Demography India Vol. 53, No. 1 (2024)

From the Chief Editor’s Desk

I am happy to present the new issue of Demography India. This issue covers a diverse range of topics concerning implementation of population policy, assessment of demographic trends, and the relationship between social structure and health. It encompasses evidence-based research from leading social scientists in all parts of India. A balance of national level studies and micro studies is also maintained. The topics cover the possibility of fertility stall in India, socio-economic differentials in rural out-migration, nutrition and adiposity, the relationship between infectious diseases and life expectancy, factors affecting health services utilization, urbanization and growth trajectory of urban centres, mental health issues among the frontline health providers during Covid-19, determinants of contraceptive use, risk of adverse pregnancy, and health intervention through fortified rice.
In addition, there are two new features of this issue. First, the editorial team is attempting to get papers from senior demographers on issues of their choice. In this issue we are publishing an article received from Prof. R. C. Yadava (jointly with Dr. P. K. Rai), entitled, A Revisit to “Chance Mechanism of the Variation in the Number of Births Per Couple”. I hope such articles would help the demographic community. We request our senior colleagues to send us their paper for inclusion in the next issue of the journal.

Second, the team has experienced that many researchers are attempting to write papers based on large data, using advance techniques, such as logistic regression. Some of these papers, even though focused on interesting themes, get rejected for methodological reasons or inconsistency of findings. Therefore, it was decided to include a practical note on application of logistic regression analysis. It is hoped that the new researchers would find it useful. If the editorial board receives favourable comments on the note, they would be happy to make it a general feature with articles from renowned demographers in India and abroad.

I am particularly happy to share that we are getting good quality of papers from diverse institutes, research centres and universities in India and abroad, from both younger and established demographers and social scientists. We follow a rigorous, blind review policy. We also try to communicate our decision regarding the status of the paper as early as possible. By publishing these articles, we aim to showcase our unwavering commitment to disseminating both technical and substantive research findings on population research in India. We extend an open invitation to scholars and experts to contribute their papers and articles on demographic change and its socio-economic implications, health and nutrition, program implementation, and critical analysis of state policies. We are confident that your journal Demography India will continue to fulfil the theoretical and methodological requirements of academicians, policymakers, and community organizations across the country.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to IASP president, Prof. Suresh Sharma, IEG, for supporting the activities of this journal. We are deeply committed to maintaining the continuity and impact of the journal, ensuring its growth and relevance in the field of demography. Furthermore, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to all our reviewers for their valuable insights and timely feedback on the research papers submitted for publication. I am also thankful to the editorial team, particularly the Managing Editor, Dr. Gudakesh, Associate Managing Editor, Dr. Priyanka Yadav, and the staff of the IEG for support in publishing the journal.

With the unwavering support of the demographic community in India and abroad, as well as the collaboration of social scientists working on population, health, and public policy issues, we aim to elevate Demography India to a new height of academic quality and impact. Together, we will shape a journal that continues to serve as a valuable resource for knowledge exchange and evidence-based decision-making.

In addition to research papers, we would also welcome short research short communiques, views on published articles, notes, and commentaries. We would also be happy to receive books and reports for review in the next issue of the journal. If you have published a book or report and you want it to be included in the next issue you may send two copies of it to the Managing Editor.

If you have any suggestion to improve the quality of the journal you may contact me directly at my email address: arunk@iitk.ac.in or 4aksharma@gmail.com.

Arun Kumar Sharma, Senior Professor, IIT Kanpur (Ret.)
Chief Editor, Demography India