An Indian NGO has called for  the introduction of a strict system of population control that limits couples to two children.

This comes despite India’s fertility rate having already dropped to a little above replacement level.

Some Indian States already have such laws, but none exists at the nationwide level. A bill has been submitted to the National Parliament, but has not yet received Government support.

The proposal by the Jansankya Samadhan Foundation (JSF) recommends the non-issuance of birth certificates for any “surplus children” born and punishments for violators including up to 10 years in jail and/or the termination of government positions. The organisation has already submitted a memorandum to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to accept the proposed legislation.

In response to the proposal, the president of the Population Research Institute, Steven W. Mosher, said “The population controllers never give up”.

“Foreign-funded NGOs have been calling for India to adopt a two-child policy for years. But this latest call is particularly nonsensical. The country’s 2020 National Family Health Survey showed that India’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is now below 2.0 children per woman. This is well below the 2.1 children needed to maintain a stable population.”