UNFPA Report 2025: India’s Fertility Crisis & Reproductive Rights

1. Fertility Trends: Beyond the Numbers
National Decline: Fell from 2.9 (2005) to 2.0 (2020), but states like Bihar (3.0) and UP (2.7) lag, while Delhi/Kerala (1.5) face underpopulation risks.
Global Shift: 50% of countries now have fertility rates <2.1; India mirrors this with urban-rural divides.
Core Crisis: 36% of Indian women report unintended pregnancies, while 30% experience underachieved fertility (fewer children than desired).

2. Policy & Societal Barriers
Workplace Failures:
Maternity Benefit Act (26 weeks leave) exists, but paid paternity leave is just 15 days.
Only 1% of Indian firms offer childcare facilities (World Bank).
Social Pressures:
73% of infertile women face stigma (ICMR).
NFHS-5 shows 4% married women lack access to spacing contraceptives.
Gender Imbalance: Women shoulder 90% of domestic work, discouraging childbearing among educated professionals.

3. Government Interventions: Gaps & Solutions
Existing Schemes:
₹6,000 for institutional deliveries (PMMVY).
Free IVF treatment in Tamil Nadu/AP but only for BPL families.
Urgent Reforms Needed:
Universal paid parental leave (not just maternity).
Subsidized childcare hubs near industrial clusters.
Nationwide infertility coverage under Ayushman Bharat.


5 Key Takeaways
India’s Fertility Duality: High in Bihar (3.0) vs. low in Delhi (1.5) due to uneven education/healthcare access.
Reproductive Autonomy Crisis: Social stigma and poor contraception access violate women’s rights.
Workplace Discrimination: Fear of career setbacks deters 68% of urban working women from planning children (ASER 2023).
Infertility Emergency: 15% of Indian couples are infertile—yet treatment remains unaffordable for 80%.
Policy Paralysis: No national infertility law; maternity benefits ignore informal sector (94% of female workforce).


Sample Q&A for UPSC Mains
Q: “Demographic anxiety undermines reproductive autonomy.” Analyze with reference to India’s fertility decline.
A: Pressure to “boost population” in low-fertility states (e.g., Tamil Nadu: 1.7) leads to coercive policies, ignoring women’s right to choose family size.
Q: How does India’s Maternity Benefit Act fall short in ensuring reproductive agency?
A: Excludes informal workers, offers no paternity leave, and ignores IVF costs—forcing women to choose between careers and motherhood.
Q: Discuss regional variations in India’s fertility rates and their policy implications.
A: High rates in Bihar (poor family planning access) vs. low rates in Kerala (career constraints) demand localized solutions: better contraception in Bihar, childcare subsidies in Kerala.
Q: Why is infertility stigmatized in India? Suggest remedies.
A: Cultural linking of womanhood with motherhood fuels exclusion. Remedies: Universal IVF coverage, awareness campaigns, and employer anti-bias policies.
Q: “UNFPA 2025 shifts focus from population control to reproductive justice.” Elaborate.
A: Highlights unmet aspirations (30% can’t conceive when desired) over birth rates, urging policies for choice—contraception access, infertility support, and work-life balance.