India's family structure is rapidly transforming, yet limited research examines its connection with demographic transition, urbanization, and modernization. Using macro-level panel data (1991–2021), we analyze how urbanization and modernization drive the shift from traditional to nuclear families. Fixed-effects models reveal a significant positive relationship: each unit increase in urbanization and modernization increases nuclear families by 0.29–1.32 percent and 0.21–0.49 percent, respectively. Factors like rising literacy, economic shifts, and women's autonomy further accelerate the nucleation of families. As India's rural-urban transition continues, sustained urbanization and modernization will likely deepen family nucleation, signaling an impending second demographic transition in the near future.
Dey et al. (Wed,) studied this question.