The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to abolish the two-child norm for candidates contesting local body elections, in light of the state’s declining fertility rates. The decision came during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Wednesday.
The Cabinet approved the repeal of amendments made in 1994 to the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Corporation Act 1955 and the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act 1965, which had previously restricted individuals with more than two children from participating in urban local body elections. Although similar restrictions for Panchayat Raj elections in 2019, the limitation remain for other local bodies.
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Information and Public Relations Minister K. Parthsarathi stated that the Cabinet’s decision was driven by concerns over the declining fertility rate and the need to address social and economic factors related to population stability. The fertility rate in Andhra Pradesh stands at 1.5 percent, below the national average of 2.1 percent. Additionally, the average reproductive age is project to rise significantly over the coming decades, which expects to reduce the population of potential economic contributors.
Demographic Shift
The Cabinet also noted a significant demographic shift, with 11 percent of the state’s population currently aged over 60, a figure expected to rise to 19 percent by 2047. This compares to a national average of 10 percent, projected to increase to 15 percent by 2047.
In addition to the repeal of the two-child norm, the Cabinet approved the issuance of new Pattadar passbooks (land records) featuring the official state emblem and QR codes. These will replace 22 lakh land records distributed by the previous government, which featured former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s picture.
The Cabinet also extended the ban on the Communist Party of India-Maoist and the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) for an additional year under the Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act, 1992. Furthermore, a new excise policy to implement from October 1, with a focus on offering quality liquor at reduce prices.
