New Delhi: The economic survey 2006-07 said that the total population, with a high proportion in the reproductive age group, will continue to grow for another 25-35 years before stabilising around 2045.
The survey projects annual population growth to gradually decelerate from 1.6 per cent in the five years ending in 2006 to 0.9 per cent in the five years ending in 2026.
The projections have been taken by the survey from the data provided by the Technical Group on Population Projections constituted by the National Commission on Population in May 2006.
India's population which is estimated to have gone up from the Census 2001 figure of 1,029 million to 1,112 million in 2006 is projected to increase to 1,400 million by 2026.
The well-known ''demographic dividend'' will manifest in the proportion of population in the working age group of 15-64 years increasing steadily from 62.9 per cent in 2006 to 68.4 per cent in 2026, according to the Economic Survey 2006-07.
The survey calls for population stabilisation by addressing issues of child survival, safe motherhood and contraception. It points out that wide inter-state, male-female and rural-urban disparities in outcomes and impact continue to persist.
Inadequacies in existing health infrastructure have led to gaps in coverage and outreach services in rural areas.
The survey says that India's position on health parameters compared even to some of its neighbours continues to be unsatisfactory.
''India compares poorly not only with China and Sri Lanka but also Bangladesh and Nepal with respect to some indicators.'' It also points out that as per empirical studies the overall quality of the state administration, education and income are often more important than specific public health interventions in explaining the differences in demographic and health indicators.
With agency inputs
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