1. Population Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition

Competency Based Questions:

1. Which factor primarily explains sparse population in the Himalayan region of India?
   a) Fertile soil and water availability
   b) Rugged terrain and harsh climate
   c) Industrial development
   d) Urban infrastructure

Ans: b) Rugged terrain and harsh climate​

Explanation: Steep slopes, extreme weather, and inaccessibility limit settlement and agriculture in mountains, unlike plains with favorable conditions.

2. Identify the region with the highest population density in India according to recent census data.
   a) Thar Desert
   b) Indo-Gangetic Plains
   c) Deccan Plateau
   d) Western Ghats

Ans: b) Indo-Gangetic Plains

Explanation: Fertile alluvial soil, flat terrain, and extensive irrigation support intensive agriculture and dense settlements here.

3. What has been the primary reason for India’s declining population growth rate post-1981?
   a) Increased birth rates
   b) Family planning programs and rising literacy
   c) Large-scale emigration
   d) Declining death rates only

Ans: b) Family planning programs and rising literacy

Explanation: Government initiatives, education (especially among women), and improved healthcare reduced fertility rates from over 5 to around 2 children per woman.

4. Which age group typically forms the largest share of India’s population pyramid?
   a) 0-14 years (youth bulge)
   b) 15-59 years (working age)
   c) 60+ years (elderly)
   d) Equal across all groups

Ans: b) 15-59 years (working age)

Explanation: India’s youthful structure shows a broad base narrowing at the top, with the productive age group dominating due to past high birth rates.

5. Why does Kerala exhibit high population density despite limited arable land compared to Punjab?
   a) Lower agricultural productivity
   b) High literacy and service sector jobs
   c) Desert climate
   d) Mineral resources

Ans: b) High literacy and service sector jobs

Explanation: Non-agricultural employment in tourism, IT, and remittances supports dense urban-rural populations beyond farming dependency.

6. Physiological density measures population per unit area of:
   a) Total land area
   b) Arable land only
   c) Urban areas
   d) Forest cover

Ans: b) Arable land only

Explanation: It indicates pressure on cultivable land, revealing agricultural sustainability—high values signal over-dependence on limited farmland.

7. Which factor has accelerated India’s rural-urban migration and composition shift?
   a) Decline in agricultural employment
   b) Reduced industrial growth
   c) Increased farm mechanization
   d) Both a and c

Ans: d) Both a and c

Explanation: Mechanization displaces farm labor while stagnant agriculture pushes people toward urban jobs, raising urban population share to 35%.

8. Which region in India experiences negative population growth due to out-migration?
   a) Indo-Gangetic Plains
   b) Hill states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh
   c) Kerala coastal areas
   d) Punjab plains

Ans: b) Hill states like Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

Explanation: Youth migrate to cities for education/jobs, leaving aging populations and depopulated villages despite favorable natural growth.

9. A declining sex ratio at birth primarily results from:
   a) Female infanticide and son preference
   b) Higher female migration
   c) Improved female healthcare
   d) Urbanization alone

Ans: a) Female infanticide and son preference

Explanation: Cultural biases lead to skewed child sex ratios (e.g., 918 females/1000 males nationally), affecting long-term population composition.

10. High population density but uneven distribution characterizes:
    a) Sahara Desert
    b) Ganga Plains
    c) Amazon Basin
    d) Antarctica

Ans: b) Ganga Plains

Explanation: Density exceeds 1000 persons/sq km overall, but varies sharply—dense in fertile pockets, sparse along rivers/marshes—due to localized resources.

11. Which geographer proposed laws/hypotheses establishing a close relationship between population migration (and distribution) and physical, socio-economic, and historical factors?
12. a) Thomas Malthus
    b) Ernst Georg Ravenstein
    c) Warren Thompson
    d) Demographic Transition Theory

Ans: b) Ernst Georg Ravenstein​

Explanation: Ravenstein’s Laws of Migration (1885) established that population movement (and thus distribution) is closely tied to:

• Physical factors: Distance decay (shorter migrations preferred), terrain barriers
• Socio-economic factors: Economic opportunities, urban pull, rural push
• Historical factors: Established migration streams, step-wise migration patterns

• Key laws include: Most migrants travel short distances; migration occurs in stages; females migrate more locally; economic factors dominate long-distance moves.

1. Describe the patterns of spatial distribution of population in India.

Ans:

a) High Density Regions

The Northern Plains (Indo-Gangetic region), deltas (Ganga-Brahmaputra), and Coastal Plains host over half the population due to fertile alluvial soils, flat terrain, abundant water, and intensive agriculture. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Kerala show densities exceeding 500 persons per sq km, driven by historical settlements and irrigation networks.​

b) Moderate Density Areas

Peninsular plateaus (Deccan, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu) and parts of central India have moderate densities (200-500 persons/sq km) supported by minerals, industries, and moderate rainfall, though uneven due to black soil variability and seasonal droughts.​

c) Low Density Zones

Himalayas, Thar Desert (Rajasthan), and northeastern hill tracts remain sparsely populated (<100 persons/sq km) owing to rugged terrain, harsh climate, floods, inaccessibility, and limited arable land—e.g., Arunachal Pradesh at 17 persons/sq km vs. Delhi’s 11,297.​

Influencing Patterns

Physical factors (climate, relief, water) dominate, amplified by socio-economic pulls like industries (e.g., Mumbai-Pune belt) and urbanization (Delhi-NCR), creating urban high-density pockets amid rural dispersion.​

2. Analyze the impact of the physiological and agricultural density of India on the total density of the population.

Ans: India’s total population density (382 persons/sq km as per 2011 Census) marks significant pressure on agricultural resources, as revealed by physiological and agricultural densities.​

Physiological Density Impact

Physiological density (population per unit of arable land) is markedly higher than total density—estimated at 1,500-2,000 persons per sq km of cultivable land—indicating intense human pressure on farmland. This elevates overall density figures because only 46% of India’s land is arable, concentrating populations on limited fertile areas like the Indo-Gangetic Plains, where densities exceed 1,000/sq km total but far higher physiologically.​

Agricultural Density Influence

Agricultural density (farmers per unit of arable land) remains moderate (200-300 agriculturists per sq km of cultivable land), but rising non-farmer populations inflate physiological ratios. This disparity shows total density understates agrarian stress: fragmented holdings and over-cultivation in states like Bihar (physiological density >3,000) drive land degradation, pushing rural-urban migration and inflating urban densities (e.g., Delhi at 11,297/sq km).​

Overall Effect on Total Density

High physiological/agricultural densities sustain elevated total density by funnelling population growth into agriculturally viable zones, creating uneven patterns—dense plains (contributing 50%+ population on 20% land) versus sparse deserts/mountains. This agricultural dependency amplifies total density metrics, signals food security risks, and underscores need for diversified economies to alleviate farmland pressure

3. Explain how natural and induced components contribute to growth in population.

Ans:

Natural Components

Natural growth stems from the difference between crude birth rate (CBR: live births per 1,000 population) and crude death rate (CDR: deaths per 1,000). In India, high CBR (historically 30-40) coupled with falling CDR (from 25+ in 1921 to 7 today) drove explosive growth post-1951, adding millions annually via improved healthcare, sanitation, and vaccines—e.g., natural increase peaked at 2.5% in the 1980s.​

Induced Components

Induced growth arises from inward (immigration) minus outward (emigration) migration, influenced by economic opportunities, conflicts, or disasters. Rural-urban influx (e.g., 30 million to cities 2001-2011) boosted urban densities, while out-migration from Bihar/Uttar Pradesh to Punjab/Gulf states redistributed pressure—net positive in metros like Mumbai (+2 million) but negative in source hill regions.​

Combined Contribution

Together, they determine actual growth: India’s 1.4 billion reflects natural dominance (80-90% of change) tempered by induced flows, creating uneven patterns—e.g., Kerala gains via remittances despite low natural growth. Policy targets both: family planning curbs natural rates; skill migration harnesses induced for balanced development.

4. Analyze the decadal growth in India from 1901 to 2011.

Ans: India’s decadal population growth from 1901-2011 reveals four distinct phases: stagnant (1901-1921), steady (1921-1951), explosive (1951-1981), and decelerating (post-1981), driven by falling death rates and policy interventions.​

Stagnant Phase (1901-1921)

Growth averaged 0.2% annually: 1901-1911 (+5.8%), but 1911-1921 (-0.31%) due to influenza pandemic, famines, and World War I. Population rose modestly from 238 million to 251 million, reflecting high mortality offsetting births.​

Steady Growth Phase (1921-1951)

Rates climbed to 11-14%: 1921-1931 (+11.6%), 1931-1941 (+14.2%), 1941-1951 (+13.3%). Improved sanitation and vaccines reduced death rates (from 25+ to 18/1000), while birth rates stayed high (35/1000), pushing population to 361 million amid partition disruptions.​

Population Explosion (1951-1981)

Peak growth: 1961 (+21.6%), 1971 (+24.8%), 1981 (+23.9%). Death rates plummeted to 10/1000 via Green Revolution, healthcare expansion; births remained elevated. Population surged from 361 million to 683 million, straining resources.​

Decelerating Phase (1981-2011)

Rates declined: 1991 (+23.9%, last high), 2001 (+21.5%), 2011 (+17.6%). Family planning, literacy (especially female), urbanization cut fertility from 5.7 to 2.4 children/woman. Absolute addition remained massive (181 million in 2001-2011), reaching 1.21 billion, but momentum slowed.​

5. Analyze the growth trends observed in various states of India from the period of 1991 to 2001.

Ans:

India’s decadal population growth from 1991-2001 (21.54% nationally) showed sharp regional variations, with northern and northeastern states accelerating while southern states decelerated significantly.​

High Growth States

Bihar recorded the highest rate at 28.43% (up from 23.38% in 1981-91), driven by high fertility, low literacy, and agricultural dependence. Nagaland topped at 64.41% due to ethnic conflicts and refugee influxes. Haryana (28.06%), Uttar Pradesh (25.80%), and Rajasthan (28.33%) also exceeded the national average, reflecting youthful demographics and rural economies.​

Moderate Growth Regions

Maharashtra (22.57%), Madhya Pradesh (24.34%), Gujarat (22.48%), and Punjab (19.76%) grew steadily, boosted by urbanization, industries (e.g., Mumbai-Pune), and remittances. Delhi surged 46.31% from migration to jobs/services.​

Low Growth Southern States

Kerala (9.42%), Tamil Nadu (11.19%), Andhra Pradesh (13.86%), and Karnataka (17.25%) showed marked declines due to effective family planning, high female literacy (70-90%), urbanization, and below-replacement fertility (2.0). These states contributed only 20% to national growth despite 20% population share.​

Trends and Implications

The north-south divide widened: high-growth states added 60%+ of the 182 million increase, straining resources, while southern success via education/healthcare set a model. This fueled policy debates on incentives for population stabilization.

6. Explain the role of growth in the number of adolescents in population growth.

Ans: India’s adolescent population (10-19 years) constitutes 20-22% of the total (253-270 million as of recent estimates), playing a pivotal role in sustaining population growth through high fertility potential and momentum effects.​

Direct Contribution to Growth

Adolescents, especially females aged 15-19, drive natural increase via early childbearing—India’s adolescent fertility rate (18-20 births/1,000 girls) adds millions annually despite declines (from 40+ in 1990s). This youthful cohort sustains high birth rates (CBR 18-20/1,000) even as overall fertility falls to 2.0, contributing 10-15% of total births and amplifying decadal growth by 1-2 percentage points.​

Demographic Momentum Effect

The large adolescent base creates “population momentum”: today’s adolescents become tomorrow’s parents during peak reproductive years (20-29), where fertility remains elevated. With 47% under 25, this bulge ensures growth persists for decades post-replacement fertility (e.g., adding 10-12 million/year through 2040s), offsetting aging in low-fertility southern states.​

Indirect Influences

Adolescent health/education gaps prolong high growth: low secondary enrolment (especially girls) correlates with higher fertility; migration of young workers redistributes growth to urban areas. Investments in skilling/adolescent health could curb this by delaying marriage/childbearing, transitioning to demographic dividend.

7. Describe the urban-rural composition of the Indian population.

Ans: India’s population remains predominantly rural, with urban areas growing rapidly due to migration and economic shifts.​

Rural Composition

Rural population constitutes 63-69% (833 million in 2011 Census; 900 million projected 2025), concentrated in villages across northern plains, central India, and eastern states like Uttar Pradesh (78%), Bihar (89%), and Odisha (83%). These areas rely on agriculture, with low densities but high absolute numbers, reflecting agrarian economy and limited urbanization.​

Urban Composition

Urban share stands at 31-37% (377 million in 2011; 410-450 million in 2025), up from 27.8% in 2001, driven by census towns and megacities. Maharashtra (45%), Tamil Nadu (48%), and Gujarat (43%) lead urbanization, with metros like Mumbai, Delhi (98% urban), and Bengaluru hosting 10%+ of urbanites via industries, services, and rural influx.​

Trends and Shifts

Urban growth outpaces rural (3.35% vs. 1.2% decadal 2001-11), fueled by mechanization displacing farm labor and job pulls. Southern states urbanize faster (Kerala 48%, Tamil Nadu 48%) via education/services, while north lags (Bihar 11%). This composition influences policy: rural schemes (MGNREGA) vs. urban infrastructure.

8. Describe the linguistic composition of the Indian population.

Ans: India’s linguistic composition is extraordinarily diverse, with over 19,500 mother tongues reported in the 2011 Census, grouped into 121 major languages and 22 scheduled languages under the Constitution.​

Dominant Language Groups

Indo-Aryan languages dominate the north and center, led by Hindi (43.6% or 540 million speakers in 2025 estimates), spoken primarily in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Bengali (8.3%, 97 million) prevails in West Bengal and Tripura; Marathi (6.9%, 83 million) in Maharashtra; Gujarati (4.6%) in Gujarat; and Punjabi (2.7%) in Punjab.​

Dravidian Languages in South

Dravidian family claims 20% of speakers: Telugu (6.7%, 81 million) in Andhra Pradesh/Telangana; Tamil (5.7%, 69 million) in Tamil Nadu; Kannada (3.6%) in Karnataka; Malayalam (2.9%) in Kerala. These classical languages maintain strong regional identities.​

Other Significant Languages

Austro-Asiatic (e.g., Santali, 0.7%) and Tibeto-Burman (northeastern hills) add diversity, alongside Urdu (4.2%, 50 million, concentrated in Muslim communities across states) and English (elite/official use, 10-12% proficiency). Linguistic Diversity Index: 0.78-0.93, among world’s highest.​

Regional Patterns

Northern Hindi belt unifies politically; southern Dravidian states resist Hindi dominance; northeast hosts 200+ languages. Multilingualism is norm—60% speak 2+ languages—fostering cultural richness but challenging education/administration.

9. Describe the religious composition of the Indian population.

Ans: India’s religious composition, based on the 2011 Census (latest comprehensive data), features Hinduism as the dominant faith, with significant minorities reflecting historical migrations, conversions, and regional traditions.​

Major Religious Groups

Hindus comprise 79.8% (966 million), concentrated in northern and central states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, forming the cultural core. Muslims account for 14.2% (172 million), primarily in Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, and Kerala, with higher growth rates due to fertility differentials. Christians (2.3%, 28 million) dominate in Kerala, Goa, and northeastern states (Nagaland, Mizoram); Sikhs (1.7%, 20 million) in Punjab; Buddhists (0.7%, 8 million) in Maharashtra (Dalit conversions) and Sikkim; Jains (0.4%, 4 million) in Gujarat and Rajasthan.​

Minority and Other Groups

Smaller communities include Parsis (60,000, urban Gujarat/Maharashtra), Jews (5,000), and “Religion not stated” (0.2%). Tribal faiths and other persuasions cover 0.7%, mainly in central tribal belts.​

Regional Variations and Trends

Northern India is predominantly Hindu-Muslim; south blends Hinduism with Christianity; northeast features Christian and Buddhist majorities; Punjab is Sikh-dominant. Growth trends show Muslims expanding fastest (24.6% decadal 2001-11 vs. national 17.7%), while Jains/Buddhists stabilize—projected 2025 shares: Hindus 78-79%, Muslims 14-15% amid overall fertility convergence.

10. Describe the working population composition of the nation.

Ans: India’s working population (typically ages 15-59 or 15-64) forms the largest demographic segment at 65-68% (900-950 million in 2025 estimates), representing a demographic dividend amid a youthful structure.​

Sectoral Composition

Agriculture absorbs 42-45% of the workforce (250-270 million), predominantly rural males and landless laborers in states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, though declining due to mechanization. Secondary sector (manufacturing/construction) employs 25-28% (150-170 million), concentrated in industrial belts like Maharashtra-Gujarat. Tertiary/services claim 27-30% (160-180 million), booming in urban IT hubs (Bengaluru, Hyderabad) and metros.​

Gender and Age Breakdown

Males dominate at 75-80% participation (LFPR 78%) Labour Force Participation Rate, while female LFPR lags at 37-42% (rising from 24% in 2018 via rural schemes), with urban women at 25%. Youth (15-29) comprise 35% of workers but face unemployment (15-20%), skill gaps favoring informal jobs (90% of employment).​

Regional Variations

High work participation in Himachal Pradesh (55%) and Chhattisgarh (agriculture-labor intensive); low in Kerala/Nagaland (30%, service/education reliant). Urban WPR, Worker Population Ratio (46-53%) exceeds rural (40%), driven by migration. This composition fuels GDP growth potential if skilling addresses mismatches.

11. Describe the gender composition of the Indian population.

Ans: India’s gender composition, measured by sex ratio (females per 1,000 males), stands at approximately 943 (2011 Census), with recent NFHS-5 National Family Health Survey estimates showing improvement to 1,020, reflecting 48.4% females (698 million) versus 51.6% males (743 million) in a 1.44 billion population.​

Overall Sex Ratio

The national ratio improved from 927 (1991) to 933 (2001) and 943 (2011), driven by better female survival, healthcare access, and declining infant mortality. Urban areas lag at 929, while rural ratios are higher (949) due to traditional agrarian roles. Projections indicate 952 by 2036 amid converging fertility.​

State-wise Variations

Kerala leads at 1,084-1,121 (high literacy, matrilineal traditions); Puducherry (1,086) and Tamil Nadu (996) follow in south. Northern states like Haryana (879) and Uttar Pradesh (912) show deficits from son preference and sex-selective practices. Northeastern states (e.g., Meghalaya 1,032) excel due to tribal equity.​

Child Sex Ratio Concerns

The 0-6 years ratio declined to 918 (2011) from 927 (2001), signaling persistent female foeticide despite PCPNDT Act (Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994) enforcement. Recent SRB (Sex Ratio at Birth) improvements to 933 (2022-23) offer hope, though disparities persist in Punjab (904) versus Kerala (951).​

Implications

Skewed ratios strain marriage markets, labor participation (female LFPR 37%), and social equity, prompting schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. Southern progress via education contrasts northern challenges, influencing demographic dividend realization

NCERT questions:

1. Choose the right answer from the following from the given options.

(i) India’s population as per 2011 census is.

a) 1028 million

b) 3182 million

c) 3287 million

d) 1210 million

Ans. d) 1210 million

(ii) Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in India?

a) Bihar

b) Kerala

c) Uttar Pradesh

d) Punjab

Ans. c) Uttar Pradesh

(iii) Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of urban population in India according to 2011 census?

a) Tamil Nadu

b) Maharashtra

c) Kerala

d) Gujarat

Ans. b) Maharashtra

(iv) Which one of the following is the largest linguistic group of India?

a) Sino-Tibetan

b) Indo-Aryan

c) Austric

d) Dravidian

Ans. b) Indo Aryan

2. Answer the following questions in about 30 words

(i) Very hot and dry and very cold and wet regions of India have low density of population. In this light, explain the role of climate on the distribution of population.

Ans.

a) People tend to concentrate in areas with moderate climate conditions, that is, areas that are neither too hot nor too dry, and also with adequate precipitation to support life activities.

b) The extremities of climate tend to push people away from the region and make the region less attractive for human inhabitation.

c) In India, western Rajasthan, which is characterized by high temperatures and dry conditions, is one of the least inhabited regions.

d) The population density tends to be high in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar etc. because these regions have moderate temperature conditions with adequate precipitation, therefore making the region conducive for population concentration.

(ii) Which states have large rural population in India? Give one reason for such large rural population.

Ans.

a) States of Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Sikkim have very high percentage of rural population.

b) The reason for high rural population is that these areas are the ones with low level of economic social development and hence low level of infrastructural development which tend to inhabit the process of urbanization.

c) Also, with sluggish growth, people tend to be concentrated in the field of primary activities, therefore.

(iii) Why do some states of India have higher rates of work participation than others?

Ans. Work participation rate is the number of people engaged in economic activities:

a) Some states of India like Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh etc. tend to have higher work participation rate.

b) The work participation rate tends to be higher in the areas of lower levels of economic development since number of manual workers is needed to perform the subsistence or near subsistence economic activities in the absence of other opportunities.

(iv)The agricultural sector has the largest share of Indian workers, explain.

Ans.

a) The occupational composition of India’s population shows a large proportion of primary sector workers compared to secondary and tertiary sectors.

b) In India, about 58.2% of total working population are cultivators and agricultural labors, whereas only 4.2% of workers are engaged in household industries and 37.6% are other workers including non-household industries, trade, commerce, construction, repair and others services. India is an agricultural country with maximum population engaged in it.

c) As job opportunities in the other sectors are limited due to low rate of infrastructural development, workers are declining over the last few decades from 66.85% in 1991 to 58% in 2001 leading to rise in share of tertiary sector.

3. Long answer type questions:

(i) Discuss the spatial pattern of density of population in India.

Ans. India has a highly uneven pattern of population distribution.

a) Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, along with Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Gujarat together account for about 76% of total population of the country.

b) On the other hand, share of population is very small in the states like Jammu and Kashmir (0.98), Arunachal Pradesh (0.11) and Uttaranchal (0.83) in spite of these states having fairly large geographical area.

c) The density of population in India (2011) is 382 persons/Km² and ranks number one among the most densely populated countries today.

d) Such an uneven spatial distribution of population in India suggests a close relationship between population and physical socio economic historical factors.

e) As far as the physical factors are concerned, it is clear that climate, along with terrain and availability of water largely determines pattern of the population distribution.

f) Consequently, we observe that the North Indian plains, deltas and coastal plains have higher proportion of population than the interior districts of southern and central Indian states.

g) Himalayas and some of the other north eastern and western states, however, development of irrigation in Rajasthan, availability of minerals and energy resources – Jharkhand, development of transport network – peninsular states have resulted in moderate to high concentration of population as which were previously very thinly populated.

h) Among the socio economic and historical factors of distribution of population, important ones are evolution of settled agriculture and agricultural development; pattern of human settlement, development of transport network, industrialization and urbanization.

i) It is observed that the regions falling in the river plains and coastal areas of India have remained the regions of larger population concentration, even though the uses of natural resources like land and water in these regions have shown the sign of degradation.

j) The concentration of population remains high because of an early history of human settlement and development of transport network.

k) On the other hand, the urban regions of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Jaipur have high concentration of population due to industrial development and urbanization drawing a large numbers of rural urban migrants.

(ii) Give an account of the occupational structure of India’s population.

Ans.

a) The population of India according to their economic status is divided into 3 groups’ namely main workers, marginal workers and non-workers. It is observed that in India, the proportion of workers, both main and marginal, is only 39% (2001), leaving a vast majority of 61% as non-workers.

b) This indicates an economic status in which there is a larger proportion of dependent population, further indicating possible existence of large number of unemployed or underemployed.

c) The occupational composition of India’s population, which actually means engagement of an individual in farming, manufacturing, trade, services or any kind of professional activities, shows a large proportion of primary sector workers compared to secondary and tertiary sectors.

d) About 58.2% of total working population are cultivators and agricultural labors. Whereas only 4.2% of workers are engaged in household industries and 37.6% other workers including non-household industries, trade, commerce, construction and repair and other services.

e) As far as the occupation of countries male and female population is concerned, male workers outnumber female workers in all the 3 sectors.

f) The number of female workers is relatively high in primary sector.

g) Though in recent years there has been some improvement in work participation of women in secondary and tertiary sectors, their participation rate in secondary and tertiary sectors has registered an increased.

h) This indicates a shift of dependent workers from farm based occupations to non-farm based ones.

i) Indicating a sectoral shift in the economy of the country. The special variation of work participation rate in different sectors in country is very wide. For instance, the states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have very large shares of cultivators.

j) On the other hand, states like Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Madhya Pradesh have higher proportion of agricultural labors.

k) Highly urbanized areas like Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry have a very large proportion of workers being engaged in other services.

Extra Questions:

1. What are the sources of population data in India? When was the first complete data collection conducted?

Ans. The main source of data collection in India is census. Data is collected every 10 years. First complete data collection was conducted by census in 1881

2. What is India’s population density?

Ans. As per 2011 census of India, the density of population is 382 people/ ²Km

3. Which is the most densely populated country of Asia?

Ans. Singapore is the most densely populated country of Asia.

4. Define Physiological density, agricultural density, agricultural population.

Ans. Physiological density: is the number of persons an agricultural land can support.

Agricultural density is the number of farmers per unit of arable land.

Agricultural population includes cultivators and agricultural labors and their family members.

5. What is meant by population doubling time?

Ans. The time taken by any population to double itself at its current annual growth rate is called population doubling time.

6. Which decade experienced negative growth in India?

Ans. The decade of 1911 – 1921 experienced negative population growth rate in India.

7. Categorize population based on their place of residence.

Ans. Based on the place of residence, population can be categorised into rural and urban.

8. What are the two components of population growth.

Ans. Natural and induced are the two components of population growth.

9. Define population composition.

Ans. It is a distinct field of study within population geography with a vast coverage of the analysis of age and sex, place of residence, ethnic characteristics, religion, language, literacy, marital status, occupational characteristics etc.

10. What are the major occupation categories as per the Census of India (2011)?

Ans. Four major occupation categories as per the Census of India are cultivators, agricultural labourers, household industrial workers and other workers.

11. When was the latest census survey conducted? What was the last day and time of census survey?

Ans. In India, the latest census survey was conducted in 2011. It was based on the data till 28th February 2011 at 12:00 midnight.

Year 2021 we were supposed to have census but due to pandemic – covid, the survey was not conducted.

12. What is the total population of India as per the latest survey? Also tell rural and urban population of India as per this survey.

Ans. As per the 2011 census, the total population of India is 1,210,193,422 persons.

Rural population. 833,087,662

Urban population 377,105,760

13. India has 7^th position in the world in terms of land area and second position in terms of population. Substantiate.

Ans. 2.4% of total land of the world is under India. There are 6 other nations, Russia, Canada, USA, China, Brazil and Australia whose land area is more than India. Therefore, from population perspective, India is at second position after China with its total population of 1,210,193 422 persons (2011) while in terms of land area it is at 7^th position in the world.

Presently India is at first position with highest population in the world.

14. Why is the average annual growth rate of population less in 1951 as compared to 1941?

Ans. High participation in the World Wars where many lives were lost. Spread of epidemic diseases is also one of the reasons in the period for having less population.

15. Describe the regional variation in population growth of India.

Ans. Southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry and Goa have a low rate of growth, not exceeding the lowest growth rate of 9.4%.

Growth rate in states of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Uttaranchal, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, the growth rate on the average is 20. 25%.

16. How much percentage of population lives in rural and urban areas?

Ans.  According to 2011 census survey, it is as follows:

a) Rural 68.84%.

b) Urban 31.16%.

17. What does the increase in participation rate of secondary and tertiary sectors signify?

Ans. The participation rate in secondary and tertiary sectors has registered an increase. This indicates a shift of dependence of workers from farm-based occupations to non-farm-based ones, indicating sector shift in the economy of the country.

18. Which religious community holds the most dominant position in India?

Ans. The Hindus hold the most dominant position in India.

19. Name the largest spoken language of India. Name any four states where they are spoken.

Ans. The largest spoken language in India is Hindi. It is spoken in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

20. Which are the smallest spoken languages?

Ans. Kashmiri and Sanskrit languages are smallest spoken languages.

21. Name the states which have less population in comparison to their land area.

Ans. States with lowest density of population are

a) Arunachal Pradesh 17 persons/ km²

b) Mizoram 52 persons / km²

c) Sikkim 86 persons /km²

22. Which of the Union territories has highest and lowest population density?

Ans. The National Capital Territory of Delhi has the highest population density of 11,297 persons / Km², whereas Andaman and Nicobar Islands, with 46 persons / km² has the lowest population density.

23. Which States and the Union territories of India exhibit less than 10% population growth rate and which of them have negative growth rate?

Ans. In India, two states i.e., Goa and Kerala have less than 10% population growth rate. In Goa it is 8.17% and in Kerala it is 4.68%. Amongst Union territories, in Andaman and Nicobar Islands it is 6.68% and in Lakshadweep it is 6.23%. Nagaland is the only state where negative growth rate has been observed and it is 0.47%.

24. Which states of India have highest population under rural areas?

Ans. In India approximately 68.84% of population is living in rural areas,

a) 89.96% population of Himachal Pradesh

b) 88.70% population of Bihar

c) 85.92% population of Assam and

d) 83.32% population of Odisha is living in rural areas.

25. Which state of India is the most urbanized? Name some other states in terms of highest level of urbanization?

Ans. Goa is the most urbanized state of India. 62.71% population of Goa lives in urban areas. After this, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and Punjab have more than 50% population living in urban areas.

26. How many scheduled languages does Indian constitution have?

Ans. Indian Constitution has 22 scheduled languages:

27. Who is main worker?

Ans. Worker who works for more than or equal to 183 days in a year is called main worker.

28. Into how many groups is the Indian population divided from economic perspective?

Ans. From economic perspective Indian population can be divided into three main groups:

• Main worker
• Marginal worker
• Non worker

29. In how many categories is working population of India divided?

Ans. The 2001 census has divided the working population of India into four major categories.

• Cultivators
• Agricultural labors
• Household industrial workers
• Other workers

30. What does World Development Report say about present rate of growth of India’s population?

Ans. World Development Report has projected that population of India will touch 1,350 million by 2025.

31. Name the state of India having the highest density of population and also mention its density

Ans. Bihar 1102 persons/ km².

32. Define the term positive growth of population.

Ans. When the birth rate is more than death rate between two points of time or when people from other countries migrate permanently to a region, it gives rise to positive growth of population.

33. Mention causes of negative growth rate of population in India during 1901 – 1921.

Ans. During 1901 – 1921 both the birth rate and death rate were high, keeping the rate of increase low because:

a) Poor health and medical facilities

b) Lack of basic necessities

c) Spread of epidemic and endemic

d) Inefficient public distribution system

34. Define the term population distribution.

Ans. The term population distribution refers to the way people are spaced over the earth’s surface.

35. How is density of population of a region calculated?

Ans. Density of population is the ratio between the number of people to the size of land. It is usually measured in persons per square kilometer.

36. What is the main thrust of the National Youth Policy of Government of India, 2003?

Ans. The thrust of the National Youth Policy 2003 is youth empowerment in terms of their effective participation in decision making and carrying the responsibility of an able leader.

37. Name the state of India with largest area.

Ans. Rajasthan is the largest state of India in area.

38. Name the Union territory of India having lowest density of population as per 2011 census.

Ans.  Andaman and Nicobar Union Territory has the lowest density of population as per 2011 census.

39. Name the state of India having the least share of population according to the census.

Ans. State having least share of population is Sikkim.

Short answer type questions:

1. Give in brief the factors that affect population distribution in India.

Ans. Physical, socio economic and historical factors influence population distribution in India:

a) Climate, along with terrain and availability of water, largely determines the pattern of the population distribution.

b) North Indian plains, deltas and coastal plains have higher proportion of population than the interior districts of southern and central Indian states.

c) Himalayas, some of the north eastern and the western states have seen evolution of settled agriculture and agricultural development, pattern of human settlement, development of transport network, industrialization and urbanization.

2. Why does rural urban distribution of population vary in India?

Ans.

a) Pattern of distribution of rural population of India reveals that both at intra-state and inter-state levels, the relative degree of urbanization and extent of rural migration regulate the concentration of rural population.

b) The growth rate of urban population has accelerated due to enhanced economic development and improvement in health and hygienic conditions.

c) Almost all the States and Union territories has a considerable increase of urban population.

d) Positioning is low in remote, hilly, tribal and flood prone areas.

3. What does the ‘sectoral workforce’ of population in India signify?

Ans. In India, there is a large proportion of primary sector workers compared to secondary and tertiary sectors. At the same time it is important to note that the proportion of workers in agricultural sector in India has shown a decline over the last few decades (58.2% in 2001 to 54.6% in 2011). Consequently, the participation rate in secondary and tertiary sectors has registered an increase. This indicates the shift of dependence of workers from farm-based occupations to non-farm-based ones. Indicating sectoral shift in the economy of the country. Male workers overshadow the female workers in all sectors.

4. Some places in India are densely populated while others are sparsely populated. Substantiate.

Ans. Some places in India are densely populated while others are sparsely populated. It is clear from the following statistics:

a) Spatial variation of population densities in country which ranges from low as 13 persons/km² in Arunachal Pradesh to 9,340 persons/km² in National Capital Territory of Delhi.

b) Among the north Indian states, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have high population densities. While Kerala and Tamil Nadu have higher population densities among the peninsular Indian states.

c) States like Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, Odisha have moderate densities.

d) The hill states of the Himalayan region and north eastern states of India have relatively low densities, except Assam.

e) The Union Territories (excluding Andaman and Nicobar) have very high densities of population.

5. What do you mean by population growth? Explain how is it estimated?

Ans. Population growth refers to the change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points of time. It is calculated as follows:

Population growth rate = Population in period two – Population in period one X 200

Population in period one

6. India is a secular country. Substantiate the statement with statistical facts.

Ans. It is absolutely right that India is a secular country where people following different religions live together with unity.

• Hindus: Range from 78% to 80% except in the districts of states along Indo Bangladesh border, Indo Pak border Jammu and Kashmir hill states of north-east and in scattered areas of Deccan Plateau and Ganga Plain.
• Muslims: They are the largest religious group.
• Christians: They are concentrated along the western coast of Goa, Kerala, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Chota, Nagpur and hills of Manipur.
• Sikh: They are concentrated in a small area of the country, particularly in states of Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
• Jains and Buddhist. They are the smallest religious groups.
• Other religions include, Zoroastrians, tribal and other indigenous faiths and beliefs.

7. Analyze the linguistic composition of India.

Ans. India is a land of linguistic diversity, according to Grierson (Linguistic Survey of India, 1903 – 1928) there are 179 languages and as many as 544 dialects in the country.

• In the context of modern India, there are about 22 scheduled languages and number of non-scheduled languages.
• Among the scheduled languages, the speakers of Hindi have the highest percentage (40.42).
• The smallest language groups are Kashmiri and Sanskrit speakers (0.01% each).

8. What are the salient features of population of India?

Ans. Some of the salient features of population of India are given below.

a) India is the first most populous country on the earth.

b) The average growth rate of the population from 1991 – 2001 has been 19.3%. Cities and towns have registered higher growth of population due to migration from rural areas.

c) Population is male dominated and sex ratio is continuously declining.

d) At present growth rate, India’s population will be doubled after 36 years.

e) About 50% of the population is less than 20 years of age. Such a youth population has its own socio economic and political problems.

f) Majority of population consists of non-workers.

9. Name four Indian linguistic families and give four examples of each family.

Ans. Indian languages have been grouped in four families as follows:

10. Socio economic factors influence high density of population. Give reasons with examples.

Ans. It is absolutely right to say that socio economic factors influence high density of population:

a) Evolution of settled agriculture and agricultural development

b) Pattern of human settlement

c) Development of transport network

d) Urbanization and industrialization

e) River plains and coastal areas; Urban centers/industrial areas

Example: Gangetic plains, coastal regions, industrial belts (Chhota Nagpur region)

11. Why is there a decline in the number of workers in agricultural sector?

Ans. There is a decline in the number of workers in agricultural sector due to following reasons:

a) Availability of limited farming

b) Lack of employment in rural areas due to mechanization of agriculture

c) Seasonal nature of employment

d) Large scale urbanization and industrialization

e) Attraction and access towards tertiary and quaternary occupations

 12 Female participation rate is low in India. Why?

Ans. Female participation rate is low in India due to following factors:

a) Joint family system

b) Low rate of literacy among females

c) Frequent childbirth

d) Greater family responsibility

e) Male dominated society

13. Why is the growth rate of population in Phase IV slowing down in India give three reasons.

Ans. The growth rate of population in Phase IV is showing downward trend in India because:

a) Downward trend of crude birth rate

b) Health and medical facilities

c) Increase mean age of marriage

d) Improved quality of life, particularly female education

14. The distribution of rural population is not uniform throughout India. Support this statement with three suitable examples.

Ans. The distribution of rural population is not uniform throughout India as:

a) Both development of urban areas in terms of social economic conditions and an increase rate of rural urban migration.

b) The rural urban migration is conspicuous in the case of urban areas along the main road links and railroads in the North Indian plains and some industrial areas.

c) Agricultural stagnant parts of the middle and lower Ganga plains, Telangana, remote hill etc. the degree of urbanization has remained low.

15. The Decades, 1951 and 1981 are referred as the period of population explosion in India. Explain the statement by giving any three reasons.

Ans. This period is called population explosion because:

a) Rapid fall in the mortality rate due to centralized planning processes.

b) Fertility rate remained high with the result of average growth.

c) High natural increase and higher growth rate.

 Long answer type questions:

1. Describe India’s population growth over the years.

Ans. The growth rate of population in India over the last one century has been caused by annual birth rate and death rate and rate of migration and thereby shows different trends. Indian population can be divided into four testing phases of growth identified within this period:

Phase I – The period from 1901 – 1921 is referred to as a period of stagnant or stationary phase of growth of India’s population. Since in this period growth rate was very low. Even recording negative growth rate during 1911 – 1921. Both the birth rate and death rate were high, keeping the rate of increase low.

Phase II – The decades of 1921 – 1951 are referred as the period of study, population growth and overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country brought down the mortality rate. At the same time, better transport and communication systems, improved distribution system. The crude birth rate remained high in this period leading to higher growth rate than the previous phases.

 Phase III – The decades, 1951 – 1981 are referred to as the period of population explosion in India which was caused by a rapid fall in the mortality rate but a high fertility rate of population in the country. The average annual growth rate was as high as 2.2%. Increase in international migration bringing in Tibetans, Bangladeshis, Nepalis and even people from Pakistan contributed to the high growth rate.

Phase IV – In the post 1981 till present, the growth rate of the country’s population, though remained high, has started slowing down gradually. A downward trend of screwed birth rate is held responsible for such a population growth. This in turn is also affected by an increase in the mean age of marriage, improved quality of life, particularly education of females in the country.

Though the growth rate of population is still high in India, there is wide regional variation from one region to the other.

2. Write a note on the adolescent population in India.

Ans. An important aspect of population growth in India is the growth of its adolescents. At present, the share of adolescents i.e., up to the age group of 10 – 19 years is about 20.9% (2011). Among which, male adolescent constitutes 52.7% and female adolescents constitute 47.3%. The adolescent population though regarded as the youthful population having high potentials but at the same time, they are quite vulnerable if not guided and channelized properly.

There are many challenges for the society as far as these adolescents are concerned, some of which are of lower age at marriage. Literacy, particularly female literacy, school dropouts, low intake of nutrients, high rate of maternal mortality of adolescent mothers, high rates of HIV/ AIDS. Infections, physical and mental disability or retarded-ness, drug abuse and alcoholism, juvenile delinquency and commence of crimes etc.

In view of these, the Government of India has undertaken certain policies to impart proper education to the adolescent groups so that their talents are better channelized and properly utilized. The National Youth Policy of Government of India launched in 2003 stresses on an all-round improvement of the youth and adolescents. enabling them to shoulder responsibility towards constructive development of the country. It also aims at reinforcing the qualities of patriotism and responsible citizenship.

The trust of this policy is youth empowerment in terms of their effective participation in decision making and carrying the responsibility of an able leader. Special emphasis has been given in empowering women and girl child to bring equivalence in the male female status. Moreover, deliberate efforts were made to look into youth health, sports and recreation, creativity and awareness about new innovation in the spheres of science and technology.

3. To which families do the major Indian languages belong? Give details of their sub, family and areas.

Ans. The major Indian languages belong to:

4. What is the occupational composition of India’s population? Give a detailed report.

Ans. The occupational composition of India’s population. Which actually means engagement of an individual in farming, manufacturing, trade, services or any kind of professional activities shows a large proportion of primary sector workers compared to secondary sectors.

a) About 54.6% of total working population are cultivators and agricultural laborer. Whereas only 3.8% of workers are engaged in household industries and 41.6% are other workers including non-household industry, state commerce, construction and repair and other services.

b) As far as the occupation of countries male and female population is concerned, male workers outnumber female workers in all the three sectors. The number of female workers is relatively high in primary sector. Though in recent years there has been some improvement in work participation of women in secondary and tertiary sectors.

c) It is important to note that the proportion of workers in agricultural sector in India has shown a decline over the last few decades (58.2% in 2001 and 54.6% in 2011). Consequently, the participation rate in secondary and tertiary sectors has registered an increase. This indicates a shift of dependence of workers from farm-based occupations to non-farm-based words, indicating a sectoral shift in the economy of the country.

d) The special variation of work participation rate in different sectors in the country is very wide. For instance, the states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have very large shares of cultivators, on the other hand, states like Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh have higher proportion of agricultural laborer.

e) The highly urbanized areas like Delhi, Chandigarh and Puducherry have a very large proportion of workers being engaged in other services.

This indicates not only availability of limited farming and land but also large-scale urbanization and industrialization requiring more workers in non-farm sectors.

5. What are the challenges before adolescents? What steps have been taken by government to overcome these challenges?

Ans. The challenges before adolescents are as follows:

a) Female literacy

b) School dropouts

c) Low intake of nutrients

d) High rate of HIV, AIDS infections

e) Drug abuse and alcoholism

f) Physical and mental disabilities

g) Lack of job opportunities

h) Peer pressure.

i) High rate of maternal mortality of adolescents’ mothers

j) Lower age at marriage

k) Domestic violence

l) Juvenile delinquency, and crimes etc.

In order to solve these problems, government has launched in National Youth Policy

Features of National Youth Policy:

a) It was launched in 2003. It stresses on all round development of youth and adolescents

b) It enables them to shoulder responsibility for constructive development

c) It also aims at reinforcing the qualities of patriotism and responsible citizenship

d) Special emphasis is given on empowering women and girl child to bring equality and status

e) It also lays stress on involvement of youth in decision making processes

Under this policy, deliberate efforts were taken to improve health, sports, recreation, creativity, technology and create innovations in all spheres of life.

6. Explain the variations in the proportion of working population in India.

Ans. The variations in the proportion of working population in India are:

a) Moderate variations from about 25% in Goa to about 53% in Mizoram.

b) Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya have larger percentage of workers. Among the Union Territories, the Dadar and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu have higher participation rate because these states have variations in the levels of economic development.

c) About 58.2% of total working population are cultivators and agricultural laborer.

d) Only 4.2% of workers are engaged in household industries.

e) 6% are other workers including non-household industries, trade, commerce, construction and repair and other services as proportion of people in agricultural sector has shown a decline over last few decades that is 68.5% to 58.2% consequently participation in tertiary and secondary sectors have increased.

7. Explain with examples the occupational structure of India’s population.

Ans. Most of the India’s population is engaged in primary sector rather than secondary and tertiary sectors.

a) About 58.2% of total working population are cultivators and agricultural labourers, whereas only 4.2% of workers are engaged in household industries and 37.6% are other workers engaged in non- household. Industries, trade, commerce, construction and repair and other services.

b) As the occupation of country’s male and female population is concerned, male workers outnumber female workers in all the three sectors.

c) The proportion of working population of states shows a moderate variation from 25 to 53%.

d) The number of female workers is relatively high in primary sector.

e) The proportion of workers in agricultural sector has shown a decline over the last few decades.

8. Explain with examples any five factors that affect the population distribution in India.

Ans. Five factors that affect population distribution in India are:

a) Climate along the terrain and availability of water largely determines the pattern of the population distribution. Example the Northern and the North Indian plains, deltas and coastal plains have higher proportion of population than the interior districts of southern and central Indian states. Himalayas, some of the other north eastern and the western states.

b) Development of irrigation (Rajasthan), Availability of mineral and energy resources (Jharkhand), development of transport network (Peninsular states) has resulted in moderate to high concentration of population in areas which were previously very thinly populated.

c) Evolution of settled agriculture and agricultural development. Pattern of human settlement, development of transport network, industrialization and urbanization.

d) The urban regions of Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Pune, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Jaipur have high concentration of population due to industrial development and urbanization drawing a large number of rural urban migrants.

9. How are physical and economic factors responsible for uneven distribution of population in India?

Ans. Physical factors that determine the pattern of the population distribution are:

a) Climate along with terrain and availability of water

b) Development of transport network

c) Availability of mineral and energy resources

Economic factors that determine the pattern of the population distribution

a) Development of irrigation and evolution of settled agriculture and agricultural development.

b) Industrialization and urbanization

c) Pattern of human settlement

10. The decades 1921 to 1951 are referred to as the period of steady growth of population, whereas the decade 1951 – 1981 are referred to as the period of population explosion in India. Explain giving reasons.

Ans. Decades of 1921 – 51:

a) It brought down the mortality rate.

b) There was a lot of invention in life saving drugs, hence improvement in health and sanitation took place in the country.

c) Crude birth rate (CBR) remained high.

Decades of 1951. 1981.

a) The there was high fertility rate in the country.

b) There was much improvement in the living conditions of the people.

c) There was a rapid fall in mortality rate.

d) There was huge increase in population.

11. Define the term Growth of Population. Describe the Phase – III of growth of population in India.

Ans. Growth of population is the change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points of time. Its rate is expressed in percentage. It has two components, natural and induced.

Growth of population in India in Phase III:

a) Phase – III the decades of 1951 – 1981 is the phase of population explosion.

b) Caused by a rapid fall in mortality rate but a high fertility rate of population in the country.

c) The average annual growth rate was as high as 2.2%.

d) Developmental activities were introduced through a centralized planning process.

e) Increased international migration contributed to the high growth rate.

12. What is population doubling time? Explain the characteristics of the growth of population in India in Phase I and Phase II.

Ans. Population doubling time is the time taken by any population to double itself at its current annual growth rate.

Characteristics of the population growth in Phase I:

a)  This phase (1901 – 21) is known as a period of stagnant or stationary phase.

b) Growth rate was very slow, even recording a negative growth rate during 1911 and 1921.

c) Both the birth date and death rate we’re high, keeping the rate of increase low.

Characteristics of the population growth in Phase – II

a) This phase (1921 – 1951) is known as study population growth.

b) Improvement in health and sanitation brought down the mortality rate.

c) Crude birth date remained high leading to higher growth rate.

13. What is density of population? Describe the spatial variation of population density in India.

Ans. Density of population is expressed as number of persons per unit area. Spatial variation of population densities in the country ranges 17 persons/Km² in Arunachal Pradesh to 11,297 persons/Km² in the National Capital Territory of Delhi according to Census 2011. Bihar 1102 West Bengal 1029 and Uttar Pradesh 828 have higher densities. While Kerala 1013 and Tamil Nadu 859 have higher densities among the peninsula Indian states. Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand and Odisha have moderate densities. The hill states of the Himalayan region and North Eastern states have relatively low densities.

14. What is the source of population data in India? Explain the distribution of population in India.

Ans.

a) Population data are collected through census operation held every 10 years in our country.

b) India has a highly uneven pattern of population distribution. Uttar Pradesh has the highest population, followed by Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.

c) On the other hand, share of population is very small in the state like Jammu and Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.

d) Such an uneven special distribution of population in India suggests a close relationship between population and physical, social, economic and historical factors.

e) As far as the physical factors are concerned, it is clear that terrain, climate and water largely determines the pattern of the population distribution.

f) North India plains, deltas and coastal plains have higher population than the interior districts of southern and central Indian states.

g) Among the socio economic and historical factors of distribution of population, important ones are evolution of settled agriculture and agricultural development, pattern of human settlement. Development of transport network, industrialization and urbanization.

15. An uneven distribution of population suggest a close relationship between population and physical and socio-economic factors. Support the statement with suitable examples.

Ans.

a) Population density is closely. Related to physical and socio-economic factors, dense population in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Bihar, Punjab, Haryana and Kerala is due to flat and fertile plains, favorable climate, water availability and socio-economic factors.

b) Sparse population of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and North East states is due to hilly terrain, dense forest and harsh climate.

c) Rajasthan has water shortage and its hot and dry climate accounts for low population density.

d) Moderate density is seen in Odisha, Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu etc. Due to possibilities of agriculture, industrial development and favorable climate to some extent. Favorable factors for transport network industrialization, Urbanization in Maharashtra, Goa, Delhi, NCR, etc. account for high population density.

16. The decadal and annual growth rates of population in India are both very high and steadily increasing over time, substantiate the statement.

Ans. The decadal and annual growth rate of population in India:

a) The decades between 1921 – 1951. Recorded steady growth of population. Overall improvement in health and sanitation minimised the mortality rate, but the birth rate remained high.

b) In the next three decades, 1951 to 81 are known as the period of population explosion. It was caused by rapid fall in mortality rate, but birth rate remained high. Average annual growth rate was very high as the living conditions of people improved. Due to developmental activities resulting in high natural increase in birth rate and thus growth rate remained high.

c) International migration also contributed to the high growth rate of population. Since 1981 till date operation growth rate has been high although a downward trend of crude birth rate has started.

17. Differentiate between marginal workers and main workers.

Ans.

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