CBSE Class 12 Geography Population Distribution Assignment Set 01

Question 1. Define density of population.
Answer: Ratio between total area and total population, expressed as the number of persons per square kilometer.
In simple words: Population density measures how many people live in a specific unit of area.

Exam Tip: Always remember the formula: Population divided by Area.

Question 2. What do you mean by growth rate?
Answer: Net change in the size of population between two points of time, usually expressed in percentage.
In simple words: Growth rate tells us how fast a population increases or decreases over a given time period.

Exam Tip: Mention that population growth can be expressed in terms of absolute numbers or percentage change.

Question 3. Name the state having the highest and lowest population growth rate.
Answer: Highest growth rate: Nagaland
Lowest growth rate: Kerala
In simple words: Nagaland recorded the highest percentage population increase, while Kerala recorded the lowest.

Exam Tip: Keep census data points accurate as they are frequently asked in board exams.

Question 4. What is the present annual growth rate of India?
Answer: 2.2%.
In simple words: India's population grows at approximately 2.2 percent annually according to baseline figures.

Exam Tip: Quote exact statistical percentages when asked in short answer questions.

Question 5. Define participation rate.
Answer: Percentage of working population (workers) in the total population.
In simple words: It shows what fraction of the total population is actively engaged in economic work.

Exam Tip: Use the term 'main and marginal workers' when elaborating on workforce participation.

Question 6. Name the states having highest and lowest population density.
Answer: Highest density: West Bengal
Lowest density: Arunachal Pradesh
In simple words: West Bengal is the most crowded major state, while Arunachal Pradesh is the least crowded.

Exam Tip: Note that Union Territories like Delhi have higher density than states, but among states, West Bengal ranks first.

Question 7. Which state has the largest population of Buddhists?
Answer: Maharashtra.
In simple words: Maharashtra has the highest number of followers of Buddhism in India.

Exam Tip: Religious composition questions require precise state names.

Question 8. Which is the largest minority group of India?
Answer: Muslims.
In simple words: Muslims constitute the largest religious minority population in the country.

Answer: Austric.
In simple words: These tribal languages belong to the Austric language family.

Exam Tip: Memorize the four major language families: Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austric, and Sino-Tibetan.

Question 10. What is density of population? Mention Four states of India which have highest density of population.
Answer: Density of population = \(\frac{\text{Population}}{\text{Area}}\)
The four states of India which have highest density of population are:
(i) West Bengal
(ii) Bihar
(iii) Uttar Pradesh
(iv) Kerala
In simple words: Population density is the number of people per square kilometer, and the Gangetic plain states along with Kerala have the highest crowding.

Exam Tip: Always write the formula clearly before listing regional examples.

Question 2. Why is there uneven distribution of population in India?
Answer: The uneven distribution of population in India is caused by:
(i) Climate and relief
(ii) Water supply
(iii) Soil fertility
(iv) Agriculture productivity
(v) Development of transport network
(vi) Industrialization and urbanization
In simple words: People tend to settle where land is flat, water is abundant, soil is fertile, and jobs or transport are available.

Exam Tip: Group your points into physical factors and socio-economic factors for structured answers.

Question 3. Which parts of India have low degree of urbanisation?
Answer: Parts of India with a low degree of urbanisation include:
(i) Non-irrigated western Rajasthan.
(ii) Remote and hilly areas and tribal areas of North-East.
(iii) Flood-prone areas.
(iv) Hilly and forested areas of Central India.
In simple words: Regions with difficult terrain, extreme climate, or poor infrastructure have very few towns and cities.

Exam Tip: Contrast these regions with industrially developed urban corridors to score full marks.

Question 4. Why is proportion of workers in agriculture sector declining in India?
Answer: The proportion of workers in the agriculture sector is declining due to:
(i) Shift of dependence of workers from farm-based occupations to non-farm-based occupations.
(ii) Shrinking of land holdings.
(iii) Better salary and perks in other sectors.
(iv) Better living and working conditions in other sectors.
In simple words: Workers are moving away from farming because farm sizes are shrinking and better-paying jobs are available in cities and industries.

Exam Tip: Mention structural shift of the economy from primary to secondary and tertiary sectors.

Question 5. Which factors have contributed to slowing down slightly the growth rate of India?
Answer: Factors that have contributed to slowing down the growth rate include:
(i) Average age of marriage has been increased.
(ii) Improved quality of life.
(iii) Expansion of female education.
In simple words: Better education, higher marriage age, and improved healthcare have led to smaller family sizes and lower birth rates.

Exam Tip: Highlight female literacy as a key driver of demographic transition.

Question 1. Discuss the spatial pattern of density of population in India.
Answer: Density of population is expressed as the number of persons per unit area. It helps in getting a better understanding of the spatial distribution of population.
The density of population in India (2001) is 325 persons per sq km and ranks third among the most densely populated countries of Asia following Bangladesh (849 persons) and Japan (334 persons).
India's highest density of population (jointly with State and Union Territory) is in National Capital Delhi (9340 persons per sq. km). The state with highest density of population is West Bengal (903 persons) and State with lowest density of population is Arunachal Pradesh (13 persons). Bihar (880) and U.P. (690) rank second and third respectively in India (Highest density of population).
In simple words: India's population is distributed highly unevenly, with river plains and urban centers being extremely crowded while hilly and desert regions have very sparse populations.

Exam Tip: Support your spatial pattern answer with specific statistical density figures for states and union territories.

Question 2. What do you understand by Population growth? Name the components of Population growth. Explain the four distinct phases of growth identified within the period of 1901-2001.
Answer: Growth of population is the change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points of time.
Population growth has two components namely, natural and induced. The natural growth is analyzed by assessing the crude birth and death rates; the induced components are explained by the volume of inward and outward movement of people in any given area.
The four distinct phases of growth identified within the period of 1901-2001 are:

In simple words: India's population growth moved from stagnant levels in the early 1900s to a massive explosion mid-century due to better healthcare, before slowing down slightly in recent decades.

Exam Tip: Draw the four-phase table clearly in long-answer questions to secure maximum marks.

Question 3. Why do we find regional variation in population growth in India?
Answer: Due to the following reasons, we find regional variation in population growth in India:
(1) Climatic Variation
(2) Illiteracy
(3) Lower age at marriage
(4) Growth of adolescent population
(5) School dropout
(6) Low intake of nutrients
(7) High rates of HIV/AIDS infection
(8) Drug abuse and alcoholism.
In simple words: Different states experience different population growth rates because of varying social customs, literacy levels, health standards, and economic opportunities.

Exam Tip: List socio-demographic parameters clearly when explaining regional disparities.

Question 4. What are the categories of occupational structure with ref. to Census of India 2001?
Answer: The categories of occupational structure with reference to Census of India 2001 are:
- Cultivators
- Agricultural labourers
- Household industrial workers
- Other workers
In simple words: The workforce is divided into four main groups based on whether they farm their own land, work as farm laborers, work in small home industries, or work in other services and factories.

Exam Tip: Always specify the four categories of the Census workforce classification.

Question 5. Name four language families in India. Which one of them is spoken by the largest number of people in the country? Name any four states in which this language is mainly spoken.
Answer: Four language families in India are:
1. Indo-Aryan
2. Dravidian
3. Austric
4. Sino-Tibetan
Indo-Aryan is spoken by the largest number of people in the country.
Four states in which Indo-Aryan languages are mainly spoken include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.
In simple words: India has four major language families, with Indo-Aryan being the largest, spoken across northern and central states.

Exam Tip: Link language families directly to their geographical dominance in Indian states.

Question 6. "The spatial distribution of religious communities in India is quite uneven". Support the statement with example of different religions?
Answer: The spatial distribution of religious communities in India is quite uneven due to historical and cultural factors. For example:
- Hindus are distributed widely across all states, forming the majority in most regions.
- Muslims are concentrated in Jammu and Kashmir, parts of West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, and urban centers.
- Christians are concentrated mainly in the rural pockets of the Western coast (Goa, Kerala), Tamil Nadu, and the North-Eastern states like Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
- Sikhs are largely concentrated in Punjab and neighboring states.
- Jains and Buddhists are concentrated in urban trading centers and specific states like Maharashtra.
In simple words: Different religious groups tend to live in specific clusters or regions rather than being evenly spread across the entire country.

Exam Tip: Provide state-wise examples for at least three major religious communities to make your answer comprehensive.

Question 7. Discuss the reasons for poor female participation in workforce in India.
Answer: The reasons for poor female participation in the workforce in India include:
- Low level of education.
- Joint family traditions and social norms.
- Frequent child birth and childcare responsibilities.
- Limited job opportunities suited for women in certain regions.
In simple words: Women often participate less in formal jobs due to family responsibilities, social restrictions, and lower educational attainment.

Exam Tip: Combine socio-cultural factors with economic hurdles to score well in questions on gender and workforce.