Read the passage and answer the questions that follow. India's human development indicators have shown steady improvement, yet significant inter-state disparities persist. The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5, 2019-21) revealed that while the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at the national level has declined to 2.0 — below the replacement rate of 2.1 — several states, particularly in the north and northeast, continue to report TFRs above the replacement level. On the education front, the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) 2023 highlighted the 'learning poverty' problem: a large share of children in Class 5 are unable to read a Class 2 level text. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 seeks to address foundational literacy through its 'NIPUN Bharat' mission, targeting universal foundational numeracy and literacy by Grade 3 by 2026-27. India's ranking in the UN Human Development Index (HDI) 2023-24 was 134 out of 193 countries, with an HDI value of 0.644, placing it in the 'medium human development' category. Based on NFHS-5 data, which of the following is the correct set of states that still have a Total Fertility Rate (TFR) above the replacement level of 2.1?

The correct answer is 'Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand' The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is a standard demographic indicator that represents the average number of children a woman would have in her lifetime based on current age-specific fertility rates. According to the National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) conducted between 2019 and 2021, India's national TFR has declined to 2.0, falling below the replacement level of 2.1. Replacement level fertility is the level of fertility at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next, typically taken as 2.1 children per woman. Key Points States above Replacement Level: Despite the national average falling to 2.0, the NFHS-5 data identifies five specific states that still report a TFR higher than the replacement level of 2.1. These states are Bihar (2.98) , Meghalaya (2.91) , Uttar Pradesh (2.35) , Jharkhand (2.26) , and Manipur (2.17) . The set including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Meghalaya, and Jharkhand correctly identifies four of the primary states that have not yet reached the replacement level. Fertility Trends: The survey highlights a significant decline in fertility across most Indian states compared to NFHS-4 (2015-16). While Bihar remains the state with the highest fertility rate, it has also shown a decline from its previous TFR of 3.4. Urban areas generally report lower TFR (1.6) compared to rural areas (2.1), though both segments have seen substantial reductions. Additional Information Incorrect Combinations: Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh: Many assume these states are still above the replacement level, but NFHS-5 shows both have reached a TFR of 2.0 , putting them below the 2.1 threshold. Assam and Chhattisgarh: These states have significantly improved their indicators. Assam reports a TFR of 1.9 and Chhattisgarh reports 1.8 , both well below the replacement level. BIMARU States: The acronym BIMARU (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh) was historically used to describe states with poor health and economic indicators. However, as per NFHS-5, the statement that "All BIMARU states" are above 2.1 is false, as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have successfully reached the 2.0 mark. Replacement Level Fertility: This is defined as the total fertility rate at which a population exactly replaces itself from one generation to the next without migration. In developed countries, this is usually 2.1, accounting for the fact that some children will not survive to reproductive age. Important Points The decline in TFR is attributed to better family planning, increased female literacy, and improved maternal health services. NIPUN Bharat Mission: Mentioned in the passage, this mission is crucial for addressing the 'learning poverty' mentioned alongside demographic challenges, aiming for universal literacy by 2026-27. HDI Ranking: India's position (134th) reflects the ongoing struggle to bridge the gap between declining fertility (demographic success) and actual human development outcomes like education and income.