The World Population Prospects 2024 report of the United Nations has projected that India will continue to be the world’s most populous country throughout the century.
However, the country's population will decline after the 2060s, the report reads.
In this light, an expert in the field highlighted that it is important for India to invest in empolyement in order to reap the benefits of increasing population.
Population Growth Puts India at Advantage
The country will have an upper hand as most of the population will be in the working-age group in coming years, Nandlal Mishra, a research fellow at International Institute for Population Sciences (IIPS) told Sputnik India.
He argued that, while India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has fallen below the replacement level, the population will continue to grow due to its momentum at declining rates until the 2060s.
"India will benefit from its demographic dividend until the 2050s, with more than 60% of the population in the working-age group," Mishra said.
But he warned that in order to capitalise on the opportunity, it was crucial to invest in education, health and infrastructure, and to implement reforms that create jobs for effective utilisation of manpower and improve government efficiency.
He stressed that without investment in education sector and skill development it is impossible to build a qualified and competent workforce. However, job creation stimulation requires strengthening of healthcare to ensure healthy population and implement economic reforms, he asserted. Enhancement of healthcare, infrastructure and safety leads to a better quality of life, he pointed out.
Mishra believes that building robust infrastructure, promoting regional economic development and fostering social inclusion would maximise productivity and reduce migration pressures.
"By enhancing urban planning, supporting agricultural modernization, and ensuring effective governance, India can harness its demographic dividend," Mishra argued. "These strategies will enable the country to leverage its large population for sustained economic growth and development throughout the century."
Enhancing Domestic Opportunities to Stop Migration
Though population increase brings many benefits, it also creates challenges like economic migration.
The IIPS research fellow said that India must prevent brain drain by enhancing domestic opportunities by creating high-quality jobs in advanced sectors such as technology and research.
"Investing in world-class educational institutions and research facilities, and fostering industry-academia linkages can align education with market needs," Mishra noted. "Offering financial incentives, tax benefits, and public recognition can retain talent."
Mishra added that helping Indian emigrants to return through streamlined bureaucratic processes and reintegration assistance could attract expatriates back.
These measures can also create a compelling environment for talented individuals within the country to stay and contribute to the nation's growth, he concluded.