Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh State government on Wednesday introduced two important bills in the Legislative Assembly. The first set of bills seeks to amend the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act of 1994, the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act of 1965, and the Municipal Corporation Act of 1955, aiming to revise the existing population control norms. After three decades of implementing the two-child policy, the government reviewed the population trends and found that the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has significantly declined. According to the National Family Health Survey, the TFR in rural areas dropped from 3.7 children in 1991-92 to 2.1 in 2019-21, while urban areas saw a decrease from 2.6 in 2001 to around 1.5 in recent years.
In light of these changes, the government decided to repeal provisions that had been in place to control population growth. The declining fertility rate and evolving socio-economic conditions made the existing norms outdated and counterproductive. The new bills will allow individuals with more than two children to contest local body elections, reflecting the government’s aim to promote inclusive governance and align with contemporary demographic trends and global practices.
In addition to the population-related amendments, the government also tabled a bill to extend the retirement age of judicial officers from 60 to 61 years, effective from November 1, 2024. Currently, there are 552 judicial officers serving in the state, and 13 officers are set to retire between November 2024 and March 2026. This change will directly benefit these officers, with the total financial commitment for the extension amounting to ₹5.70 crore until March 2026.
