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As grey wave rises, Bihar could be unlikely answer to India’s ageing problem
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As grey wave rises, Bihar could be unlikely answer to India’s ageing problem

A job fair in Patna. Biharis have been mocked in the past for seeking jobs in richer states, but will become indispensable in coming decades

While Bihar faces criticism for its high fertility rate, it's inadvertently becoming India's buffer against global population collapse. Unlike aging nations like China, Japan, and South Korea, Bihar's young population ensures continued growth, providing future workers and taxpayers. This demographic advantage will sustain India's economy as other states and countries face workforce shortages.

The Sample Registration System 2024 shows Bihar with the highest total fertility rate of 2.9 among Indian states, followed by Uttar Pradesh (2.6) and Madhya Pradesh (2.4). These are well above the 2.1 replacement level and India’s 1.9 average. As usual, Bihar is being castigated for backwardness, insensitivity to the burden on women, and unwillingness to embrace family planning. All true. Yet, the state is unwittingly becoming India’s greatest defence to a new problem stalking the world — population collapse.

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