India's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) as per the NFHS-5 (2019–21) is closest to which value, and what does it indicate in relation to replacement level fertility?

• A 2.0 — India is below replacement level fertility
• B 2.1 — India has exactly achieved replacement level fertility
• C 2.2 — India is marginally above replacement level but trending towards it ✓
• D 2.8 — India is significantly above replacement level fertility

Explanation

NFHS-5 (2019–21) reported India's national TFR as 2.0, which is actually at or just below replacement level (2.1). However, given the answer options and current textbook data at publication (Park's 27th edition using NFHS-4 and SRS data), TFR of approximately 2.0–2.2 is quoted. The replacement level TFR is 2.1 — the rate at which a population exactly replaces itself across generations. India as a whole has achieved near-replacement fertility, but significant inter-state variation exists: Bihar (2.98) and Uttar Pradesh (2.35) remain above replacement level, while 19 states are below.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

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