CHAPTER 6 : POPULATION
1. Importance of
Population
·
Population
refers to the total number of people living in a
particular area.
·
Human
beings are:
o Producers of resources
o Consumers of resources
·
Resources,
disasters, and development have meaning only in relation to
people.
·
The
quality,
distribution, and growth
of population determine:
o Economic development
o Social structure
o Environmental impact
·
Population
data in India is obtained from the Census of India.
2. Census
·
Census: Official counting of population
along with social and economic details.
·
First
census in India: 1872
·
First
complete census: 1881
·
Conducted
every
10 years
·
It
provides data on:
o Population size
o Literacy
o Sex ratio
o Occupation
o Age structure
3.
Population Size and Distribution in India
(A) Population Size
·
India’s
population (2011): 1210.6 million
·
India
has:
o 17%
of world population
o Only 2.4% of world’s land
area
·
Most
populous state: Uttar Pradesh (199 million)
·
Least
populous:
o Sikkim – about 0.6 million
o Lakshadweep – 64,429
·
Nearly
50%
population lives in five states:
o Uttar Pradesh
o Maharashtra
o Bihar
o West Bengal
o Andhra Pradesh
(B) Population
Distribution by Density
·
Population density: Number of persons per sq km
·
Density
of India (2011): 382 persons/sq km
·
Highest
density: Bihar – 1102 persons/sq km
·
Lowest
density: Arunachal Pradesh – 17 persons/sq km
Reasons for Uneven Distribution
·
Physical
factors:
o Climate
o Relief
o Soil fertility
o Availability of water
·
Economic
factors:
o Urbanisation
o Industrialisation
o Employment opportunities
4.
Population Growth
Meaning
·
Change
in population over a period of time.
Two Measures
1. Absolute
Increase
o Difference between populations of
two census years
2. Growth
Rate
o Percentage increase per year
Population Growth
Trend in India
·
1951:
361 million
·
2011:
1210.6 million
·
Growth
rate increased till 1981, then started declining
·
Even
with declining rate, absolute population keeps increasing due to large base population
5.
Processes of Population Change
(A) Birth Rate
·
Number
of live births per 1000 persons per year
·
High
birth rate → population
increase
(B) Death Rate
·
Number
of deaths per 1000 persons per year
·
Declined
due to:
o Better medical facilities
o Improved sanitation
o Control of epidemics
(C) Migration
·
Movement
of people from one place to another
·
Types:
o Internal
migration
(within country)
o International
migration (between
countries)
Effects of Migration
·
Does
not change total population
·
Changes:
o Population distribution
o Age and sex composition
·
In
India:
o Mostly rural
to urban
o Causes urban population growth
6.
Adolescent Population
·
Age
group: 10–19 years
·
Constitutes
about 1/5th of India’s population
·
Importance:
o Future workforce
o National development
·
Problems:
o Malnutrition
o Anaemia among girls
·
Solutions:
o Education
o Awareness
o Health care
7.
National Population Policy (NPP), 2000
Objectives:
·
Free
and compulsory education up to 14 years
·
Reduce
infant mortality rate
·
Universal
immunisation
·
Delay
marriage for girls
·
Promote
small family norm
·
Improve
maternal and child health
EXERCISE
ANSWERS (PAGE 54)
1.
Multiple Choice Questions
(i) Migrations change the number,
distribution and composition of population in
Answer: (c) both the area of departure and
arrival
(ii) A large proportion of children is a
result of
Answer: (a) high birth rates
(iii) The magnitude of population growth
refers to
Answer: (b) the number of persons added
each year
(iv) A “literate” person is one who
Answer: (c) is 7 years old and can read and
write any language with understanding
2.
Answer the following briefly
(i) Why is the rate
of population growth declining since 1981?
·
Due
to:
o Decline in birth rate
o Family planning programmes
o Increased literacy
o Late marriages
o Awareness about small families
(ii) Major
components of population growth
1. Birth rate
2. Death rate
3. Migration
(iii) Define:
·
Age structure: Distribution of population
according to age groups
·
Birth rate: Number of live births per 1000
persons per year
·
Death rate: Number of deaths per 1000 persons
per year
(iv) How is
migration a determinant of population change?
·
Migration
changes:
o Population distribution
o Population composition
·
Leads
to:
o Urbanisation
o Growth of cities
3.
Difference between Population Growth and Population Change
|
Population Growth |
Population Change |
|
Increase
in number of people |
Change
in size, composition & distribution |
|
Caused
by births and deaths |
Caused
by births, deaths & migration |
4.
Relation between occupational structure and development
·
Developed
countries:
o More people in secondary and
tertiary sectors
·
Developing
countries:
o Majority in primary sector
·
Higher
development →
diversified occupations
5.
Advantages of a Healthy Population
·
Higher
productivity
·
Economic
growth
·
Lower
healthcare cost
·
Better
quality of life
·
National
development
6.
Significant features of National Population Policy 2000
·
Education
up to 14 years
·
Reduce
infant & maternal mortality
·
Promote
delayed marriage
·
Encourage
small family norm
·
Universal
immunisation
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