GS4 · UPSC Mains

In a recent survey around social and economic indicators, a certain state in the country was found grossly underperforming. The state is marred with the issues of poverty, hunger, social backwardness, lawlessness and underdevelopment. In about seven decades since gaining independence, this state has continued to perform poorly across various indices. In the past, the Chief Minister had set up a fact finding Committee to report on the chief causes of the backwardness of the State. After years of ground research and surveying, it was found that the one of the main causes of the state's backwardness was its huge population that amplified resource scarcity to unimaginable proportions. Taking a clue from the facts presented in the report, the State Cabinet constitutes a panel of policy makers to consider this question of growing population and suggest suitable revisions to the State's Population Policy. The Panel recommends legislating a Population Control Bill that has a contentious provision in the form of 'One Child' norm. You are the Chief of this Panel and the recommendations of the Panel require your approval to be tabled in the Chief Minister's Office. In this context, answer the following questions: (a) What are the ethical issues related to population control of a compulsory nature that you would consider before approving or rejecting the recommendation? (b) What would be your course of action in the aforementioned case? Suggest reasons for the same.

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