Baby bonus for students: Russia pays INR 81,000 as birth rates reach 25-year low

Russia has joined global efforts to combat falling birth rates by offering a new financial incentive for young women. Female students under the age of 25 in the Karelia region will receive a one-time payment of 100,000 rubles (about INR 81,000) for giving birth to a healthy baby.

This initiative forms part of Russia’s broader strategy to reverse population decline, which has reached historic lows.

The new policy targets female students enrolled full-time in local universities or colleges in Karelia. However, it excludes mothers who give birth to stillborn babies and raises questions about the eligibility of mothers of babies with disabilities or sudden infant death syndrome. The policy also does not specify whether additional support will be provided for childcare or postpartum recovery.

Russia’s birth rate has reached its lowest level in 25 years, with just 599,600 babies born in the first half of 2024, 16,000 fewer than in the same period in 2023. The Kremlin described the situation as “catastrophic for the future of the nation.”

The Karelia Program is one of many initiatives being implemented across Russia. Cities such as Tomsk and 11 other regional governments have launched similar incentives for young mothers. Nationally, maternity payments are set to increase in 2025, with first-time mothers receiving 677,000 rubles (about $6,150) and second-time mothers 894,000 rubles (about $8,130).

Despite these measures, Russia’s demographic challenges remain. High adult mortality, migration, and war in Ukraine have exacerbated the crisis. Critics say the government’s incentives fail to address root causes, such as economic instability, access to health care, and societal concerns about raising children in the current environment.