An Indian politician has said Indian families should have three children each, after the country’s fertility rate dropped to below two children per woman.
Mohan Bhagwat, chief of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said at a lecture to mark the 100 years of the founding of the RSS on Thursday that “in the national interest, every family should have three children and limit themselves to that.”
It comes after the UN Population Fund’s 2025 report placed India’s fertility rate at 1.9 children per woman in June—lower than the generally accepted replacement rate of 2.1 births per woman (required to maintain a stable population without immigration).
Why It Matters
India’s fertility decline signaled an accelerating shift toward an older population, threatening to reduce the proportion of working-age people and increase the number of elderly dependents—a dynamic that could strain pensions, health care and public finances if not managed.
Newsweek has reported on where the impacts are already being felt in India, with some elders being abandoned by their children.
In some places, in the western state of Goa and the northern hill districts like Uttarakhand, some schools have been closed due to dwindling student enrollment.
What To Know
While India remains the world’s most populous country in 2025, with an estimated population of 1.46 billion, its fertility rate sits at about 1.9 births per woman.
Bhagwat argued the population should be “controlled, yet sufficient,” and warned of consequences for communities whose fertility falls too low.
He said: “All the scriptures and texts in the world say that communities whose birth rate falls below three go extinct. So, it’s important to maintain it above three, as is done in all countries and societies.
“Our country’s population control (policy) recommends a birth rate of 2.1, which is fine as an average, but you can never have 0.1 of a child and so it has to be three. So, all Indian citizens should have three children.”
His remarks echoed concerns voiced by government advisers and demographers that India could face future labor shortages and economic strain as its population ages and birth rates decline.
Bhagwat rejected accusations of being opposed to Muslims, amid some hardline Hindu groups pointing towards higher birth rates among Muslims, Reuters reported.
“Our ancestors and culture are the same. Worship practices may differ, but our identity is one. Changing religion does not change one’s community,” he said. “Mutual trust must be built on all sides. Muslims must overcome the fear that joining hands with others will erase their Islam.”
What People Are Saying
Bhagwat said: “Demographic changes produce certain consequences. The partition of a country is one such result. I’m not only talking about India — this happened in Timor, Indonesia, as well.”
Poonam Muttreja, the executive director of the Population Foundation of India, previously told Newsweek how “India’s aging population is growing at an unprecedented rate.” She has also cited gender inequality as a major contributor to why declining fertility rates can be problematic.
Policies “must enable women to balance work and caregiving effectively,” she said.
What Happens Next
While India still benefits from a so-called demographic dividend—a working-age population that exceeds the dependent population—that window may begin to close in the coming decades. The UN estimates that this phase will last until 2055, giving policymakers roughly three decades to adapt systems of education, healthcare, and employment to new realities.
Whether Bhagwat’s call for larger families gains traction remains to be seen.
The article appeared in newsweek
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