Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said the state will provide cash incentives for families having a third and fourth child to address declining population growth.

The move marks a significant shift in regional policy, as the state attempts to reverse a falling birth rate that officials believe could threaten long-term demographic stability.

During a state programme on May 16, 2024, the government introduced rewards to encourage larger families [1]. According to some reports, the state will provide Rs 30,000 for a third child and Rs 40,000 for a fourth child [1].

Other reports indicate varying figures for the initiative. A draft population management policy suggests a lower incentive of Rs 25,000 for the third child [2]. This follows earlier reports from March 6, 2024, stating the government was considering incentives of Rs 25,000 each for both the second and third child [3].

The policy aims to manage population trends through financial stimulation, a strategy that differs from the population control measures historically seen in other parts of India. The administration is focusing on these incentives to counter the specific trend of population decline within Andhra Pradesh [2].

While the specific amounts vary across reporting, the core objective remains the stabilization of the state's demographic growth. The government has not yet provided a final, unified figure for all eligible children across all reporting channels.

“Cash incentives for families having a third and fourth child”

This policy represents a pivot toward pronatalist strategies in India, where the national discourse has traditionally focused on population control. By offering direct cash transfers, Andhra Pradesh is experimenting with financial levers to influence reproductive choices, signaling a growing concern among state leadership that sub-replacement fertility rates could lead to future economic and social imbalances.