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Synopsis National Population Policy 2000 is now out for implementation by the governments at union, states and local levels hopefully through involvement of other enlightened fora of the society. There was felt a need for a well rounded book which covers all aspects of population policy, particularly from the angle of a developing country like India. Divided in five parts, the book tries to provide a philosophical discussion-touching upon sociology, politics and economics on the minimal essentials of a population policy. It narrates in short the history of attempts made in this vital sphere in pre-independence period, particularly by NGOs, and that of developments since independence. The book also paraphrases different policy documents and then appraise them in a threadbare manner. The most important part of the book deals with the issues that must be kept in view in implementation. In fact no secular document can be considered immutable. Our policy, particularly in the sphere of population, must give a semblance of a policy by the people for the people. Only with such minimal condition, there is any hope of success of a population policy without creating aberrations elsewhere. With a view to providing minimal necessary backdrop, the book acquaints the reader with the debate on population as a problem as well as the global and the Indian demographic scenes. It also portrays a comparative picture of present states of the country over the twentieth century so that the reader is in a position to appreciate the provisions in our population policies as also the pronouncements made by many of our 'democratic' demographers! The style has however been kept simple so that a reader from any background can pick up the thread.