Uttar Pradesh
Two-Child Policy
- 11 Jun 2024
- 2 min read
Why in News?
The Uttar Pradesh government recently faced scrutiny over claims that it had implemented a two-child policy as of 7th June, 2024. However, according to official statements, these reports are false and no such policy has been enacted yet.
Key Points
- While a draft bill for such a policy has been submitted to the state government, it has not been passed and formulated as a law.
- The Uttar Pradesh Law Commission had shared a draft of the proposed bill on population control in 2021 with the state government.
- According to the draft bill titled Uttar Pradesh Population (Control, Stabilisation, and Welfare) Bill, 2021, couples with more than two children would not be allowed to apply for government jobs, seek promotions, or benefit from government welfare schemes.
- A similar policy is in place in Assam, which bars parents with more than two children from government jobs under the Assam Public Services (Application of Small Family Norms in Direct Recruitment) Rules, 2019.
Two-Child Policy
- Need:
- India’s population has already crossed 125 crores and India is expected to surpass the world’s most populous nation-China in the next couple of decades.
- Despite having the National Population Control Policy (2000), India is the second most populous country in the world.
- Thus, India’s natural resources are extremely over-burdened and facing overexploitation.
- Criticism:
- The restricted child policy will create a shortage of educated young people needed to carry on India’s technological revolution.
- The problems like gender imbalance, undocumented children, etc. faced by China (as a result of the one-child policy) might be experienced by India.
