India is witnessing a demographic transition as several southern states are recording low birth rates and slow population growth even though parts of the Hindi heartland continue to remain young and fast-growing, according to the latest bulletin of the Sample Registration System (SRS).At just 11.1 per 1,000 population, Kerala recorded the lowest birth rate among major states in 2024, followed by Tamil Nadu at 11.6, Delhi at 12.8, Punjab at 13.6 and Maharashtra at 13.8.Meanwhile, Bihar reported the highest birth rate in the country at 26.8 per 1,000 population, followed by Uttar Pradesh at 23.5, Rajasthan at 22.8, Madhya Pradesh at 22.5 and Chhattisgarh at 22.2.At the national level, India’s birth rate stood at 18.3 per 1,000 population in 2024 and death rate of 6.4 per 1000 people. Thus, the natural growth rate (the difference between birth and death rates) was 11.9, down from 36.9 per 1,000 in 1971.These statistics also have implications for the delimitation issue as southern states as well as others that have achieved replacement level of fertility faster are concerned about losing representation in the national elected bodies.The SRS data suggests that while India as a whole continues to add to its population, some states are moving much faster towards a low-growth demographic profile.The differences are even more pronounced when natural growth rates are examined. Kerala recorded a natural growth rate of just 3.9 per 1,000 population, while Tamil Nadu stood at 4.8, Punjab at 6.5 and Maharashtra at 7.8. In comparison, Bihar’s natural growth rate was 20.8, Uttar Pradesh’s at 17.2 and Rajasthan’s at 17.0.The data also indicates that population growth is increasingly concentrated in a handful of northern and central states, while several southern and western states are witnessing much slower growth.The trend is part of a broader demographic transformation that has unfolded over the past five decades. According to the bulletin, India’s birth rate has declined from 36.9 per 1,000 population in 1971 to 18.3 in 2024. During the same period, the death rate fell from 14.9 to 6.4.Infant mortality rate has also declined sharply, dropping from 129 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 1971 to 24 in 2024. The report notes that the current infant mortality rate is less than one-fifth of what it was five decades ago.Together, these trends point towards a population that is having fewer children while experiencing better survival outcomes.The demographic contrast is also visible within North India. Delhi recorded a birth rate of 12.8 and a natural growth rate of 8.4. Punjab recorded a birth rate of 13.6, followed by Himachal Pradesh (14), Jammu and Kashmir (14.6) and Haryana (18.5). The natural growth rate was 6.5 for Punjab, 7.2 for Himachal, 9.2 for J&K, and 11.8 for Haryana.