Tamil Nadu Extends Maternity Leave Amid South India's Declining Fertility Concerns

Tamil Nadu's recent move to extend maternity leave has drawn attention to a broader demographic challenge facing southern India. Fertility rates in the southern states are among the lowest in the country, raising concerns about long-term population sustainability. Population growth in the region is slowing while the proportion of elderly citizens continues to rise. These demographic shifts are also fueling anxieties over future political representation for southern states at the national level.