Economics Notes Chapter 6 Population
in India
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→ Population :
It refer to the number of people living in an area at a given
point of time.
It is measured once in every 10 years.
It is measured through census survey.
India ranks second in the world next to China.
Population statistics are collected, compiled and published
by Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner
of India.
→ Kautilya wrote ‘Arthashastra’ in 3rd century B. C.
→ Year 1872 is marked as first population Census of India
→ World population crossed 500 crores on 11th July, 1987
→ 11th July is observed as “World Population Day”
→ There was marginal decline in population during the period
1911 – 1921 due to spread of epidemics – influenza, cholera,
plague, malaria, etc.
→ The year 1921 is designated as ‘Year of Great Divide”.
→ Theories Of Population Growth
(a) Malthusian Theory
(b) Theory of Demographic Transition
(a) Malthusian Theory:
Thomas Robert Malthus
“An Essay on the Principle of Population” (1798)
Population increases in Geometric Progression
Food supply increases in Arithmetic Progression (Imbalance
between population and food supply)
Imbalance can be balanced by preventive checks and
natural checks
(b) Theory of Demographic Transition:
A. J. Coale and E. M, Hoover
“Population growth and Economic Development in low-
income countries” (1958).
This theory explains transition from high to low birth rates
and death rates.
Stage of Demographic transition:
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o First stage (Low growth of population) The birth rate and death rate both
are very high. All underdeveloped countries 38 have passed through this stage. Before 1921,
India was in the first stage of demographic transition
o Second stage (High growth of population) Introduction of
industrialisation and beginning of the process of economic development is the indicator of
the second stage. Due to economic development death rate started falling rapidly, but the
birth rate continued to remain high. This led to population explosion
o Third stage (Low or Stable population) Rapid industrialisation and
urbanisation, result in the spread of education and consciousness about standard of living.
With economic development, both birth rate as well as death rate tend to decline.
→ Features of 1st Stage of Demographic Transition.
Low growth of population
↑
High birth and High death rate
↑
People ruled by old customs and beliefs
↑
Illiteracy among people, mass poverty, orthodoxy etc.
↑
Agriculture as main occupation (Pre-industrialised and primitive
stage)
↑
Low economic development
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→ Features of 2nd Stage of Demographic Transition.
Experienced by India and other developing countries
↑
Birth rate remained high
↑
Death rate falls rapidly
↑
Improvement in economic development
↑
Introduction of Industrialisation
→ Features of 3rd Stage of Demographic Transition.
Experienced by all developed countries
↑
Stable Population growth
↑
Fall in Birth and Death Rate
↑
Improvement in Literacy rate
↑
Shifting of people from rural to urban
↑
Structure of economy changes
↑
Rapid industrialisation and urbanisation
→ Concept related to Population Growth
Birth rate
(Fertility Rate) Birth rate means the number of births occurring per thousand of the
living population during a year. It is also known as fertility rate . 2)
Death Rate
(Mortality Rate) Death rate : The number of deaths per thousand of the living
population during a year is called death rate. It is also called mortality rate. 3) Survival rate :
The difference between the birth rate and death rate is known as the survival rate. This
shows the actual rate of population growth.
Survival Rate) Survival rate : The difference between the birth rate and death rate is
known as the survival rate. This shows the actual rate of population growth.
(Survival Rate = Birth rate – Death rate)
→ Situation where the growth of population is faster than the
growth and development of an economy, it is called as Population
explosion.
→ Causes:
Low Death Rate:
(a) Improvement in medical and health facilities. : Due to
widespread increase in medical and health facilities, epidemics like plague, cholera, malaria, small
pox, tuberculosis etc. have almost been eradicated
(b) Decline in Maternal Mortality Rate . : Over a period of time, death
rate of women dying during maternity has declined due to improvement in medical facilities
(c) Fall in infant mortality rate . : Due to better medical facilities there has
been a decline in infant mortality rate from 146 per 1000 in 1951 to 64 per 1000 in 2002 and 47 per
1000 in 2011. Improvement in literacy among women has also resulted in better care for infants and
as such there is a decline in infant mortality rate
(d) Increase in literacy . : Better education will help the people to take care of their
life and the needs of their children in a better way. Education has helped the people to come out of
their blind faith, beliefs and ignorance
(e) Use of nutritious food . : Education has created awareness about health and
nutrition. Percentage of children and women dying due to malnutrition and ill health was quite
[Link] deaths are now brought under control by providing nutritious diet. e.g. Mid-day meal
programme in schools
(f) Disaster management. : The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA)
was constituted in 2005. This helps to mitigate all types of disasters thereby reducing the loss of lives
(g) Other factors Education, social reforms, rapid urbanization, improvement in standard of living,
publicity campaigns are also responsible for creating awareness among the people
High Birth Rate:
(a) Illiteracy The percentage of illiterates in the country is reasonably high. The attitude of
illiterate people towards marriage and child birth has remained rigid . Low level of literacy among
females is also responsible for a high birth rate.
(b) Universalization of marriage : In India, marriage is considered as both religious
and social obligation. Even with the spread of education, the attitude of people towards marriage
remains unchanged at large.
(c) Age of marriage In India, the legal age of marriage is relatively lower compared to
other countries. It is 18 years for females and 21 years for males. Low age of marriage has also
resulted in a high birth rate
(d) Preference of Male child Many Indian parents are opting to continue having
children until they have a son or desired numbers of sons. This is known as son meta-preference.
(e) Joint Family System There is no individual financial responsibility in a joint family.
Hence, existence of joint family is also responsible for high birth rate in India
(1) Dependence on Agriculture
(g) Widespread Poverty
(h) Lack of awareness about family welfare services
→ Effects of Population Explosion:
(a) Increased pressure on land
(b) Increased pressure on agriculture
(c) Pressure on infrastructure and basic amenities
(d) Imbalance between demand for and supply of food
(e) Inflation
(f) Environmental problems
(g) Social problems
(h) Low national income
→ Measures To Check Population Explosion:
(A) Economic Measures
(B) Social Measures
(C) Population Policy Of India
(A) Economic Measures
Expansion of industrial sector.
Creation of employment opportunities.
Removal of poverty
Equitable distribution of income and wealth.
(B) Social Measures
Spread of education
Improving the status of women
Raising the minimum age of marriage
(C) Population Policy Of India
Family Planning Programme
Family Welfare Programme
National Population Policy, 2000 (NPP)
→ Feature Of National Population Policy:
Free and compulsory education — upto the age of 14 years.
Reduce infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live
births.
Reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) to below 100 per
1,00,000 live births.
Universal immunization of children.
Delayed marriage for girls — preferably from 18 to 20.
Prevention and control of communicable diseases.
Achieve a stable population by 2045.
→ Human Resource :
Population constitutes a nation’s valuable human resource.
It is not equally distributed all over the world.
It differs in terms of education, age and sex.
UNDP — introduced the concept of‘Human Development’ in
1990.
→ Role of human resources in economic development:
Contributes to reduction in civil disturbances in a society,
then increased political stability.
Contributes to improvement in life expectancy and literacy
rate. This improves the quality of life.
Provision of educational facilities especially among women
that contributes to population control.
Helps to bring about research and development.
It leads to .increase in human productivity.
It leads to overall improvement in the society.
