcomes, especially foundational skills like reading and arithmetic.
3. A strong foundation of nutrition, health, and education across the life cycle is critical to ensure India’s demographic dividend can capitalize on future economic opportunities and avoid becoming a burden.