Overtaking China – New population estimates have wider implications

Source: The post is based on the article “Overtaking China – New population estimates have wider implications” published in Business Standard on 19^th January 2023.

Syllabus: GS 1 – Population and Associated Issues

Relevance: challenges with increasing population

News: The article discusses the challenges with India due to the increasing population.

What is the news?

According to the World Population Review, India’s population has become 1.417 billion.

According to China’s National Statistics Bureau, in 2022 China saw its first decline in population since the famine-hit 1960s. The population count in China is now 1.412 billion.

This means India is now the world’s largest country by population.

What are the challenges for India due to increasing population?

It is true that a higher population brings more tax to the government leading to increase in spending. However, it also has challenges associated with it.

Some of the challenges with increasing population are – a) pressure on man-made infrastructure such as apartments, b) pressure on natural resources, c) create challenges for sustainability of India’s natural habitats; e.g., Joshimath crisis.

Must Read: China, India population: Implications of slowing dragon, racing elephant

What can be the way ahead?

There is a need for India to have quality population; i.e., it needs to enhance its human resource capability by refocusing its public policy.

This would help India in reaping the benefits out of its demographic dividend and become an upper-income country.