Penalised for demographic success? Strange case of states south of Godavari

Ahead of a delimitation exercise, the government would be well advised to pre-emptively make offers like greater regional autonomy or an unchanged Rajya Sabha to the southern states, writes T N Ninan

Back in 1981, four southern states (Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu) accounted for a little more than a fifth of national economic activity. The four are now five, with Telangana having been carved out of Andhra Pradesh. And their current share of economic activity has increased by well over a third to 30 per cent. That the south has done better than other regions is generally acknowledged; how much better may come as a surprise to many.

The southern states also have a better record of population control, hence fewer people share their bigger slice of the pie