The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society
Short Questions with answers
1. What is demography?
Answer : Demography is the study of population size, structure, and changes.
2. What does “demos” mean in Greek?
Answer : “Demos” means people.
3. What is the focus of formal demography?
Answer : Formal demography focuses on quantitative analysis of population changes.
4. What is social demography?
Answer : Social demography studies the social and economic aspects of population changes.
5. When was the first modern census conducted in the world?
Answer : The first modern census was conducted in the USA in 1790.
6. When did India begin conducting decennial censuses?
Answer : India started decennial censuses in 1881.
7. What does the birth rate represent?
Answer : The birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 people annually.
8. What does the death rate represent?
Answer : The death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 people annually.
9. What is the infant mortality rate?
Answer : It is the number of deaths of infants under one year per 1,000 live births.
10. What is life expectancy?
Answer : It is the average number of years a person is expected to live.
11. What does the sex ratio measure?
Answer : It measures the number of females per 1,000 males in a population.
12. Which state has the highest child sex ratio in India?
Answer : Arunachal Pradesh has the highest child sex ratio of 972 females per 1,000 males.
13. What is the replacement level of fertility?
Answer : It is the fertility rate at which a population replaces itself, usually 2.1 children per woman.
14. What is population momentum?
Answer : It is the continued population growth due to a large reproductive-age population.
15. What is the dependency ratio?
Answer : It compares the non-working-age population to the working-age population.
16. What is the demographic dividend?
Answer : It is the economic benefit of a large working-age population.
17. What is the Malthusian theory of population growth?
Answer : Malthus argued that population growth outpaces food production, causing poverty.
18. What disproved the Malthusian theory?
Answer : Advances in agriculture and declining birth rates disproved it.
19. What is the demographic transition theory?
Answer : It explains population changes with economic development in three stages.
20. What causes population explosions during the demographic transition?
Answer : Death rates decline faster than birth rates.
21. What is the fertility rate?
Answer : It is the number of live births per 1,000 women aged 15–49.
22. Which state in India has the lowest child sex ratio?
Answer : Haryana has the lowest child sex ratio of 793 females per 1,000 males.
23. What is urbanization?
Answer : It is the increase in the population living in urban areas.
24. What percentage of India’s population lives in rural areas?
Answer : About 68.8% lives in rural areas (2011 Census).
25. Which epidemic caused a population decline in India between 1911–1921?
Answer : The influenza epidemic of 1918–1919.
26. What is maternal mortality rate?
Answer : It is the number of women dying during childbirth per 100,000 live births.
27. What is the sex ratio of India according to the 2011 Census?
Answer : It is 943 females per 1,000 males.
28. Which regions in India are known for high fertility rates?
Answer : Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
29. What is the main aim of the National Family Welfare Programme?
Answer : To control population growth and improve public health.
30. What are age pyramids used for?
Answer : They visually represent the age structure of a population.
Medium Questions with answers
1. What is the significance of the demographic transition theory?
Answer : It describes population changes due to economic development in three stages: high birth and death rates, declining death rates, and low birth and death rates. The theory helps explain population explosions and stabilization trends.
2. Why does the child sex ratio in India show alarming trends?
Answer : The child sex ratio has declined due to neglect of girl children, sex-selective abortions, and cultural preference for sons. Despite laws against prenatal sex determination, the ratio remains low in many prosperous states.
3. What are the components of population change?
Answer : Population changes occur through births, deaths, and migration. These factors influence population growth, structure, and distribution over time.
4. How does the dependency ratio affect a country’s economy?
Answer : A low dependency ratio provides economic growth opportunities through a large working population. A high ratio, however, burdens the working-age group with caring for dependents.
5. Why did Malthus believe in “positive checks” to population growth?
Answer : Malthus argued that natural events like famines and epidemics control population growth. He viewed them as inevitable due to limited food supply.
6. What disproves Malthus’s theory in modern times?
Answer : Advances in agricultural productivity, declining birth rates, and improved living standards proved Malthus’s predictions wrong. Population growth has been managed through social and economic changes.
7. How does literacy impact population growth?
Answer : Higher literacy rates, especially among women, lead to smaller family sizes and better child health. Literacy also empowers individuals to make informed decisions about family planning.
8. What role does urbanization play in India?
Answer : Urbanization brings economic opportunities and better infrastructure but also causes overcrowding and strain on urban resources. Rural-to-urban migration accelerates this process.
9. What is the demographic dividend, and how can it benefit India?
Answer : A large working-age population provides economic growth opportunities. However, it requires investments in education, health, and job creation to be fully realized.
10. Why is the rural population still significant in India?
Answer : Over 68% of India’s population resides in rural areas. Although urbanization is increasing, rural areas remain vital for agriculture and socio-political influence.
11. What is the impact of declining death rates on population growth?
Answer : Declining death rates increase life expectancy and population growth. Advances in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition contribute to this trend.
12. What are the regional variations in India’s fertility rates?
Answer : Southern states like Kerala and Tamil Nadu have low fertility rates, while northern states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have higher rates. This reflects differences in education, healthcare, and cultural norms.
13. What causes a population explosion during demographic transitions?
Answer : Population explosions occur when death rates decline due to healthcare improvements, but birth rates remain high. This creates a temporary surge in population growth.
14. Why is the declining sex ratio a serious concern in India?
Answer : A declining sex ratio indicates gender discrimination and son preference. It affects social balance and highlights the need for attitudinal change towards girl children.
15. How has the National Family Welfare Programme evolved?
Answer : Initially focused on controlling population growth, the program now emphasizes broader health and socio-demographic goals. It addresses issues like maternal health and education.
Long Questions with answers
1. What are the three stages of the demographic transition theory?
Answer : The demographic transition theory outlines three stages of population change. In the first stage, high birth and death rates lead to low growth. The second stage sees declining death rates and population explosions, while the third stage stabilizes growth with low birth and death rates.
2. What factors have contributed to declining death rates in India?
Answer : Declining death rates in India are due to improved healthcare, vaccinations, and better sanitation. Control of epidemics like cholera and smallpox has significantly reduced mortality. These advancements have also increased life expectancy.
3. What are the causes of rural-to-urban migration in India?
Answer : Rural-to-urban migration occurs due to limited resources and employment opportunities in villages. Cities offer better jobs, anonymity, and living standards. Urban migration is further accelerated by the decline of shared rural resources like forests and ponds.
4. How does female literacy influence social development?
Answer : Female literacy enhances social development by promoting smaller family sizes and healthier children. Educated women are empowered to make informed decisions and challenge gender inequality. This leads to economic participation and overall societal progress.
5. What are the main criticisms of the Malthusian theory?
Answer : Critics argue Malthus overlooked the impact of technological advancements in agriculture. Poverty and starvation arise more from unequal resource distribution than population growth. Modern economies have disproven his pessimistic predictions.
6. What challenges does urbanization create in India?
Answer : Urbanization leads to overcrowded cities, strained infrastructure, and environmental issues. Migrants face inequality and struggle to integrate into urban life. Rapid urban growth has also created severe housing and sanitation challenges.
7. Why does India need to harness its demographic dividend?
Answer : India’s large working-age population presents an opportunity for economic growth. To harness this, investments in education, healthcare, and employment are essential. Without planning, the advantage may lead to widespread unemployment.
8. How does the sex ratio reflect gender inequality in India?
Answer : A declining sex ratio highlights societal preference for sons and neglect of girl children. Cultural and economic biases contribute to this imbalance. It signals a need for gender-sensitive policies and awareness campaigns.
9. What steps has the government taken to address the declining sex ratio?
Answer : The government has enacted laws like the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act to ban sex-selective abortions. Campaigns such as “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” promote girl child welfare. These initiatives aim to correct societal biases against daughters.
10. How can India balance rural and urban development?
Answer : India can balance rural and urban development by improving rural infrastructure and creating non-farm jobs. Urban congestion issues must also be addressed with better planning. Equitable policies can ensure growth across both regions.
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