Social and economic implications of India’s population growth under alternative policy options

Puspita Datta, Institute of Economic Growth (IEG)
Sanjay K. Mohanty, International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS)

This paper examines the social and economic implications of India’s population growth under alternative policy options for a relatively shorter period i.e., 2001-10. The analysis has been carried out under three alternative scenarios, Reduction of unmet need by 1 percent till 2010 and the growth rate of GDP by 6.1 percent experienced in 8th and 9th Five Year Plan, Achieving the TFR of 2.1 by 2010 and growth rate of GDP by 7.93 percent till 2007 and 9.3 percent thereafter and achieving TFR of 2.1 by 2010 and growth rate of GDP by 6.1 percent from 2001-10. The total population is likely to be between 1155-1164 million by 2010 with a young age structure. Per capita GDP can be increased maximum of 77 percent (from Rs 11181 in 2001 to 19757 by 2010 at 1993-94 prices). About 135 million employment creation is required to achieve the full employment by 2010.