🔹 Introduction to Population
- Population refers to the total number of people living in a particular area at a given time.
- It is one of the most important elements in social studies and geography, as it affects and is affected by many aspects such as resources, development, and the environment.
- Understanding population helps in planning resources, healthcare, education, housing, and infrastructure.
🔹 India’s Population Overview
- India is the second most populous country in the world after China.
- As per Census 2011, the total population of India was 1.21 billion (121 crore).
- India accounts for 17.5% of the world’s population while it has only 2.4% of the world’s land area.
- The population of India is unevenly distributed due to varying geographical and socio-economic factors.
🔹 Census in India
- Census is the official count of population conducted by the government every 10 years.
- It includes data on population size, sex ratio, literacy rate, age composition, occupational structure, and more.
- The first census in India was conducted in 1872, and the first complete census was in 1881.
- The Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India under the Ministry of Home Affairs is responsible for conducting the census.
🔹 Population Size and Distribution
- India’s population has seen rapid growth in the 20th century.
- The population density (number of people per square kilometre) in 2011 was 382 persons per sq. km.
- Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state, whereas Sikkim has the lowest population.
- States like Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal have high population densities due to favourable climatic and economic conditions.
🔹 Population Growth
- Population growth is the change in population size over time.
- It is calculated as the difference between the birth rate and death rate.
- Two types of population growth:
- Natural Growth: Births minus deaths.
- Actual Growth: Births minus deaths plus migration.
🔹 Factors Influencing Population Growth
- Birth Rate – Number of live births per 1000 people per year.
- Death Rate – Number of deaths per 1000 people per year.
- Migration – Movement of people from one place to another.
- Internal migration (within the country).
- International migration (across countries).
🔹 Trends of Population Growth in India
- From 1901 to 1951 – The population growth was slow due to famines, epidemics, and poor healthcare.
- From 1951 to 1981 – The population grew rapidly, often called population explosion.
- After 1981 – The growth rate started to decline, but the overall population still increased significantly.
🔹 Density of Population
- Population density refers to the number of people per unit area, typically per square kilometre.
- As per Census 2011:
- Bihar had the highest population density (1102 persons/sq.km).
- Arunachal Pradesh had the lowest density (17 persons/sq.km).
- High density is usually found in plains and urban areas, while mountainous and desert regions have low density.
🔹 Population Distribution in India
- Uneven distribution due to:
- Geographical factors (climate, topography, soil fertility).
- Socio-economic factors (employment, industrial development, education).
- Historical and political reasons.
🔹 Age Composition
- Age composition means the structure of the population according to age.
- It is divided into three broad categories:
- Children (0–14 years) – Economically dependent.
- Working Age (15–59 years) – Economically productive.
- Aged (60+ years) – Generally dependent.
🔹 Sex Ratio
- Sex Ratio is the number of females per 1000 males.
- As per Census 2011, India’s sex ratio is 940 females per 1000 males.
- States like Kerala (1084) and Chhattisgarh (991) have a better sex ratio.
- States like Haryana and Punjab have poor sex ratios due to social preferences and female infanticide.
🔹 Literacy Rate
- Literacy rate is the percentage of people aged 7 years and above who can read and write.
- As per 2011 census:
- Overall literacy: 74.04%
- Male literacy: 82.14%
- Female literacy: 65.46%
- Highest literacy: Kerala (94%)
Lowest literacy: Bihar (61.8%)
🔹 Occupational Structure
- Refers to the distribution of population based on the type of work they do.
- Classified into:
- Primary Activities – Agriculture, fishing, mining.
- Secondary Activities – Manufacturing and industry.
- Tertiary Activities – Services like education, transport, healthcare.
- In India:
- Primary sector dominates, especially in rural areas.
- Urban areas have more secondary and tertiary activities.
🔹 Health Conditions of Population
- Health indicators include life expectancy, infant mortality rate, and maternal mortality rate.
- India has seen improvements due to:
- Expansion of healthcare infrastructure
- Awareness programs
- National health missions
🔹 Adolescent Population
- People aged 10–19 years are known as adolescents.
- They form nearly one-fifth of India’s population.
- Special focus is needed on:
- Nutrition
- Education
- Skill development
- Mental health
🔹 Population and Sustainable Development
- High population growth can:
- Overburden resources
- Lead to environmental degradation
- Cause unemployment and poverty
- Sustainable development needs:
- Controlled population growth
- Efficient resource use
- Investment in human capital
🔹 Government Initiatives for Population Control
- National Population Policy (2000) aims to:
- Achieve stable population by 2045.
- Provide free and compulsory education up to 14 years.
- Reduce infant and maternal mortality.
- Promote family planning and delayed marriage.
🔹 Challenges Due to Population Growth
- Poverty and Unemployment
- Housing Shortage
- Pressure on Agriculture and Industry
- Inadequate Health and Education Facilities
- Environmental Degradation
🔹 Role of Education in Population Control
- Education, especially for girls, leads to:
- Delayed marriage and childbirth
- Better health and hygiene
- Greater economic participation
- Awareness about contraception
🔹 Migration and Its Impact
- Migration can be rural to urban, urban to urban, or international.
- Causes:
- Push factors: Poverty, lack of jobs, poor living conditions.
- Pull factors: Better jobs, healthcare, and education in cities.
- Impacts:
- Urban overcrowding
- Rural depopulation
- Cultural diversity
- Strain on urban infrastructure
🔹 Youth and Demographic Dividend
- India has a young population, a potential demographic dividend.
- To benefit:
- Invest in education, skills, health, and entrepreneurship.
- Create job opportunities and promote innovation.
🔹 Importance of Population Data
- Helps in:
- Policy formulation
- Economic planning
- Disaster management
- Resource allocation
- Social welfare programs
🔹 Conclusion
- Population is a powerful resource if well-managed.
- It plays a vital role in economic growth and national development.
- Challenges posed by population growth need to be addressed through:
- Education
- Healthcare
- Employment
- Public awareness
- A balanced and informed population policy is essential for India’s sustainable future.
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