What was the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in India as per the latest National Family Health Survey - 5 (2019-21)?

Correct option is B

The correct answer is (b) 2.0

Explanation:

• According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) conducted during 2019–21, India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) stands at 2.0, which is below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.
• This decline from the previous TFR of 2.2 in NFHS-4 (2015–16) indicates a significant achievement in population stabilization efforts.
• Achieving a TFR of 2.0 aligns with the goals set by the National Population Policy 2000 and the National Health Policy 2017, both aiming for a replacement-level fertility rate to ensure population stabilization.
• The decline in TFR reflects improvements in family planning, maternal health, and education, particularly among women, leading to delayed marriages and childbearing.

Information Booster:

• The Sample Registration System (SRS) report of 2022 also corroborates this finding, reporting a TFR of 2.0 for India, reinforcing the NFHS-5 data.
• The Government of India has emphasized the importance of achieving and maintaining replacement-level fertility across regions by raising awareness about healthy timing and spacing of pregnancies, ensuring the availability of family planning services, and approving budgets proposed by states in the Programme Implementation Plan (PIP) based on their specific needs to manage fertility.
• Despite the national achievement, there are regional disparities. For instance, states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh have TFRs above the replacement level, while states like Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, and Odisha have significantly lower rates. This necessitates region-specific policies to address demographic challenges.
• The adolescent fertility rate has also declined, with fewer women aged 15–19 years becoming mothers or pregnant at the time of the survey, indicating a positive trend in youth reproductive health.