{"id":86847,"date":"2026-10-15T18:08:28","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:38:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=86847"},"modified":"2026-10-15T18:09:00","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T12:39:00","slug":"mha-portal-demographic-changes-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/15-10-2026\/mha-portal-demographic-changes-india","title":{"rendered":"MHA Portal Seeks Public Inputs on Demographic Changes in India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Governance, GS3\/ Internal Security<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A high-level committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a portal inviting citizens, government agencies, NGOs, etc. to submit their input on demographic changes in India, preferably post-2011.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Constitution:<\/strong> The Union Government constituted a high-level committee to study demographic changes, chaired by <strong>Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar in 2026.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The terms of reference<\/strong> for the Committee are as follows:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To undertake an extensive consideration of the challenges arising from <strong>demographic changes,<\/strong> including those due to<strong> illegal immigration.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>To study the possible <strong>causes of such demographic changes,<\/strong> such as variations in fertility, <strong>cross-border movement<\/strong> (including illegal immigration), economic opportunities, and other socioenvironmental factors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>To identify the underlying factors<\/strong> behind these changes, including illegal immigration, abnormal settlement patterns, and planned migration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>To recommend an appropriate institutional mechanism<\/strong> to strengthen border management, population stabilization, and identification systems for sustained monitoring of such trends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Demographic Trends in India<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Declining Fertility Rate:<\/strong> According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5), India\u2019s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) declined to around <strong>2.0<\/strong>, which is below the replacement level of 2.1.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>This indicates that India is gradually moving towards population stabilisation at the national level.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Declining Birth Rate: <\/strong>According to the <strong>Sample Registration System (SRS) Report 2024:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>India\u2019s birth rate declined<strong> from 21 per 1,000 population<\/strong> in 2014 to <strong>18.3<\/strong> in 2024.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The decline reflects changing demographic patterns, rising urbanisation, increasing literacy, and improved access to healthcare and family planning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Border-Related Demographic Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>India\u2013Bangladesh Border: <\/strong>India shares a <strong>4,096 km border<\/strong> with Bangladesh across West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>The Assam Movement (1979-1985) <\/strong>was a popular movement against illegal immigrants in Assam. The movement, led by All Assam Students Union (AASU) and the All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2013Myanmar Border:<\/strong> India shares a <strong>1,643 km border <\/strong>with Myanmar across Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Political instability after the <strong>2021 Myanmar military coup<\/strong> increased the inflow of <strong>Chin refugees and Rohingya<\/strong> migrants into Manipur and Mizoram.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>India\u2013Pakistan Border: <\/strong>India shares a <strong>3,323 km<\/strong> border with Pakistan.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In Jammu and Kashmir, cross-border infiltration from Pakistan has long been associated with<strong> terrorism, militancy,<\/strong> and internal security challenges.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concerns Regarding Demographic Change<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>National security and sovereignty:<\/strong> Illegal immigration may create security challenges by increasing risks of infiltration, organised crime, and border instability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Social harmony: <\/strong>Demographic changes linked to religion, ethnicity, or language may increase social tensions, identity politics, and conflicts over land and employment.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Ethnic violence<\/strong> in Manipur between <strong>Kuki and Meitei <\/strong>highlighted tensions between communities over land, identity, and demographic concerns.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Resource distribution: <\/strong>Large-scale migration may increase pressure on housing, healthcare, education, welfare schemes, and employment opportunities.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Border districts in <strong>Assam and Tripura <\/strong>have witnessed concerns regarding land encroachment, competition for jobs, and pressure on public resources due to undocumented migration.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Protection of indigenous and tribal communities: <\/strong>Indigenous and tribal communities, especially in the North-East region, fear loss of cultural identity, land rights, and political representation due to demographic changes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Challenges<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Lack of Updated Census Data: <\/strong>The last Census in India was conducted in <strong>2011, <\/strong>while the next Census is scheduled for 2027.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The absence of updated Census data may affect the accuracy of demographic assessments and policymaking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Human Rights Concerns: <\/strong>There are concerns regarding the possibility of discrimination, social polarisation, and wrongful exclusion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Federal and Administrative Challenges:<\/strong> Different States may have varying political, administrative, and social responses to migration-related issues.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Border Management Challenges: <\/strong>India shares long and porous international borders with neighbouring countries and effective border management requires advanced surveillance technology, infrastructure development, and better inter-agency coordination.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Way Ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Strengthen Border Infrastructure: <\/strong>India should improve border fencing, surveillance systems, and technological monitoring mechanisms to prevent illegal infiltration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Conduct Timely Census:<\/strong> The government should ensure timely conduct of the Census and strengthen civil registration systems to enable evidence-based policymaking.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Ensure Constitutional Safeguards:<\/strong> Any action related to identification or deportation must follow due process and protect constitutional rights.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Inclusive Population Policies: <\/strong>Population stabilisation measures should focus on; women\u2019s education, healthcare access, awareness programmes, and voluntary family planning measures. Coercive population control measures should be avoided.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Concluding remarks<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A credible assessment of demographic change requires reliable data, transparent methodology and careful differentiation between natural population trends and migration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The committee&#8217;s findings should strengthen evidence-based planning and lawful immigration management while safeguarding privacy, constitutional rights and social cohesion.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/citizens-asked-to-detail-demographic-changes-in-their-areas-through-mha-portal\/article71584379.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><strong>, <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleaseDetail.aspx?PRID=2323428&amp;reg=1&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> A high-level committee set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has launched a portal inviting citizens, government agencies, NGOs, etc. to submit their input on demographic changes in India, preferably post-2011. <\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About the High-Level Committee on Demographic Changes (HLCDC) <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> Constitution: The Union Government constituted a high-level committee to study demographic changes, chaired by Justice Prakash Prabhakar Naolekar in 2026. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\" https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/15-10-2026\/mha-portal-demographic-changes-india \" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-86847","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86847","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=86847"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86847\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":86850,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/86847\/revisions\/86850"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=86847"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=86847"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=86847"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}