The real need is a holistic demographic mission

The announcement on August 15, 2025, of a demographic mission, has become a topic of controversy in social and political circles. While the stated mission was limited to monitoring undocumented immigration from Bangladesh and its implied demographics in India’s border regions, a holistic demographic mission seems to be the need as the nation is at the demographic crossroads. The most populous nation, with a large youth demography, undoubtedly becomes a matter of global envy and local pride. The demographics have never assumed significance in policy circles except for its relevance in population control. Demographic diversity is a blessing in disguise to sustain India’s population well into the next century. Reading India’s demographics may not essentially be limited to the country per se but has to be in relative terms with other global regions.

Need for a broader scope

A demography mission requires examining the kind of demographic transformation that has taken place over the last two decades. Demographic imaginations relating to the three demographic components of fertility, mortality and migration are quite limiting but have broader implications towards regional distribution of the age-sex composition of population and households. The agenda of a demography mission should not necessarily be limited to reading the future of demography but in recognition of emerging population features in terms of capabilities such as education, health and livelihood features alongside the evolving institutions in response to the migration transition. From a human capability standpoint, a demography mission needs to address the imbalanced infrastructure to generate human capabilities across regions. Consider the case of education and skill capabilities or a ‘dream India’ emerging as a skill capital in the world — the educational infrastructure remains skewed across regions and is not in keeping with middle class aspirations. This results in inequities with the affluent being able to achieve things as against the less affluent failing to do so.

Issue of migration

While there have been major advances on the fertility and mortality fronts, migration seems to be a major population balancer across regions. Hence, policies need to be in place to make the choice of migration equal for everyone. But then the political discourse on migration is quite adverse within India. Despite the constitutional guarantee of a free mobility of individuals across all States, migrant identity is often threatened on various grounds. First, this is not a stated identity but rather a constructed one. Therefore, the protection of such an identity should ideally rest with the state rather than the individual.

Another complexity is the home and host attribute which needs to have an equal stake apart from the individual who is a migrant. The current political discourse on this subject is on disenfranchising migrants from their right to voting at home as they do not qualify to be the ‘usual resident of the place’.

Editorial | Figure of speech: On the Prime Minister’s Independence Day address

The same right could perhaps be bestowed on them by the host place, where they are equally disenfranchised. This raises a question on whether migrants face a constant battle of belonging. Resolving this puzzle that internal migrants confront should be the agenda of a demographic mission which should strive to restore migrant rights.

On longevity

The changing demography also poses other puzzles such as growing longevity and the provisioning of social security. There is sincere engagement on this issue to redefine ageing and economically productive years of life, where the young and the old equally remain productive as long as they remain healthy and active. The other implication of social security protection being the sole responsibility of the state needs a relook as well, with employers preparing employees to remain financially secure for their non-earning years of life. The entire scene of provisioning of social security needs a rethink with there being extended years of life.

Recognition of changing demographics is perhaps necessary in all possible planning, policy making, evaluation and monitoring. While there are plethora of indicators being made available to celebrate progress and achievements, one wonders whether they are able to account for changing demographics. When it comes to allocation and provisioning too, demographics should dictate the priorities. Unfortunately, the per capita hangover continues to prevail which ignores the composition of the population in the denominator. A demography mission’s foundation lies in the demographic sensitisation of a whole lot of intellectual discourse on mainstreaming, marginalisation and inclusion. Demography is not a mere discipline to offer a retrospective and prospective dimension of population. It is the foundation to build the future of humanity with a suitable alteration in strategies in keeping with the evolving global order.

S. Irudaya Rajan is Chair at the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), Kerala. U.S. Mishra is Honorary Visiting Professor at the International Institute of Migration and Development (IIMAD), Kerala