Population

Population is the total number of people inhabiting a country or region. It is a crucial element in understanding the country's resources, development, and challenges.

1.1 India's Population Size

• India's population: 1,210.6 million (1.21 billion) as per the 2011 Census.
• This accounts for 17.5% of the world's population on just 2.4% of the world's land area.
• India is the second most populous country after China.

1.2 Population Distribution by Density

• Population Density: Number of persons per unit area.
• India's average population density (2011): 382 persons per sq. km.
• High Density Regions:
• Northern Plains: Fertile land, abundant rainfall, flat terrain, suitable for agriculture (e.g., Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal).
• Coastal Plains: Moderate climate, fishing, trade (e.g., Kerala, Tamil Nadu).
• Moderate Density Regions: Peninsular India, Assam.
• Low Density Regions:
• Hilly, Dissected, Rocky Terrains: (e.g., Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand).
• Arid Regions: (e.g., Rajasthan).
• Sparse Rainfall Areas: (e.g., Jammu & Kashmir).

Factors Influencing Population Distribution:

• Physical Factors:
• Climate: Extreme climates (very hot/cold) lead to sparse population.
• Terrain: Plains and gentle slopes are preferred over mountains and plateaus.
• Water Availability: Areas with fresh water sources attract more population.
• Soil Fertility: Fertile soils support agriculture, leading to higher density.
• Socio-Economic Factors:
• Urbanization: Growth of cities provides employment, education, health facilities.
• Industrialization: Industrial belts attract labor.
• Transport Network: Well-developed transport facilitates movement and settlement.
• Historical Factors: Ancient civilizations often developed in river valleys, leading to high population concentrations.

2.1 Population Growth

• Population Growth: The change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during a specific period.
• Expressed in two ways:
• Absolute Increase: Total number added each year/decade. Calculated by subtracting the earlier population from the later population.
• Annual Growth Rate: Percentage increase per year (e.g., 2% means 2 persons added for every 100 persons).

Trends in India's Population Growth:

• Pre-1921: Stagnant or slow growth due to high birth rates and high death rates (epidemics, famines).
• 1921-1951: Steady growth. Death rates declined due to improved health and sanitation.
• 1951-1981: Population explosion. Rapid decline in death rates, but high birth rates persisted. Improved medical facilities, better living conditions.
• Post-1981: Growth rate started declining gradually. Birth rates declined due to family planning initiatives, increased education, and awareness. However, population continues to grow due to the large base population.

2.2 Processes of Population Change

Three main processes:

1. Birth Rates: Number of live births per 1000 persons in a year. High birth rates are a major cause of population growth in India.
2. Death Rates: Number of deaths per 1000 persons in a year. Rapid decline in death rates has been a significant factor in India's population growth.
3. Migration: Movement of people across regions and territories.

• Internal Migration: Within the country (does not change total population, but affects distribution).
• Rural-to-Urban Migration: A common trend in India, leading to urbanization and pressure on urban resources.
• International Migration: Between countries (changes total population).
• Immigration: People coming into a country.
• Emigration: People leaving a country.

Impact of Migration:

• Urban Areas: Increase in population, pressure on infrastructure (housing, sanitation, transport), growth of slums.
• Rural Areas: Depletion of workforce, especially young adults.
• Economic Impact: Remittances from migrants, labor supply.

2.3 Growth Rate vs. Absolute Increase

• Even if the annual growth rate declines, the absolute increase in population can still be large because the base population is very large.
• Example: A 2% growth rate on a base of 100 million adds 2 million people. A 1.5% growth rate on a base of 1 billion adds 15 million people.

Population composition refers to the structure of the population, including age structure, sex ratio, literacy levels, occupational structure, and health status.

3.1 Age Composition

• Age Structure: The distribution of people into various age groups.
• Crucial for understanding the social and economic structure of a population.
• Three broad age groups:
• Children (0-14 years): Economically unproductive, dependent on others for food, clothing, education, and medical care. High proportion indicates high birth rates.
• Working Age (15-59 years): Economically productive and biologically reproductive. They form the working population. A larger proportion indicates a strong workforce.
• Aged (60+ years): Can be economically productive or retired. They may be dependent. A growing proportion indicates better healthcare and increased life expectancy.

3.2 Sex Ratio

• Sex Ratio: Number of females per 1000 males.
• An important indicator of gender equality and social health.
• India's Sex Ratio (2011): 940 females per 1000 males.
• Reasons for low sex ratio in India:
• Preference for male child.
• Sex-selective abortions.
• Female infanticide.
• Neglect of girl child in nutrition and healthcare.
• States with high sex ratio: Kerala (1084), Puducherry (1037).
• States with low sex ratio: Haryana (879), Jammu & Kashmir (889).

3.3 Literacy Rates

• Literacy Rate: Percentage of people aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding.
• India's Literacy Rate (2011): 74.04%.
• Male literacy: 82.14%
• Female literacy: 65.46%
• Significance: Low literacy rates, especially among females, hinder socio-economic development. Education is key to informed decisions, better health, and economic participation.
• States with high literacy: Kerala (94%), Mizoram (91.3%).
• States with low literacy: Bihar (61.8%), Arunachal Pradesh (65.4%).

3.4 Occupational Structure

• Occupational Structure: Distribution of the population according to different types of occupations.
• Occupations are generally classified into three sectors:
• Primary Activities: Agriculture, forestry, animal husbandry, fishing, mining. Involves extracting natural resources. Largest employer in India.
• Secondary Activities: Manufacturing, industry, building construction. Involves processing raw materials.
• Tertiary Activities: Transport, communication, banking, commerce, administration, services. Provides services.
• Developed vs. Developing Economies:
• Developed: Higher proportion in secondary and tertiary sectors.
• Developing: Higher proportion in primary sector (like India).
• Shift in India: Gradual shift from primary to secondary and tertiary sectors, indicating economic development.

3.5 Health

• Health: A significant component of population composition, affecting development process.
• Improvements in India:
• Decline in death rates.
• Increase in life expectancy (from 36.7 years in 1951 to 67.9 years in 2018).
• Reduction in infant mortality rate (IMR).
• Challenges:
• Malnutrition, especially among children.
• Lack of access to safe drinking water and sanitation.
• Inadequate medical facilities in rural areas.
• Government Initiatives: National Health Mission, Ayushman Bharat, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan.

4.1 Need for a Population Policy

• Rapid population growth puts immense pressure on resources, infrastructure, and the environment.
• To address challenges like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and poor health, a comprehensive policy was needed.

4.2 National Population Policy 2000 (NPP 2000)

• Objectives:
• Immediate Objective: Address needs for contraception, healthcare infrastructure, and health personnel.
• Medium-Term Objective: Reduce Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement levels (2.1 children per woman) by 2010.
• Long-Term Objective: Achieve a stable population by 2045, consistent with sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

Key Features and Promotional Measures of NPP 2000:

• Promoting smaller families: Encouraging delayed marriage for girls, spacing children.
• Improving reproductive and child health:
• Free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age.
• Reducing infant mortality rate (IMR) to below 30 per 1000 live births.
• Reducing maternal mortality rate (MMR) to below 100 per 100,000 live births.
• Achieving universal immunization of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Promoting delayed marriage for girls (preferably after 18, ideally after 20 years of age).
• Making family welfare a people-centric programme: Involving local communities, NGOs, and women's self-help groups.
• Adolescent-focused policies:
• Protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).
• Nutritional services.
• Counselling for contraception and safe sexual practices.
• Efforts to make school education compulsory.

4.3 Adolescents and NPP 2000

• Adolescents (10-19 years) form a significant proportion of India's population.
• They face challenges like malnutrition, early marriage, early childbearing, and lack of awareness about reproductive health.
• NPP 2000 specifically identified adolescents as a key target group for intervention.
• Programmes for adolescents: Providing nutritional supplements, promoting delayed marriage, offering education on reproductive health, and making contraceptive services accessible and affordable.

4.4 Achievements and Challenges

• Achievements: Significant decline in TFR, IMR, and MMR. Increased awareness about family planning.
• Challenges: Persistent regional disparities in demographic indicators, continued preference for male child, gaps in healthcare infrastructure, especially in remote areas.