From population goals to reproductive health autonomy: Reframing India’s fertility transition

From population goals to reproductive health autonomy: Reframing India's fertility transitionRapid fertility decline is a defining demographic trend of our era, sparking both concerns and opportunities.While some warn that lower birth rates may hinder economic growth by shrinking the labour force and increasing the burden of elderly care 1,2 , others see this shift as an opportunity to promote gender equality, reproductive autonomy, and broader human well-being 3 .In response to falling fertility, many governments have implemented pronatalist policies aimed at raising fertility to replacement levels 4 .Yet, amid this persistent global focus on numbers, a fundamental question is often overlooked: Are women truly free to make their own reproductive choices?