New Delhi, June 11: While India continues to be the most populous country, with an estimated 1.46 billion people in 2025, the country’s total fertility rate has fallen to 1.9, below the replacement level of 2.1, according to the latest report by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) released on Tuesday.

The 2025 State of World Population (SOWP) report underscores that the real crisis lies not in population size, but in the widespread challenges to support individuals’ right to decide freely and responsibly if, when, and how many children to have.

The UN report estimates “India’s population at present at 1,463.9 million”.

“India is now the world’s most populous nation, with nearly 1.5 billion people — a number expected to grow to about 1.7 billion before it begins falling,” the report said.

The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India is currently 2.0 children per woman. This means that on average, a woman in India would be expected to have 2 children during her childbearing years (typically ages 15-49). This rate has remained constant since 2020, according to the Sample Registration System (SRS) report for 2021.

However, the new report showed it has declined to 1.9 births per woman, which means that, on average, Indian women are having fewer children than needed to maintain the population size from one generation to the next, without migration.

Despite the slowing birth rate, India’s youth population remains significant, with 24 per cent in the age bracket of 0-14, 17 per cent in 10-19, and 26 per cent in 10-24.

While 68 per cent of the population accounts for the 15-64 age bracket, the elderly population (65 and older) stands at seven per cent.

As of 2025, life expectancy at birth is projected to be 71 years for men and 74 years for women.

The UN report also placed India in a group of middle-income countries undergoing rapid demographic change, with the population doubling time now estimated at 79 years.

“India has made significant progress in lowering fertility rates — from nearly five children per woman in 1970 to about two today — thanks to improved education and access to reproductive healthcare,” said Andrea M. Wojnar, UNFPA India Representative.

“This has led to major reductions in maternal mortality, meaning million more mothers are alive today, raising children and building communities,” Wojnar added.

–IANS

rvt/

New Delhi, June 10: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said he was proud of the manner in which the multi-party delegations presented India’s views in various countries on the need to eradicate the menace of terrorism following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

Modi hosted the members of the multi-party delegations, comprising parliamentarians and former diplomats, who travelled to 33 world capitals over the past few weeks.

“Met members of the various delegations who represented India in different countries and elaborated on India’s commitment to peace and the need to eradicate the menace of terrorism. We are all proud of the manner in which they put forward India’s voice,” Modi said in a post on X.

Members shared their experience with the prime minister, with the central government having already praised the work of the seven delegations comprising over 50 persons, mostly current MPs.

Former parliamentarians and ex-diplomats were also part of these delegations that visited 33 foreign capitals and the European Union. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already met the delegations and lauded their efforts in conveying India’s strong stand against Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.

“We apprised the Prime Minister of the overwhelming support extended by these friendly nations for India’s resolute fight against terrorism and our unwavering commitment to global peace,” Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde said in a post on X.

Shinde had led the delegation to the United Arab Emirates, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, and Liberia.

“The Prime Minister lauded our efforts and shared his inspiring vision for enhancing India’s stature on the world stage. His words have further motivated us to work tirelessly for the nation,” Shinde said.

Four delegations were led by MPs of the ruling alliance, including two from the BJP, one from JD(U) and one from Shiv Sena, while three were led by opposition MPs, one each of the Congress, DMK and NCP(SP). BJP’s Ravi Shankar Prasad and Baijyant Panda, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor, JD(U)’s Sanjay Jha, Shiv Sena’s Shrikant Shinde, DMK’s Kanimozhi, and NCP (SP)’s Supriya Sule led their delegations to different parts of the world.

The government had sent the multi-party delegations to portray a message of national unity in the fight against terrorism, with the likes of Congress MP Shashi Tharoor and AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi joining the ruling alliance members in championing the Indian cause abroad. Prominent former parliamentarians in the delegations included ex-Union ministers Ghulam Nabi Azad and Salman Khurshid.

Dehradun (Uttarakhand), June 10: Stressing that Rs 1.75 lakh crore defence production & Rs 30,000 crore defence exports targets are set for this year, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, on Tuesday, emphasised that in the last 11 years, the Government has transformed India’s security apparatus by changing the attitude towards every issue related to national security.

Addressing a dialogue on the topic ‘National Security & Terrorism’, organised in Dehradun, Uttarakhand today, Singh said, “In the last 11 years, Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Government has transformed India’s security apparatus by changing the attitude and the way of action towards every issue related to national security, and the world witnessed this shift during Operation Sindoor.”

He described Operation Sindoor as the biggest action taken against terrorism in Indian history, which was carried out in response to the cowardly terror attack on innocent people in Pahalgam.

“Following the abrogation of Article 370, J-K heralded into the era of peace and progress. Our neighbours could not tolerate this and executed the terror attack in Pahalgam. Despite Pakistan’s best efforts, it has not been able to stop development in Kashmir. Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla railway link is a shining example of the Government’s relentless pursuit of progress in J&K. Soon, PoK will join us and say ‘I, too, am Bharat’,” Rajnath Singh asserted.

Rajnath Singh asserted that while the Indian Armed Forces have given a befitting reply to terrorists, it is imperative to prevent terror incidents such as the one in Pahalgam in future. He emphasised on the need to be alert not just at the level of governments, but also at the public level.

Branding terrorism as an epidemic destined to perish, the Defence Minister stressed that the menace cannot be left to die a natural death as its existence will continue to challenge collective peace, development and prosperity. He underscored the urgent need for a permanent solution to terrorism.

“Terrorists are not fighters with a cause. No religious, ideological or political reason can justify terrorism. No human objective can ever be achieved through bloodshed and violence. India and Pakistan attained independence at the same time, but today, India has been recognised as the Mother of Democracy, while Pakistan has emerged as the Father of Global Terrorism. Pakistan has always given shelter to terrorists, trained them on its soil and helped them. It always tries to justify this menace. It is important that we eliminate these terrorists and their entire infrastructure,” said Rajnath Singh.

Singh urged the international community to stop foreign funding to Pakistan, saying that a large part of this financial aid is spent on terrorism. “Funding Pakistan means funding the infrastructure of terrorism. Pakistan is a nursery of terrorism. It should not be nourished,” he added.

The Defence Minister called upon the global community and organisations such as the United Nations to think on issues like terrorism more seriously, stating that “Only when we are free from terrorism, will we be able to move towards the goal of global peace, progress and prosperity.”

Further, Rajnath Singh listed out the steps taken by the Government to strengthen the defence sector, including increasing the defence budget from Rs 2.53 lakh crore in Financial Year (FY) 2013-14 to Rs 6,22 lakh crore in FY 2024-25; reserving 75% of the budget for capital procurement from domestic companies and the issuance of a total of 10 Positive Indigenisation Lists, comprising over 5,500 items.

“Today, Indian Armed Forces use state-of-the-art weapons, missiles, tanks and other systems/platforms manufactured within the country. Our indigenous missiles such as Agni, Prithvi & BrahMos stand ready to give a befitting reply to the enemy. We also have the strength to build aircraft carriers such as INS Vikrant,” he added.

He underlined that the Government’s persistent efforts are bearing fruit as the annual defence production, which was around Rs 40,000 crore in 2014, has crossed the record figure of Rs 1.30 lakh crore today, and defence exports, which were Rs 686 crore in 14, has skyrocketed to Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024-25, adding that Made-in-India defence products are being exported to nearly 100 countries.

“We have set a target of Rs 1.75 lakh crore defence production this year and Rs three lakh crore by 2029. Our defence exports should reach Rs 30,000 crore this year and Rs 50,000 crore by 2029,” Singh said.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami was among the dignitaries who attended the event.

Chief Minister Dhami presented the Prasad of the four Dhams to Rajnath Singh at Jolly Grant Airport on his departure from Devbhoomi Uttarakhand. During this, the Chief Minister also presented him millets products of ‘House of Himalayas’, an umbrella brand of local products of Uttarakhand.