News Summary

• India's fertility rate has for the first time fallen below the level needed to stop the population from shrinking.
• Experts say better access to education and contraceptives are among key factors behind the falling fertility rate.
• In 2005, India’s population entered a stage called ‘demographic dividend’, a phase when the proportion of working age population (15-64 years) is higher than the number of old people and children who are not in the labour force.
• Now, with a declining fertility rate, India might not be able to reap the benefits of a demographic dividend.