Episode description

This month the world population reached 8 billion people - and India is leading the charge. It's set to overtake China as most populous country in the world next year. India is currently home to more than 1.39 billion people. By April, the UN says it will hit 1.42 billion.

What’s caused this rapid population growth, what does it mean for India, its economy and its neighbours?

The growth has already put an enormous amount of pressure on India’s resources and economic stability. The country is on the frontline of climate change and is struggling with extreme weather events 80% of the year. Should the Indian government be doing more to slow population growth or is in fact an opportunity for economic development?

Ritula Shah is joined by a panel of experts.

Poonam Muttreja - executive director of Population Foundation of India (PFI).

Colette Rose - sociologist and researcher at the Berlin Institute for Population and Development.

Dr Shatakshee Dongde - associate professor at the School of Economics, Georgia Institute of Technology.

Also featuring : Shaina NC (Shaina Nana Chudasama) - Indian BJP government spokesperson.

Producers: Ellen Otzen and Rumella Dasgupta

(Photo :People walk through a congested road of a wholesale market in the old quarters of Delhi, India; Credit: EPA/RAJAT GUPTA)