Naidu Rolls Out Pro-Natal Incentives as Andhra Pradesh Tackles Falling Fertility Rate, Targets Demographic Stability

Amaravati, May 2026 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced a new set of financial incentives for families having a third and fourth child, marking a major policy shift aimed at addressing the state’s declining Total Fertility Rate (TFR) and emerging demographic challenges.

Addressing a public meeting in Srikakulam district, the Chief Minister said the government will provide Rs 30,000 for the third child and Rs 40,000 for the fourth child as part of its Population Management Policy. The initiative reflects a broader attempt by the state government to encourage higher birth rates and stabilise long-term population trends.

The announcement comes at a time when Andhra Pradesh is witnessing a steady fall in fertility levels, prompting policymakers to rethink traditional population control approaches. Officials said the incentives are inspired by global models, including countries such as France and Hungary, which have adopted pro-natalist policies to prevent demographic decline.

Naidu, who had earlier strongly supported population control during his tenure as Chief Minister of combined Andhra Pradesh between 1995 and 2004, now argues that population should be viewed as a valuable economic asset rather than a burden on resources. According to him, a balanced and growing population is essential for sustaining economic momentum and maintaining a strong workforce.

Health Department data indicates that Andhra Pradesh is ageing faster than the national average. The state’s median age is currently 32.5 years compared to India’s 28.4 years. Officials have warned that the state has a limited demographic window until 2040, after which the dependency ratio is expected to rise significantly, increasing pressure on the working-age population.

The Total Fertility Rate in Andhra Pradesh has fallen sharply from 3.0 in 1993 to 1.5 at present, well below the replacement level of 2.1 required for population stability. Experts caution that if this trend continues, the state could face demographic conditions similar to developed countries such as Japan, South Korea, and Italy, where ageing populations have slowed economic growth and strained social systems.

Since returning to office in 2024, Chandrababu Naidu has placed population growth at the centre of his governance agenda. He has repeatedly emphasised the need to restore the TFR to replacement levels to maintain a healthy demographic balance. The state government has already taken several policy decisions in this direction, including the scrapping of the two-child norm that previously restricted individuals with more than two children from contesting local body elections.

In March, the government introduced the Population Management Policy, described as India’s first comprehensive framework of its kind. The policy proposes a range of financial, social, and institutional measures designed to encourage families to have more children while also ensuring adequate support systems.

Among the key provisions is a monthly nutritional assistance of Rs 1,000 for the third child for a period of five years, along with free education support until the age of 18. These measures aim to reduce the financial burden on families and encourage long-term childbearing decisions.

The Chief Minister has also proposed enhanced parental benefits, including 12 months of maternity leave and two months of paternity leave. He has emphasised that family-friendly workplace policies are essential to support population growth and ensure better child welfare outcomes.

The Population Management Policy document has been circulated for public discussion, with representatives across constituencies directed to engage citizens in consultations for a month. The government has indicated that feedback from these discussions will be reviewed, and policy adjustments may be made after evaluating outcomes over a one-year period.

Officials in the Health Department have warned that the state is already facing structural demographic challenges. Health Secretary Sourabh Gaur noted that Andhra Pradesh is moving towards an ageing population structure similar to developed countries, where a growing proportion of elderly citizens places pressure on the workforce and public finances.

He cautioned that without intervention, economic growth could slow due to a shrinking labour pool. “We are facing the same challenge that many developed nations are dealing with—a rising non-working population and a declining workforce. Our focus must shift towards enabling and incentivising families to have children,” he said.

As part of its long-term strategy, the government has introduced a five-stage lifecycle model under the Population Management Policy. The stages—Matrutva (motherhood), Shakti (strength), Kshema (well-being), Naipunyam (skills), and Sanjeevani (longevity)—are designed to ensure continuous support for citizens from birth to old age.

The state also plans to establish a Maternity Centre of Excellence and expand IVF services in government hospitals through public-private partnerships. These initiatives aim to support couples facing fertility challenges and remove barriers to childbirth.

Additionally, the Health Department is working on setting up Fertility Colleges as Centres of Excellence in reproductive medicine. These institutions will provide advanced training for medical professionals while offering subsidised fertility treatments, including IVF services, for eligible couples.

The government has also set targets to reduce caesarean section rates and bring down teenage pregnancy rates from 8.8 per cent to below 3 per cent, as part of broader maternal and child health reforms.

Under the “Swarna Andhra Vision 2047,” Population Management and Human Resource Development has been identified as a key policy pillar, reflecting a shift from population control to population sustainability. The government believes this approach will help balance demographic trends while strengthening economic productivity in the decades ahead.