India’s Perceived Challenges for Securing Sustainable Population in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals

Abstract

The destination point of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted on 25th September, 2015 is to put in place a new world free from hunger, gender inequity, and human indignity. The summit gave a clarion call of a new framework of “Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. One of the collateral objectives is to put in place the state of sustainable population. Unless sustainable population is secured, it is well-nigh impossible to have sustainable development. With 121, 05, 69, 573 number of population as per census, 2011, India happens to be second most populous country in the world sustaining 17.5 % of the world population on 2.4 %of the world’s surface area. It is on way to overtake China on carrying maximum load of population in the world. In the circumstances, India is in need of framing a Sustainable Population Policy and also its Strategy. A Parliamentary Committee is needed to address all mundane issues connected with sustainable population and draw up a Report for intensive discussions in the Parliament on sustainable population policy and strategy. The uppermost consideration should always be the realisation that there are physical limits to the earth-space of India and its life support systems. Technology may give temporary respite in some areas with perceptible fortune for short duration; the limits to population growth are permanent. India is a case of limitless population growth. It is a classic case of over population. India has now no choice but to pursue a regime of hard options for a period of time as there is no quick fix for sustainable population.