Panjab sees Dip in Population Growth Rate

Although the 2021 Census is yet to be held, statistics of Civil Registration System (CRS) shows that the population growth rate in Panjab has been declining over the past decade, with the annual addition to the population falling by 50% from 2011 to 2020. The state's population growth rate of 1.65% is lower than the Indian average of 2.98%. The decline is attributed to young Panjabis emigrating abroad and settling there, while migrants from other states are coming into Panjab. There is a visible trend of Muslim migration to Panjab due to the state’s communal stability. Panjabis have been migrating to other countries for more than a century now. Initially, this trend was mainly centered around the state's Doaba region due to smaller landholdings there. Three decades ago, the turmoil in Panjab accelerated the migration. Now, owing to systemic decline in the state, young Panjabis with backgrounds in trade, farming, and businesses, both small and established, are leaving for foreign countries. The shift is also from rural to urban; from lower economic strata to upper; from agrarian to business; from Panjab to other states and countries. This is not just brain drain but a huge loss of enterprising spirit as well.  In January 2022, the earlier INC government announced steps for International English Language Testing System (IELTS) coaching to facilitate the emigration of students. Now the AAP government says IELTS should be made part of the education system in Panjab to tackle the problem of centers facilitating unauthorized emigration. These trends may have a significant impact on the Sikh population, which has already been declining nationally.