New Delhi: Mohan Bhagwat, head of India’s powerful Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), has urged Indian families to have three children each, citing long-term risks posed by the country’s declining birth rates.
India, with a population of 1.46 billion, is the world’s most populous nation. However, the total fertility rate has dropped below two children per woman, according to the UN Population Fund’s 2025 report, even as economic growth accelerates.
Speaking at a lecture commemorating the 100th anniversary of the RSS’s founding, Bhagwat emphasized that the population must remain “controlled, yet sufficient” and suggested that “in the national interest, every family should have three children and limit themselves to that.”
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1. For a century, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh has been dedicated to Bharat Mata, shaping patriots, preserving culture, and strengthening society. From Seva to Sangathan, Dharma to Deshbhakti,… pic.twitter.com/qVkyoP9S6l
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His remarks reflect concerns among nationalist leaders and some regional politicians about India’s long-term demographic stability, national capacity, and cultural identity.
For years, hardline Hindu groups have cited higher birth rates among minority groups such as Muslims as a concern, although data show that fertility is declining across all religious communities, including Muslims, who constitute around 14 percent of the population. Bhagwat confirmed that birth rates are falling across religious groups.
The RSS, which officially presents itself as a cultural organisation promoting Hindu values, exerts substantial influence through its extensive network of affiliates and millions of grassroots volunteers.
Many senior ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including Modi himself, are long-time RSS members. Analysts note that BJP policy priorities, from cultural and educational reforms to citizenship laws, often mirror positions championed by the RSS, making it one of the most powerful civil society organisations in the world.
Bhagwat rejected claims that the RSS opposes Muslims or other minorities, asserting that the organisation views all citizens as Indians. The Chief stated that, “Our ancestors and culture are the same. Worship practices may differ, but our identity is one. Changing religion does not change one’s community.”
On the ground, some residents in Parang village have pushed back against certain government projects, such as the Delhi dam, warning that they could disrupt their way of life. Bhagwat also highlighted the importance of mutual trust, and noted that, “Muslims must overcome the fear that joining hands with others will erase their Islam.”
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