AP Govt Announces Incentives for Families With Two Children

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has announced a set of proposed incentives aimed at encouraging families to have two or more children. The announcement was made in the Assembly on March 5, 2026, as the state government outlined concerns over the declining birth rate and the need to maintain population balance.

The proposals form part of a broader population policy being considered by the state government.

Financial Support for Childbirth and Childcare

Under the proposal, parents with two or more children would receive financial assistance from the government. A cash incentive of ₹25,000 is planned to be provided at the time of childbirth for eligible families.

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In addition, the government has proposed a monthly assistance of ₹1,000 for five years to support the child’s nutrition and care. The proposal also includes free education for children until the age of 18.

The measures are aimed at encouraging families to consider having more than one child while ensuring support for early childhood needs.

Additional Leave for Government Employees

The government has also proposed additional leave benefits for government employees who become parents.

If a second child is born, government employees who are parents will be granted one month of additional leave. If a third child is born, another month of additional leave will be provided.

These provisions are intended to support families during the early stages following childbirth.

Paternity Leave and Policy Relaxations

The Chief Minister also announced plans to introduce paternity leave to promote shared parental responsibility. Male government employees will be granted one month of paternity leave when their second child is born.

Alongside these measures, the government has already removed the earlier rule that restricted candidates with more than two children from contesting local body elections.

The state government also announced the removal of limits on maternity leave for women employees.

Population Policy Target

The proposed population policy is being framed with the objective of increasing the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Andhra Pradesh. The current TFR in the state stands at 1.5.

The government aims to raise this figure to 2.1 through the newly proposed measures.