India has been trying to limit its population growth since it gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1947. Even then, the young developing nation was concerned about having more people than it could provide with food, housing, health care, education, and clean water. In 1952, India became the first country to use government programs to try to slow the number of new births.
One of India’s most important efforts in recent decades has been to promote education and career opportunities for women. With such advantages, women tend to improve their families’ economic well-being. Studies also show that they start having children later in life, which reduces the size of families. This can, in turn, benefit the next generation. In the past, many kids in India had to work to help support their families. Now, in the best cases, their families can afford to send them to school instead.
India’s efforts have led to some progress in raising the general standard of living in the country. One recent study estimated that between 2005 and 2017, the nation was able to lift hundreds of millions of its people out of poverty.