China's Demographic Crisis: A Stark Warning for India's Future

• China's birth rate plummeted from 17.86 million in 2016 to 7.92 million by 2025, a drastic decline in less than a decade.
• The one-child policy, enforced with fines and coercion, led to a skewed sex ratio and long-term societal issues, which even relaxed policies and incentives failed to reverse.
• High living costs, education expenses, and the hukou system contribute to low fertility, as families defer or abandon plans for children.
• Chinese women's increased education and workforce participation lead to a 'freedom to choose' not to have children, a silent protest against past coercive policies.
• India's moderate, choice-based two-child policy, without penalties, preserves individual autonomy and positions the nation for a demographic dividend, avoiding China's pitfalls.