GS-2Editorials08 June 2026thehindu.com

A targeting in the name of demography

The article critically analyzes the formation of a High-Level Committee on Demographic Change by the Indian government, arguing that its Terms of Reference (ToRs) are a pretext to target minorities, particularly Muslims, under the guise of addressing 'illegal immigration' and 'unnatural demographic change'. It highlights the committee's composition lacking demographers and points out the lack of evidence for large-scale undocumented migration from Bangladesh, citing Bangladesh's improved economic indicators. The author contends that the committee's real purpose is to officially validate age-old misinformation about Muslim fertility rates and accelerate discrimination against the community, drawing parallels to historical atrocities.

The article critically analyzes the formation of a High-Level Committee on Demographic Change by the Indian government, arguing that its Terms of Reference (ToRs) are a pretext to target minorities, particularly Muslims, under the guise of addressing 'illegal immigration' and 'unnatural demographic change'. It highlights the committee's composition lacking demographers and points out the lack of evidence for large-scale undocumented migration from Bangladesh, citing Bangladesh's improved economic indicators. The author contends that the committee's real purpose is to officially validate age-old misinformation about Muslim fertility rates and accelerate discrimination against the community, drawing parallels to historical atrocities.

Exam linkage

GS Paper I: Population and associated issues. GS Paper II: Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation; Welfare schemes for vulnerable sections of the population; Mechanisms, laws, institutions and Bodies constituted for the protection and betterment of these vulnerable sections.

Syllabus mapping

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