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  Making welfare conditional is a stamp of coercion. On Sunday, the government of Uttar Pradesh released a “Population Policy” in which it stated its intention to bring the gross fertility rate in the State down from the existing 2.7 to 2.1 by 2026. To achieve this, the go- vernment says it will consider the enactment of a new piece of legis- lation. One such law that might be on the anvil is an ominous propo- sal released just days earlier by the State’s Law Commission (https://bit.ly/3xGH2TF). Incentives and disincentives This draft law, titled the Uttar Pra- desh Population (Control, Stabili- sation and Welfare) Bill, 2021, seeks to provide not only a series of incentives to families that adh- ere to a two­child norm, but also intends on disentitling families that breach the norm from bene- fits and subsidies. These recom- mendations are rooted in a culture of coercion. They are also steeped in myth. Experiences from across the world demonstrate that laws of this kind simply do...

  The upcoming crisis in Indian federalism The national compact has to be reimagined so that post 2026, the most successful States are not punished politically. The Indian Constitution may face an unprecedented crisis in 2026 when there will be a dramatic change in the composi- tion of the Lok Sabha. Since 1976, seats in the Lok Sabha have reflect- ed the 1971 census and have not ta- ken into account changes in the population. The primary reason for this has been unequal popula- tion growth among States. India’s most highly developed and prosperous States have been suc- cessful at family planning, while the poorer States continue to ex- pand. The freeze was thus a chance to ensure that India’s most successful States are not punished politically for their success. Post 2026, when this compact ends, there will be a seismic shift in na- tional power towards India’s poor- est and most populated States, which is sure to generate much re- sentment among the States that will lose politic...