Despite being the world’s most populous nation with 1.42 billion citizens, India is witnessing a surprising push from Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s allies to encourage larger families. While the country currently grapples with significant youth unemployment, influential political figures and Hindu organizations argue that the focus should shift toward population growth to combat a declining fertility rate. Data shows that India's total fertility rate has dropped to 2.0—falling below the 2.1 replacement level—largely due to improvements in female education and access to contraception.

In response, regional leaders like Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu are rebranding children as a form of "wealth" to prevent future economic strain associated with aging populations. States like Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim are already floating incentives, including cash bonuses for third or fourth children and extended parental leave, to reverse current trends. This mirrors a global phenomenon where nations like China and Japan, once focused on curbing population growth, have shifted their policies to boost birth rates to avoid demographic crises and the long-term economic instability that accompanies a shrinking workforce.