2. Policy Shift: Rajasthan Scraps Two-Child Norm for Local Elections

• Legislative Amendment: The Rajasthan Cabinet has approved the removal of the three-decade-old disqualification criteria under Section 19 of the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and Section 24 of the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009, which barred individuals with more than two children from contesting local polls. • Demographic Justification: The government cited a significant decline in the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) from 3.6 in the 1991-94 period to approximately 2.0 currently, rendering the 1995 population control measure \'outdated\' and irrelevant in the modern socio-political context. • Democratic Inclusivity: The move addresses long-standing criticism from social organizations that labeled the norm \'discriminatory,\' arguing that it restricted the fundamental political rights of large sections of the rural population and was inconsistent with democratic principles. • Historical Context: Originally introduced in 1995 under the Bhairon Singh Shekhawat administration, the norm was intended as a pioneering move to incentivize small family units through electoral disqualification, a model later emulated by several other Indian states. • Institutional Reforms: Alongside the electoral shift, the Cabinet approved the creation of a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Economic Offences and a new Industrial Park Promotion Policy to streamline state governance and economic growth. • Socio-Political Debate: While the government views this as a progressive alignment with current demographic realities, the opposition has questioned the timing, linking it to broader ideological debates regarding population growth and community representation. Key Definitions and Concepts • Total Fertility Rate (TFR): The average number of children that would be born to a woman over her lifetime if she were to experience the exact current age-specific fertility rates through her reproductive years. A TFR of 2.1 is generally considered the \'replacement level.\' • Local Self-Government (LSG): Refers to the management of local affairs by elected bodies such as Panchayats in rural areas and Municipalities in urban areas, empowered by the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts. • Replacement Level Fertility: The level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, without migration. Constitutional and Legal Provisions • Article 243-F & 243-V: These articles grant State Legislatures the power to define disqualifications for membership of Panchayats and Municipalities, respectively. • 73rd & 74th Amendments (1992): These constitutional milestones provided the framework for decentralized governance. While the center provided the skeleton, specific eligibility criteria (like the two-child norm) remained a State List prerogative. • Entry 20-A (Concurrent List): \'Population control and family planning\' was added to the Concurrent List by the 42nd Amendment Act, 1976, allowing both Union and State governments to legislate on the matter. • Doctrine of Reasonable Classification: Under Article 14 (Right to Equality), courts have previously upheld such norms (e.g., in Javed v. State of Haryana) as \'reasonable classification\' for the purpose of promoting a state policy, though the Rajasthan government is now choosing to repeal it on merit. Additional State Decisions • Health & Education: Approval for an Ayurvedic, Yoga, and Naturopathy University in Ajmer to bolster traditional medicine systems. • Infrastructure: A revised financial model for the Rajasthan Mandapam and Global Capability Centre (GCC) in Jaipur to attract international investments and corporate hubs. Conclusion The decision to scrap the two-child norm marks a departure from punitive population control measures toward a rights-based democratic approach. By acknowledging that Rajasthan has reached the replacement level of fertility (TFR of 2.0), the state is shifting its focus from quantitative control to qualitative representation. This move ensures that local governance becomes more inclusive, removing a barrier that disproportionately affected certain demographics while reflecting the success of past family welfare programs. UPSC Relevance • GS Paper II: Governance, Constitution, and Issues related to Local Self-Government. It highlights the evolving nature of eligibility criteria for grassroots democracy. • GS Paper I: Social Issues and Population Dynamics. This serves as a case study on how state policy reacts to changing Total Fertility Rates (TFR) and demographic transitions. • Ethics (GS Paper IV): The debate between state-mandated population control versus individual reproductive rights and democratic participation.