Andhra Pradesh passes bills scrapping two-child norm to contest local body polls

The Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly on Monday passed bills to amend the AP Panchayat Raj and Municipal Acts, effectively scrapping the three-decade-old policy that disqualified individuals with more than two children from contesting local body elections. Here on, as per the amendments, any individual, irrespective of the number of children s/he has, can contest the local body elections.
The two-child norm, introduced in 1994 by the then Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s government, was aimed at controlling population growth. It barred candidates with more than two children from contesting elections for Gram Panchayats, Mandal Praja Parishads, and Zilla Parishads. The two-children rule also extended to holding certain government jobs and accessing specific benefits in some cases.
The Chief Minister, who in recent times underlined the need for increasing the population, presented the bills removing restrictions on those having more than two children to contest the local body elections. Naidu justified the repeal, citing declining fertility rates and the need to adapt to contemporary socio-economic conditions.
Population policy review, after the implementation of the two-children norm showed that according to the National Family Health Survey 2019-21, Andhra Pradesh’s Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropped significantly. Urban areas reported a TFR of 1.47, while rural areas showed 1.78, both well below the replacement level of 2.1 children per woman. The statewide average fertility rate was 1.7.
The government argued that the two-child norm was now unnecessary and counterproductive. A senior TDP leader explained that the move was influenced by the decreasing population of children below 15 years of age in the state.
“As the declining fertility rates, population stabilisation, and changing socio-economic conditions proved to be outdated and counterproductive, the government felt that repealing sections intended to control the population would promote inclusive governance, reflect contemporary social values, and align with global best practices and demographic trends,” the bills stated.
Chief Minister Naidu emphasised that population management could become an economic asset in the future. “After the earlier successful implementation of family planning, it is time to incentivise women and families to have more children,” he said, advocating for the shift in policy.
The amendments were introduced to revise the Andhra Pradesh Panchayat Raj Act, 1994, the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act, 1965, and the Municipal Corporation Act, 1955. Following the changes, individuals with more than two children are now eligible to contest local body elections.