Elector-Population Ratio: Karnataka sees drop in people below 18 years as senior citizens surge
Bengaluru: Karnataka is experiencing a demographic shift, with the population under 18 years steadily decreasing while the number of adult voters and senior citizens continues to grow. This trend, particularly evident in several districts, raises concerns about a potential population crisis driven by declining birth rates.
As of January 2025, the Elector-Population Ratio (EPR) for Karnataka stands at 70.61, surpassing the national average of 65, according to the Office of the Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, as reported by The New Indian Express on Monday.
However, significant variations in the EPR exist across districts. Chikkamagaluru district leads with the highest EPR at 85.84, followed closely by Kodagu at 84.25. In Chikkamagaluru, this means that more than 85 out of every 100 people are aged 18 or older, with a projected population of 11.33 lakh, of which 9.73 lakh are adults enrolled as voters.
“The EPR shows the number of electors in the state. The idea of preparing it regularly is to know if all the people above 18 years of age (voting age) are included in the rolls or not. The present EPR data shows the number of electors in the state is high, the elderly and people above 18 years are more than the young and newborn. However, this does not give the accurate population as the base for calculation (actual population of the state) is not accurately available in the absence of the latest census report,” TNIE quoted Manoj Kumar Meena, Chief Electoral Officer, Karnataka, as saying.
District-level officials, when asked to explain the unusually high Elector-Population Ratio (EPR) in certain areas, pointed to factors such as migration, low birth rates, and under-registration of the voting population.
The yet to be released NHFS-6 report mentioned that there is low fertility in the districts of Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Hassan, Shivamogga, Bengaluru Urban and Mysuru.
Meanwhile, the EPR is lowest in Bengaluru Urban district and the city’s municipal area, ranging between 51.78 and 63.21.
“Bengaluru houses a large number of young people. It is a youth-centric city with a good number of elderly people and children. But most of them are migratory. They stay here, with voting rights elsewhere. Healthcare facilities and economic growth in Bengaluru is very high, but at the same time the fertility rate is on a gradual decline. A separate study on Bengaluru city is needed,” TNIE quoted experts from the Election Commission and demographers as saying.
Earlier this month, a United Nations report projected that India’s population would reach 1.46 billion in 2025, while highlighting a critical demographic trend: the country’s fertility rate has dropped below the replacement level. This indicates that fewer children are being born than are needed to sustain the current population size across generations, in the absence of migration.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
