🔆 Do you agree that falling fertility rates provide India with a brief demographic window to achieve its socio-economic goals? What policy measures should be prioritized to harness the demographic dividend in the coming years?

📍 Introduction
✅ Thesis Statement: Agree that falling fertility rates provide India with a brief demographic window to achieve socio-economic goals.
✅ Context: Mention the significance of the demographic transition in India.

📍 Current Demographic Trends
✅ Fertility Rate: India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined from 2.2 in 2015-16 to 2.0 in 2019-21 (Source: National Family Health Survey-5).
✅ Median Age: Rising median age from 24 years in 2011 to 29 years currently, projected to reach 36 years by 2036.
✅ Dependency Ratio: Expected decrease in the dependency ratio from 65% to 54% in the next decade.

📍 Potential Benefits of the Demographic Window
✅ Human Capital Formation:
◦ Fewer dependents allow for increased investment in health, education, and skills.
◦ Helps in reducing income inequality and improving job opportunities.
✅ Higher Per Capita Income:
◦ Low fertility supports higher income per capita and capital stock per worker.
◦ Contributes to achieving zero hunger and poverty.
✅ Labor Force Participation:
◦ Shift towards a working-age population increases labor supply.
◦ Lower fertility rates encourage female participation in the labor market.

📍 Challenges Ahead
✅ Unemployment Risks: Without proper policies, rising unemployment could lead to economic and social risks.
✅ Aging Population: The share of older populations will eventually rise, leading to a decrease in the working-age population.

📍 Policy Measures to Harness the Demographic Dividend
1️⃣ Improve Consumption Patterns
◦ Invest in early childhood nutrition and education to build a strong foundation for human capital.
2️⃣ Increase Investment in Education and Healthcare
◦ Raise public spending on health from around 1% of GDP, focusing on states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
3️⃣ Resource Allocation Based on Population Census
◦ Devolve more funds to states with higher working populations to nurture human capital.
4️⃣ Transition in Skilling
◦ Enhance focus on universal skilling and entrepreneurship to prepare the workforce for emerging technologies.
5️⃣ Increase Women’s Workforce Participation
◦ Implement tax incentives and gender budgeting to boost the current female labor participation rate, which dropped from 34.1% in 2003-04 to 20.3% in 2019.
6️⃣ Create Employment Opportunities
◦ Provide incentives for start-ups and large industries through initiatives like Make in India and Start-Up India.

📍 Conclusion
✅ Summarize Key Points: Reiterate the importance of leveraging the demographic window.
✅ Call to Action: Emphasize the need for comprehensive policy measures to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth.

CSE ANSWER WRITING

🔆 Do you agree that falling fertility rates provide India with a brief demographic window to achieve its socio-economic goals? What policy measures should be prioritized to harness the demographic dividend in the coming years?

📍 Introduction
✅ Thesis Statement: Agree that falling fertility rates provide India with a brief demographic window to achieve socio-economic goals.
✅ Context: Mention the significance of the demographic transition in India.

📍 Current Demographic Trends
✅ Fertility Rate: India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined from 2.2 in 2015-16 to 2.0 in 2019-21 (Source: National Family Health Survey-5).
✅ Median Age: Rising median age from 24 years in 2011 to 29 years currently, projected to reach 36 years by 2036.
✅ Dependency Ratio: Expected decrease in the dependency ratio from 65% to 54% in the next decade.

📍 Potential Benefits of the Demographic Window
✅ Human Capital Formation:
◦ Fewer dependents allow for increased investment in health, education, and skills.
◦ Helps in reducing income inequality and improving job opportunities.
✅ Higher Per Capita Income:
◦ Low fertility supports higher income per capita and capital stock per worker.
◦ Contributes to achieving zero hunger and poverty.
✅ Labor Force Participation:
◦ Shift towards a working-age population increases labor supply.
◦ Lower fertility rates encourage female participation in the labor market.

📍 Challenges Ahead
✅ Unemployment Risks: Without proper policies, rising unemployment could lead to economic and social risks.
✅ Aging Population: The share of older populations will eventually rise, leading to a decrease in the working-age population.

📍 Policy Measures to Harness the Demographic Dividend
1️⃣ Improve Consumption Patterns
◦ Invest in early childhood nutrition and education to build a strong foundation for human capital.
2️⃣ Increase Investment in Education and Healthcare
◦ Raise public spending on health from around 1% of GDP, focusing on states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
3️⃣ Resource Allocation Based on Population Census
◦ Devolve more funds to states with higher working populations to nurture human capital.
4️⃣ Transition in Skilling
◦ Enhance focus on universal skilling and entrepreneurship to prepare the workforce for emerging technologies.
5️⃣ Increase Women’s Workforce Participation
◦ Implement tax incentives and gender budgeting to boost the current female labor participation rate, which dropped from 34.1% in 2003-04 to 20.3% in 2019.
6️⃣ Create Employment Opportunities
◦ Provide incentives for start-ups and large industries through initiatives like Make in India and Start-Up India.

📍 Conclusion
✅ Summarize Key Points: Reiterate the importance of leveraging the demographic window.
✅ Call to Action: Emphasize the need for comprehensive policy measures to achieve sustainable socio-economic growth.

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3.2K viewsMay 18 at 14:07