A clear view of the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic is only beginning to take shape, but experts estimate the human cost could be extraordinary. The economic and physical disruptions caused by the disease could have vast consequences for the rights and health of women and girls, a new analysis by UNFPA and partners shows.

Emergency response of COVID-19 outbreak also means that resources for sexual and reproductive health services may be diverted to deal with the outbreak, contributing to a rise in maternal and newborn mortality, increased unmet need for contraception, and increased number of unsafe abortions and sexually transmitted infections.

India’s population grew at an average annual rate of 1.2 per cent between 2010 and 2019 to 1.36 billion, more than double the annual growth rate of China, according to a report by the United Nations Population Fund.

The global trend towards smaller families is a reflection of people making reproductive choices to have as few or as many children as they want, when they want.

The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) has released the 2017 edition of its State of World Population report that discusses gender inequality and inequalities in realizing sexual and reproductive health and rights.

This report takes stock of ageing situation in India, some of the concerns and policy and programmatic responses. It also presents good case studies and practices on elderly care across states.