Ch 6 Population

Q1. What do you mean by Census?

Ans 1. A census is an official enumeration of population done periodically.
2. In India the first census was held in the year 1872. The first complete census, however was taken in
the year 1881. Since then, censuses have been held regularly every tenth year.

3. The Indian Census is the most comprehensive source of demographic, social and economic data
Q2. Explain India’s Population Size and Distribution.
Ans
Size

1. India’s population as on March 2011 stood at 1,210.6 million, which account for more the 17
per cent of the world’s population.
2. The 2011 Census data reveal that Uttar Pradesh with a population size of 199 million is the
most populous state of India
3. On the other hand, the Himalayan state of Sikkim has a population of just about 0.6 million
and Lakshadweep has only 64,429 people
Distribution
1. These 1.21 billion people are unevenly distributed over our country’s vast area of 3.28
million square km, which accounts for 2.4 per cent of the world’s area
2. Almost half of India’s population lives in just five states. These are Uttar Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan, the biggest state in terms
of area, has only 5.5 per cent of the total population of India
Q3 Why do Northern plains and Kerala have very high density of population?

Answer: Northern plains and Kerala have a very high density of population because of flat plains with
fertile soils and abundant rainfall.
Q4 Explain the density of population in India.
1. The Northern plains and Kerala in the south have high to very high population densities because
of the flat plains with fertile soils and abundant rainfall
2. Assam and most of the Peninsular states have moderate population densities. Hilly, dissected
and rocky nature of the terrain, moderate to low rainfall, shallow and less fertile soils have
influenced population densities in these areas
3. The States with population densities below 250 persons per square km. Rugged terrain and
unfavourable climatic conditions are primarily responsible for sparse population in these areas.
Q5. What are the factors that influence the population distribution in India?
Answer:
Factors that influence the population distribution are :
 1. Type of Climate: Areas having moderate climate have more population than the areas
having extreme climatic conditions. Leh and Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir and
western Rajasthan have extreme type of climate. Therefore, these regions have less
or sparse population.
2. Type of Soil: India’s northern plains and coastal plains are made up of alluvial soil
which is very fertile. So, these areas are densely populated. On the other hand, hilly
areas and deserts are thinly populated.
3. Opportunity for Jobs: The areas which have more opportunities of jobs are thickly
populated, whereas areas which do not provide people with job opportunities are
sparsely populated. Urban areas are thickly populated because of this factor.

Q 6 What do you mean by growth of population? How is it calculated?

Answer: Growth of population or population growth refers to the change in the number of inhabitants
of a country during a specific period of time, say during the last ten years. It can be expressed in two
ways:
(i) Absolute Numbers: It is obtained by simply subtracting the earlier population from the later
population. It is referred to as the ‘absolute increase’.

(ii) Annual Growth Rate: When the rate or pace of population is studied in per cent per annum. If
increase is 2 per cent, i.e., there was an increase of two persons for every 100 persons in the base
population. This is referred to as the annual growth rate.

Q7 What are the three main processes of change of population?

Answer: The three main processes of change of population are – birth rates, death rates and migration.
(i) Birth rate: It is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year. If is a major component of
growth because in India, birth rates have always been higher than the death rates.
(ii) Death rate: It is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year. The main cause of the rate of
growth of the Indian population has been The rapid decline in the death rate.
(iii) Migration: Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories. Migration can be
internal (within the country) or international (between countries).
Q8 What is migration? Which are the two types “of migration? Describe the trends of migration in
India.
Answer: (i) Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories.
(ii) Migration can be internal or international.
(iii) In India, most migrations have been form rural to urban areas because of the push factor in rural
areas. These are adverse conditions of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas and the ‘pull’ of the
city in terms of increased employment opportunities and better living conditions.
 Q9 Distinguish between Total Population and Average Density of Population.
Answer:

Total Population Average Density of Population

(i) It is the number of people in a unit area

(i) It is the number of people actually existing in the area. after the distribution of the total
population uniformly.

(ii) Its unit of measurement is the number of

(ii) Its unit of measurement is number of people.
people per unit area.

(iii) Its value depends on both the number of

(iii) Its value depends on the number of people only.
people as well as the total area.

Q10 Give reasons for how migration plays a significant role in changing the composition and
distribution of the population.
Answer: (i) In India, most migrations have been from rural to urban areas because of the push factor in
rural areas.
(ii) There are adverse conditions of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas.
(iii) The pull of the city in terms of increased employment opportunities and better living conditions also
leads to migration.
(iv) Migration is an important determinant of population change.
(v) It changes not only the population size but also the population composition of the urban and rural
population in terms of age and sex composition.

Q11. What are the push and pull factors of internal migration in India?
Answer:
In India, most migrations have been from rural to urban areas because of the ‘push’ factor in rural areas.
These are adverse conditions of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas and the ‘pull’ of the city in
terms of increased employment opportunities and better living conditions.

Q12 Write a short note on adolescent population.

Answer:
The most significant feature of the Indian population is the size of its adolescent population. It
constitutes one-fifth of the total population of India. Adolescents are generally, grouped in the age-
group of 10 to 19 years. They are the most important resource for the future. Nutrition requirements of
adolescents are higher than those of a normal child or adult. Poor nutrition can lead to deficiency and
stunted growth. But in India, the diet available to adolescents is inadequate in all nutrients. A large
number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia. Their problems have so far not received adequate
attention in the process of development. The adolescent girls have to be sensitised to the problems they
confront. Their awareness can be improved through the spread of literacy and education among them.

Q13 What factors should be considered while studying about population?

Answer:
The following factors should be considered while studying about population :

• Population size and distribution : How many people are there and where are they located?
• Population growth and processes of population change : How has the population grown and
changed through time?

• Characteristics or qualities of the population : What are their age, sex composition, literacy
levels, occupational structure and health conditions.
Q14. Why is population important for a country?
Answer:
The people are important to develop the economy and the society. The people make and
use resources, and are themselves resources with varying quality.

It is the point of reference from which all other elements are observed and from which they
derive significance and meaning. ‘Resources’, ‘calamities’ and ‘disasters’ are all meaningful only
in relation to human beings.

Their numbers, distribution, growth and characteristics or qualities provide the basic
background for understanding and appreciating all aspects of the environment Human beings
are producers and consumers of earth’s resources. Therefore, it is important to know how many
people are there in a country, where do they live, how and why their numbers are increasing and
what are their characteristics.

Q15 What does the National Population Policy indicate?

Answer: he National Population Policy provides a reliable and relevant policy framework for
improving family welfare services and for measuring and monitoring the delivery of family
welfare services and their demographic impact in future. It was initiated by the government for
improving healthcare quality and coverage, measuring and monitoring the delivery of family
welfare programme so as to enable the increasingly literate and aware families to achieve their
reproductive goals and the country to achieve rapid population stabilisation. It also aims at
promoting synergy with the ongoing educational, info-technology and socio-economic transition
so that India can achieve not only rapid population stabilisation, but also sustainable
development as well as improvement in economic, social and human development in the new
millennium..

Q16Which areas are sparsely populated in India and why?

Answer: Sparsely populated areas of India are high mountain regions of Jammu and Kashmir
and Arunachal Pradesh and desert parts of Rajasthan.
Reasons:
(i) Extremely cold climatic condition, which makes living difficult.
(ii) High and snow covered areas do not favour any kind of habitation.
(iii) There are few regions which are fertile but they, too, are small and scattered. Besides that, it
is difficult to approach these areas since there are no good means of transportation and
communication available.
(iv) Desert area of Rajasthan is arid, hot and dry region. It has sandy soils, not suitable for
cultivation. So, it does not favour any habitation.

Q17Distinguish between population growth and population change.

Population Growth Population Change

It refers to the change in the number of It happens due to the birth rate, death rate and
inhabitants of a country/region during a the migration.
specific period of time

Population growth can be expressed in If birth rate is high and death rate is low, there
the absolute numbers as well as will be a growth in population.
percentage per annum.

For example, if it is 2 per cent, there is an Migration can be internal or international.

increase of 2 persons for every 100 Internal migration does not change the size of
persons. the population but influences the distribution
of population within the nation.