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POPULATION GROWTH TRENDS, PROJECTIONS, CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

ABSTRACT

PREMA RAMACHANDRAN
(Adviser, Planning Commission)

MOHAN SINGH
(Deputy Adviser, Planning Commission)

A.N. KAPOOR
(Deputy Adviser, Planning Commission)

K.K. LAMBA
(Senior Research Officer, Planning Commission)

Demographic transition is a global phenomenon; population growth is inevitable during this transition. For India the current phase of the demographic transition is both a challenge and an opportunity. In the next two decades the population growth will be mainly among the young adults who will be more literate, aware and are likely to make optimal use of available facilities. The challenge is to ensure skill development and appropriate employment with adequate emoluments. If the challenge is met we may have the opportunity to utilise abundant human resources to achieve rapid economic development and improvement in quality of life. If the population is provided with ready access to good quality services at affordable cost, it will be possible for them to meet all their felt needs for contraception and health, achieve the desired family size and enable the country to achieve population stabilisation rapidly. During the next two decades the efforts of planners, programme implementers and the people themselves will have to be focused on achieving synergy between the ongoing demographic, educational, economic and technology transitions so that India can hasten population stabilization, achieve rapid, sustainable improvement in economic, social and human development.

This paper reflects the personal views of the authors and not the views of the organization to which they belong.