Chapter 6 Population

Overview

Population is a pivotal element in social studies, influencing and giving meaning to all other environmental factors. This chapter examines India's population from three key perspectives: its size and distribution, its growth and the factors influencing change, and its characteristics like age composition, sex ratio, literacy, occupational structure, and health. It highlights that people are not just consumers of resources but also valuable resources themselves, especially when invested in through education and health.

Population Size and Distribution

As of March 2011, India's population was 1,210.6 million, representing 17.5% of the world's population, spread across only 2.4% of the world's area. This indicates a high degree of uneven distribution. Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state (16% of India's population), while Sikkim and Lakshadweep have very small populations. Half of India's population resides in just five states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan, despite being the largest state by area, has a relatively low population share (5.5%).

Population Density: This measures the number of persons per square kilometer. India's density in 2011 was 382 persons/sq km, with significant variations. Bihar has the highest density (1,102 persons/sq km), while Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest (17 persons/sq km). Areas with rugged terrain and unfavorable climates (like many Himalayan regions) have sparse populations, while fertile plains with abundant rainfall and moderate climates (like the Northern Plains and Kerala) are densely populated.

Population Growth And Processes Of Population Change

Population is dynamic, constantly changing due to births, deaths, and migration.

• Population Growth: Refers to the change in population numbers over a specific period, expressed in absolute numbers or percentage change (annual growth rate). India's population grew rapidly from 361 million in 1951 to 1,210 million in 2011. While the growth rate has declined since 1981 due to falling birth rates, the absolute increase remains large because of the vast population base. India is projected to surpass China as the most populous country by 2045.
• Birth Rate: The number of live births per thousand persons per year.
• Death Rate: The number of deaths per thousand persons per year. The rapid decline in death rates (from 25/1000 in 1951 to 7.2/1000 in 2011) has been a major driver of population growth, although birth rates have also been declining since 1981.
• Migration: Movement of people across territories. Internal migration affects population distribution within a country. Rural-urban migration in India is driven by rural poverty and unemployment (push factors) and the promise of better employment and living conditions in cities (pull factors). This has led to a steady increase in India's urban population.

Characteristics Or Qualities Of The Population

These characteristics shape a population's social and economic structure:

• Age Composition: Population is divided into three groups: Children (below 15 years - unproductive, dependent), Working Age (15-59 years - productive), and Aged (above 59 years - potentially productive but retired). A high proportion of children leads to a high dependency ratio.
• Sex Ratio: Defined as the number of females per 1000 males. India's sex ratio has historically been unfavorable to females, though it improved slightly to 943 females per 1000 males in 2011. Significant regional variations exist, with Kerala having a high ratio and Delhi and Haryana having lower ratios.
• Literacy Rates: Defined as the ability to read and write with understanding by age 7+. Literacy is crucial for informed decision-making and economic development. India's literacy rate was 73% in 2011 (80.9% males, 64.6% females), showing improvement but also gender and regional disparities.
• Occupational Structure: The distribution of the workforce across primary (agriculture, mining), secondary (manufacturing), and tertiary (services) sectors. Developing countries like India have a high proportion in primary activities (64% in agriculture), with a gradual shift towards secondary and tertiary sectors due to urbanization and industrialization.
• Health: Improvements in public health, disease prevention, and medical practices have led to increased life expectancy (67.9 years in 2012) and reduced death rates. However, malnutrition and inadequate access to sanitation and safe drinking water remain significant concerns.
• Adolescent Population: Constituting one-fifth of India's population, adolescents (10-19 years) have higher nutritional needs. Inadequate nutrition and a lack of focus on their specific needs (like protection from STDs and unwanted pregnancies) are major challenges addressed by the National Population Policy 2000.
• National Population Policy (NPP) 2000: Aims to promote planned parenthood, provide free education, reduce infant mortality, achieve universal immunization, promote delayed marriage for girls, and address adolescent needs.

Ultimately, a well-educated and healthy population is considered the nation's most valuable resource, driving economic and social progress.

Exercise

The exercises at the end of the chapter focus on understanding population dynamics. They ask students to explain the declining growth rate, discuss components of population change (birth rate, death rate, migration), define key terms like age structure and sex ratio, and analyze the relationship between occupational structure and development. Questions also probe the advantages of a healthy population and the features of the National Population Policy 2000. A practical activity involves conducting a class census to compile and present demographic data, reinforcing the concepts learned.