BIMARU Tag

Context: While addressing a summit in UP, PM recalled the tag of ‘BIMARU’, once used to describe the state.

What do BIMARU states mean, who coined the term?

• BIMARU refers to a group of states in India, namely Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
• The term was coined by the late demographer Ashish Bose in 1985 to highlight India’s demographic malady.
• Grouping was primarily based on their high population growth rates and a lack of progress in family planning and population control efforts.
• The term BIMARU means “sickly” in Hindi.
  • Was used to refer to the slow rate of growth in terms of the economy, healthcare, education and other socio-economic characteristics.
• A 2020 report of the National Commission on Population of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, titled Report of the Technical Group on Population Projection, said BIMARU states will contribute to 49.1% of the population increase in India between 2011 and 2036.
• The literacy rates in these states according to the 2011 census against a National average of 74.04%., are:
  • Bihar 63.8%,
  • Rajasthan 67.1%,
  • Jharkhand 67.6%,
  • Madhya Pradesh 70.6% and
  • Uttar Pradesh 71.7%

Source – Indian Express