Chapter-6

Population

1 marks Questions

1. What was India’s population on March 2001?(Census 2001)

Ans. 1028 million.

2. Which is the most populated state of India?

Ans. Uttar Pradesh.

3. What is the density of population in India?(Census 2001)

Ans. 324 persons per sq km.

4. Which Indian state has the highest density of population?

Ans. West Bengal.

5. Which is least densely populated state of India?

Ans. Arunachal Pradesh.

6. What is the density of population of Arunachal Pradesh?

Ans. 13 Persons per sq Km..

7. What is the density of population of West Bengal?

Ans. 904 Persons per sq Km.

8. What is the percentage of adults in the Indian population?

Ans. 58.7%.

9. What is percentage of children in Indian population?

Ans. 34.4%.

10. Which Indian state has the highest sex ratio?

Ans. Kerala.

11. What is the ratio of females per thousand males in Kerala?

Ans. 1058 females per thousand males.

12. What was the life expectancy of an Indian in 1951?

Ans. 49 years.

13. What is the average life of India according to 2001 census?

Ans. 64.6 years.

14. Which age group comes under the adolescent population?

Ans. The age group of 10 to 19 years.

15. What is NPP?

Ans. National Population Policy.

16. In which year the NPP was framed?

Ans. 2000 AD.

17. What is the literacy rate in India according to census 2001?

Ans. 64.85%.

18. What is the literacy rate of Kerala?

Ans. 90.92%.

19. India comprises how much population of the world?

Ans. 16.7%.

20. What is Birth Rate?

Ans. Number of births in a year per thousand of population.

 3 marks Questions

1. How would you summarize the problems faced by the poor population of India?

Ans. In spite of much considerable achievements, the health situation is a matter of major
concern for India. The consumption of calories per capita is much below the recommended
levels. A large percentage of our population is afflicted by malnutrition.
The availability of safe drinking water and basic sanitation amenities are to be availed to
only one third of the rural population.

2. Identify the different problems faced by the Adolescent population of India?

Ans. The adolescents require more nutrition than normal child or adult. Poor nutrition can
lead to deficiency and stunted growth. The diet available for Indian adolescents is not
sufficient in all nutrients. Anemia is common in most of the adolescent girls in India.
Their problems have so far not received adequate attention in the process of development.
They have to be sensitized to the problems they confront.

3. Why the Northern Indian Plain is thickly populated? Mention the two states of
Northern Plains with high population density.

Ans. Suitability of soils for agriculture: The northern plain and the delta regions have fertile
soils are the most suitable for agriculture. The northern plain and the delta regions have
fertile soils. As such, these areas are very thickly populated.
Climatic conditions: Areas of Northern Plains receives heavy rainfall. It is over about 400 cm
of rainfall annually.
Economic activity: Agriculture and animal rearing can be done throughout the year.
Plains terrain allows better means of transportation through road and railways and water
ways. West Bengal, Bihar Uttar Pradesh are the most populous states of this region.
4. Name the areas where moderate densities of population are found and elaborate the
reasons of their moderate densities of population.

Ans. The moderate population densities are found in Assam and most of the peninsular
states. The following are the factors influence the population densities in these states:
Hilly, dissected and rocky nature of the terrain.
Moderate to low temperature. Shallow and less fertile

5. Why is the population vital element of study?

Ans. The people are important to develop the economy and society. The people make and
use resources and are themselves resources with varying quality.
Hence population is the pivotal element in social studies. It the point of reference from
which all other elements are absorbed and from which they derived significance and
meaning.
Resources, calamities and disasters are all meaningful only in relation to human beings.

6. On the political map locate and label the following

i) A state having population density 100 and below
ii) A state having population density 501 and above
iii) A state having the lowest sex ratio
Ans.

7. What is human resource? What is its importance?

Ans. The people are important to develop the economy and society. The make resources.
Coal is but a piece of rock, until people were able to invent technology to obtain it and makes
it a resource. So the people are human resources who convert the natural resources with the
help of technology more valuable resources.
It is the human resource who convert the natural resources with the help of technology more
valuable resources. That’s they are important for an economy. If Japan is developed country
that is due to its developed human resource.

8. What is census? Why do we need it?

Ans. A census is an official enumeration of population done periodically. In India the first
census was held in the year 1872. The first complete census however was taken in the year
1881. Since then the census have been held regularly every tenth year.
A census gives useful and important statistical information about a population.
Census to useful to formulate the future policies of the country.
9. Uttar Pradesh is most populated state of India. Give reasons.

Ans. The most fertile soil alluvial soil is fund here. Agriculture is very good so people want to
live here.
The climatic conditions are very helpful to live here.
The rivers flowing here are good source of irrigation, navigation and electricity.
Due to plains transport network is easy to develop.
Agriculture provides raw material to the industries.

10. Assam has moderate population density. Give reasons.

Ans. Assam has moderate population density.

Hilly, dissected and rocky nature of the terrain areas.
Chances of infrastructural developments are very less due to hilly areas.
Less fertile soil is also responsible for it.

11. What are the factors responsible for the uneven population distribution of India?

Ans. Moderate temperate zones are highly populated areas.

Industrial developed regions are also densely populated as compared to other areas because
more employment opportunities attract the people to migrate the industrial regions.
Physiographic is an important factor for the uneven distribution of population.
Mountains, plateau and desert are sparsely populated where as Plaines are highly populated.

12. On the political map locate and label the following

i) The state having the lowest sex ratio

ii) The state having the highest sex ratio
iii) The most populous state of India
Ans.

13. What is birth rate and death rate?

Ans. Birth rate is a number of live births for every 1000 persons in a year. The high birthrate
is responsible for increase in population.
Death rate is a number of deaths per thousand persons in a year. The death rate can be
controlled by providing good medical facilities.
14. What is migration? Explain its types.

Ans. Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories.

Migration can be internal and international.
Internal migration means movement of the people with in a country. It does not change the
size of population, but it influences the distribution of population with in the nation.
International migration means movement of people from one country to another.

15. ‘Migration is an important determinant of population change’. Explain.

Ans. Migration is an important determinant of population change.

It changes not only the population size but also the population composition of urban and
rural population in the terms of age and sex composition.
In India the rural-urban migration has resulted in a steadily increase in the percentage of
population in cities and towns.

16. How push and pull factors are responsible for the urban migration?

Ans. Push and pull factors deeply affect the migration from rural to urban areas.
In India most migrations have been from rural to urban areas because of the push factor in
rural areas.
These are adverse condition of poverty and unemployment in the rural areas and the pull of
the city in terms of increase in employment opportunities and batter living conditions.

17. What is age composition? Name three broad categories of population.

Ans. The age composition of a population refers to the number of people in different age
groups in a country. It is one of the most basic characteristic of a population. To an
important degree, a person‘s age influences what he needs, buys, does and his capacity to
perform.
Children (Generally below 15 years)
Working age ( 15-59 years)
Aged (above 59 years)
18. On the political map locate and label the following

i) The most populous state of India

ii) The most sparsely populated state of India
iii) A state with moderate density of population

Ans.
19. Explain three broad categories of population.

Ans. Children (Generally below 15 years): They are economically unproductive and need to
be provided with food, clothing, education and medical care.
Working age (15-59 years): They are economically productive and biologically reproductive.
They comprise the working population.
Aged (above 59 years): They can be economically productive though they may have retired.
They may be working voluntarily but they are not available for employment through
recruitments.

20. Explain three classifications of occupations.

Ans. Primary activities include agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishing, mining and
quarrying.
Secondary activities deal with the manufacturing of goods. It includes manufacturing
industry, building and construction work etc.
Tertiary activities include activities related to services. It includes transport,communications,
commerce, administration and other services.

21. ‘Kerala state is densely populated’. Give reason.

Ans. Kerala state is the part of the Western Coastal Plains which are very fertile and leveled
area.
There is no scarcity of food in Kerala.
Kerala lies in the sea-shore so the opportunities of employment in import and export
business are more.

22. Explain the main processes of change of population.

Ans. Birth Rate: It is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year. It a major
component of growth because in India, birth rates have always been higher than death rates.
Death rate: It is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year. The main cause of rate
of growth of the Indian population has been the rapid decline in death rates.
Migration: Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories. It is an
important determinant of the population change.

23. Why is dependency ratio higher in India?

Ans. Lack of better medical facilities. Unhealthy unemployed youth cannot afford to take
treatment from private hospitals.
Population is very high so the government is unable to help the every citizen of thecountry.
Females in spite of being educated and efficient are not allowed to work because ofsocial
foundations.
Unemployment is a major problem of India. Educated unemployed youth is also become a
part of dependent population.

24. Two features A, B and C are marked in the given political map of India. Identify
these features with the help of the following information and write their correct names
on the lines marked on the map.

i) Identify the state with the highest population

ii) Identify the state with the least density of population
iii) Identify the state with the average density of population

Ans.
25. Explain what measures should be taken to come out of sex unfavorable ratio.

Ans. Literacy level should be increased specially among the women in rural areas.
Sex determination should be strictly banned. Hard punishments should be given to the
culprits.
Social awareness programs should be started on a large scale all over India.
Gender discrimination should be banned.

26. Explain the occupational structure of India.

Ans. In India about 64% of the population is engaged only in agriculture.

The proportion of population dependent on secondary and territory sectors is about 13 and
20 percent respectively.
There has been an occupational shift in favour of secondary and tertiary sector because of
growing industrialization and urbanization in recent times.

27. What are the problems faced by adolescents in India?

Ans. The diet available to adolescents is inadequate in all nutrients.

A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anemia. There problems have so far not
received adequate attention in the process of development.
The adolescent girls have to be sensitized to the problems they confront.

28. What is sex ratio? Give reasons responsible for unfavorable sex ratio in India.

Ans. It is defined as the number of females per thousand males in the population. It is known
as sex ratio.
People prefer to have a baby boy rather than a baby girl.
People go through pre sex determination test. In case of a girl child they abort the child.

29. How would you summarize the problems faced by the poor population of India?

Ans. In spite of much considerable achievements, the health situation is a matter of major
concern for India.
The consumption of calories per capita is much below the recommended levels.
A large percentage of our population is afflicted by malnutrition.
The availability of safe drinking water and basic sanitation amenities are to be availed to
only one third of the rural population.

30. On the political map locate and label the following

i) A state having population density 100 and below

ii) A state having population density 501 and above
iii) A state having the lowest sex ratio

Ans.
 5 marks Questions

1. Describe of distribution of Population in India?

Ans. India’s population as on March 2001 stood at 1,028 million which accounts for 16.7% of
world’s population.
These 1.02 billion people are unevenly distributed over our country’s vast areas of 3.28
million sq km.
The 2001 census data reveals that Uttar Pradesh with the population size of 166 million
people is the most populous state of India.
On the other hand the Himalayan state Sikkim has a population of just about 0.5 million and
Lakshadweep has only 60 thousand people.
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 percent of the total population of
India.

2. Which process of population is responsible for distribution and composition

population? Explain its types also.

Ans. Migration is the process of population growth which is responsible for the composition
and distribution of population.
Migration is the third component of population growth and change. Migration is the
movement of people across regions and territories. It can be internal and International.
Internal migration is the movement of people with in the country and the international
migration is the movement of the people between the countries.
Internal migration influences the distribution of population within the nation, but it does not
change the size of the population.
Change in the composition and distribution of population takes place due to migration.
3. Should India feel proud of its size and total population? Give reason.

Ans. Yes, India should feel proud of its size and total population.
The composition of young generation is strength of India. Tomorrow it will became a assets
for a country.
They have more efficiency of work and willpower.
By providing them technical skill or proper training they can be converted into qualitative
population of our country.
The children of our country should also be given proper education so that they will also be
become an asset of the country.
The senior citizens have experience, young generation can learn a lot from them.
From a large size of population, we can find out the good human resources.

4. ‘There has been a sudden abrupt rise in population of India since 1961’. Give reason.

Ans. Yes there was a sudden abrupt rise in population of India since 1961. Because medical
facilities were made available to the people.
By the setting up of hospitals and dispensaries the death rate was decreased and the birth
rate was increased.
People were illiterate and they were not aware about the family planning programmes.
Literacy rate was also very low.
Early marriage of girls and boys was also a reason of population explosion.

5. Why is the rate of population growth in India declining since 1981? Give reasons.

Ans. Awareness spread by media and newspaper was also responsible for the decline in the
growth rate of population.
Spread of education to the girl child was also a reason. Due to it women also become aware
about the drawbacks and expenditure of large family.
Women also start working in the different field of life and now they realized that giving birth
to more children is also harmful for health.
Now, People are literate and they are aware about the family planning programmes.
Literacy rate was also very high.
Early marriage of girls and boys was banned now and age of marriage was fixed by the
government.

6. What is population growth?

Ans. Population growth refers to change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory

during a specific period of time say during the last 10 years.
Such a change can be expressed into two ways in terms of absolute numbers and in terms of
percentage change per year.
Population growth always results due to change in the size of population.
Without a change in population, population growth is not possible.
Internal migration does not lead to change in the population growth of the country.

7. What are the features of population Change?

Ans. Population change is the difference of birth rate and death rate and addition of
migration in a particular area.
Population change in any change that may result due to migration, death rate, birth rate and
change in an age composition and sex ratio.
Even when there is no population growth, there may be a population change.
Internal migration brings about a change in population of a country.
In given population, if there is a change in the sex ratio, it will be considered a population
change.

8. Explain the main causes responsible for the rapid population growth in India.

Ans. Poor methods of family planning and poor implementation of family planning
programmes.
Increase in birth rate at comparison to the death rate.
Illiteracy and backwardness of people is responsible for population explosion.
Poverty leads to the growth of population.
No other resources of entertainment in rural areas so they get in sex activites.

9. Write a short note on National Population Policy.

Ans. Recognizing that the planning of families would improve individual health and welfare,
the Government of India initiated the comprehensive Family Planning Program in 1952.
The Family Welfare Program has sought to promote responsible and planned parenthood on
a voluntary basis.
The national population policy 2000 is a culmination of years of planned efforts.
The NPP 2000 provides a policy framework for imparting free and compulsory school
education up to 14 years of age, reducing infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live
births.
Achieving universal immunization of children against all vaccine preventable diseases,
promoting delayed marriage for girls, and making family welfare a people centered
program.

10. Write short note on the Adolescent Population of India. What are the problems
faced by adolescent population.

Ans. The significant feature of the Indian population is the size of its adolescent population.
It constitutes 1/5 of the total population of India. Adolescents are grouped in the age group of
10-19 years. They are the most important resource for the feature.
Nutritional requirements of adolescents are higher than those of normal child over adult.
Poor nutrition can lead to deficiency and stunted growth. But in India the diet available to
adolescent is inadequate in all nutrients.
A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anemia. Their problems have so far not
received adequate attention in the processes of development.
The adolescent girls have to be sensitized to the problems they confronted. Their awareness
can be improved through the spread of literacy and education among them.