Class 9 Social Science Population Exam Notes

This Class 9 Social Science exam notes page on Population covers the size and distribution of India's population, population density, growth and the processes of population change (birth rate, death rate and migration), age composition, sex ratio, literacy, occupational structure, health, the adolescent population and the National Population Policy 2000. It is followed by the chapter exercise with the answer key.

POPULATION

Population is the total number of people living in a country at a given point of time. The people who constitute the population act as the producers as well as the consumers of goods and services.

The main objectives of studying population are to estimate:
1. The total manpower available for production.
2. The total amount of goods and services required for their consumption.

Three major aspects of the population are:
1. Population size and distribution: How many people are there and where are they located?
2. Population growth and processes of population change: How the population has grown and changed through time?
3. Characteristics or qualities of the population: What are their age, sex composition, literacy levels, occupational structure and health conditions?

POPULATION SIZE AND DISTRIBUTION

Population size and distribution is estimated by the census.

Census: It is the process of collection, compilation and publication of information relating to different aspects of people living in a country at a specific time. A census is an official enumeration of population done periodically.

India's population as on March 2001 stood at 1.028 billion (the PDF prints 1.028 million, a typo), which accounts for 16.7 % of the world population. These 1.02 billion people are unevenly distributed over our country's vast area of 3.28 million km², which accounts for 2.4 % of the world area.

According to 2001 census data, Uttar Pradesh, with a population of 166 million people, is the most populous state of India. Uttar Pradesh accounts for about 16 % of the country's population. Sikkim has a population of 0.5 million and Lakshadweep has only 60 thousand people.

Almost half of India's population lives in five states: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Rajasthan, the biggest state in terms of area, has only 5.5 % of the population of India.

INDIA'S POPULATION DISTRIBUTION BY DENSITY

Population density: It is calculated as the number of persons per unit area.

India is one of the most densely populated countries of the world. The population density of India in the year 2001 was 324 persons per sq. km.

Densely populated areas: These are areas which have a population of more than 300 persons per sq. km. The population is dense due to fertile soil and good rainfall or sufficient irrigation facilities.
Areas: Satluj and Gangetic Plain, Malabar Coastal Plain, Coromandel Coast.
States: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu.

Medium density: These are areas which have a population of about 100 to 300 persons per sq. km.
Areas: Brahmaputra valley, industrial areas.
States: Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu.

Thinly populated: These are areas which have a population of less than 100 persons per sq. km.
Areas: Great Indian Desert, hills of north-eastern states.
States: Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

POPULATION GROWTH AND PROCESS OF POPULATION CHANGE

Population growth: Magnitude and pace are two important elements of population increase.
Magnitude: It refers to the number of persons added each year or each decade to a given population.
Pace: It refers to the speed or the rate at which the increase takes place. It is recorded in percent per year.

Population growth refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a country during a specified period of time (during the last 10 years).

Process of population change
There are three main processes of change of population: birth rates, death rates and migration.
Birth rate: It is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year.
Death rate: It is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year.
Migration: It is the movement of people across regions and territories. Migration can be internal (within the country) or international (between countries).

Internal migration: It is that under which people move from one part of the country to another.
Reasons of internal migration:
1. Rising population in rural areas.
2. Lack of demand for labour in agriculture.
3. Increased employment opportunities, better education and living standards in urban areas.
4. Expansion of industrial and service sectors in urban areas.

International migration: Movement of people from one country to another is known as international migration.

Causes of rapid growth of population:
1. High birth rate
2. Decline in death rate
3. Child marriage
4. Poverty
5. Marriage as a necessity
6. Illiteracy

AGE COMPOSITION

Age composition refers to the number of people in different age groups in a country.
Children (0-14 age group): They are economically unproductive and need to be provided with food, clothing, education and medical care.
Working age (15-59 years): They are economically productive and biologically reproductive. They comprise the working population.
Aged (above 59 years): They can be economically productive though they may have retired. They may be working voluntarily, but they are not available for employment through recruitment.

SEX RATIO

Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per 1000 males in the population.

LITERACY RATES

Literacy is a very important quality of a population. Only an informed and educated citizen can make intelligent choices and undertake research and development projects.

A person aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding in any language is treated as literate.

Literacy rate according to the census 2001
India: 64.84 %
Males: 75.26 %
Females: 53.67 %

OCCUPATIONAL STRUCTURE

The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure.
1. Primary sector: Agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, logging, fishery etc. are collectively known as primary activities. They are primary because production is carried on with the help of nature.
2. Secondary sector: Manufacturing industries are known as secondary activities. These include all manufacturing units, small scale industries, large scale industries, construction work etc.
3. Tertiary sector: It is a sector which provides services to both the primary and the secondary sectors. It includes transport, communication, banking, insurance, public administration etc.

HEALTH

Health does not mean survival only. It concerns the physical, mental, economic and social well-being of an individual. It is an important component of population composition, which affects the process of development.

Improvement in the health status:
1. Diseases like smallpox and plague have been eradicated. Malaria has been brought under control.
2. The mortality rate has been reduced to less than half.
3. Life expectancy has gone up to 61 years in 2001 from a mere 41 years during 1951-61.
4. The government has created an extensive network of Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres.

ADOLESCENT POPULATION

Adolescents are generally grouped in the age group of 10-19 years. They constitute one fifth of the total population of India. They are the most important resource for the future.

Nutrition requirements of adolescents are higher than those of a normal child or adult. Poor nutrition can lead to deficiency and stunted growth. A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia. Adolescent girls have to be sensitised, and this can be improved through the spread of literacy and education among them.

National population policy
1. The Government of India initiated the comprehensive family planning programme in 1952.
2. The family welfare programme has sought to promote responsible and planned parenthood on a voluntary basis.
3. The National Population Policy 2000 is a culmination of years of planned efforts.

Family welfare programme:
1. Provides free and compulsory school education up to 14 years.
2. Reduces infant mortality rate to below 30 per thousand live births.
3. Promotes delayed marriage for girls.
4. Achieves universal immunisation of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases.
5. Makes family welfare a people-centred programme.

NPP 2000 and adolescents
NPP 2000 identified adolescents as one of the major sections of the population that need greater attention.

Major objectives of the policy:
1. To fulfil nutritional requirements.
2. Protection from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
3. Encouraging delayed marriage and child bearing.
4. Education of adolescents about the risk of unprotected sex.
5. Making contraceptive services accessible and affordable.
6. Providing food supplements.
7. Strengthening legal measures to prevent child marriage.

GLOSSARY

1. Natural resources: They are various useful gifts which are provided by nature, like soil, water, minerals etc.
2. Census: Official enumeration of population along with certain economic and social statistics in a given territory, carried out on a specific day. It is generally conducted periodically.
3. Migration: The movement of people across regions and territories.
4. Birth rate: The number of infants born for every 1000 persons in a year.
5. Death rate: The number of deaths per 1000 persons a year is called death rate.
6. Sex ratio: Number of women per 1000 of men in the population.
7. Density of population: The average number of persons per unit area.
8. Metropolis: A very large city or agglomeration of population in a district or a country, and is often a chief centre of some form of activity, administrative, commercial or industrial.
9. Natural growth rate of population: Difference between birth rate and death rate.
10. Dependency ratio: The ratio between the economically working population and the dependent population.
11. Demography: It is the study of population statistics, trends and changes over time based on birth rate, death rate and fertility rate.
12. Age composition: The number of people in different age groups in a country.
13. Occupational structure: It refers to the distribution of a country's people according to different occupations.
14. Population growth: It is the change in the number of inhabitants of a country during a specific period of time.
15. Literate: According to the census 2001, a person aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding in any language is treated as literate.
16. Adolescence: It is a period in which a person is no longer a child and not yet an adult. Such persons are grouped in the age group of 10-19 years.

EXERCISE

A. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 What is the significance of studying population?

Answer: Studying population helps to estimate the total manpower available for production and the total amount of goods and services required for their consumption.

Teacher's Note:
a) People are both the producers and the consumers of goods and services.
b) Both the labour supply and the demand for goods are estimated from population data.

Q.2 Name most populous states of India.

Answer: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh are the most populous states of India, and together they hold almost half of India's population.

Teacher's Note:
a) Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state, with about 16 % of the country's population.
b) Name the five states, not just one, when the question asks for "states" in plural.

Q.3 Define the term density of population.

Answer: Density of population is the average number of persons per unit area.

Teacher's Note:
a) Density is a ratio, so it always has a unit of persons per sq. km.
b) Do not confuse density with total population.

Q.4 Give the formula for density of population Also give the density of population of India.

Answer: Density of population = Total population ÷ Total area. The density of population of India in 2001 was 324 persons per sq. km.

Teacher's Note:
a) Divide the population by the area, never the other way round.
b) Keep the unit as persons per sq. km in the final answer.

Q.5 In how many types is the population of India divided and state them.

Answer: The population of India is divided into three types on the basis of density: densely populated areas (more than 300 persons per sq. km), medium density areas (100 to 300 persons per sq. km) and thinly populated areas (less than 100 persons per sq. km).

Teacher's Note:
a) The three types are based only on density, not on total population.
b) Learn the class limits, because examiners often ask for the range of each type.

Q.6 Define annual growth rate of population.

Answer: Annual growth rate of population is the percentage increase in the population of a country during one year.

Teacher's Note:
a) Growth rate is always expressed in percent per year.
b) It measures the pace of change, while the magnitude is the number of persons added.

Q.7 What is the population of in the region of moderate density. State at least two states and a union territory each belonging to the region?

Answer: The population of the moderate density region is about 100 to 300 persons per sq. km. Gujarat and Maharashtra are two states of this region. No union territory falls in this range in the 2001 census, so no union territory can be named for this region.

Teacher's Note:
a) Moderate density means 100 to 300 persons per sq. km.
b) Delhi, Chandigarh and Pondicherry are far denser than this range, so do not name them here.

Q.8 What is the population in the region of low density?

Answer: The population in a region of low density is less than 100 persons per sq. km.

Teacher's Note:
a) Low density areas include the Great Indian Desert and the hills of the north-eastern states.
b) Low density means fewer than 100 persons per sq. km, the thinly populated category.

Q.9 Name the states having the highest and the lowest density of population.

Answer: West Bengal has the highest density of population among the states, and Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest.

Teacher's Note:
a) Density is measured per sq. km, so a large state can still have a low density.
b) Arunachal Pradesh is large but thinly populated because of its hills and forests.

Q.10 State four factors which affect the distribution of density of population.

Answer:
1. Fertile soil
2. Good rainfall
3. Sufficient irrigation facilities
4. Employment opportunities in industries and services

Teacher's Note:
a) Fertile soil and water together support farming, which attracts people.
b) Industries and services attract people to towns, so they also raise density.

Q.11 State the implication of high density population in India.

Answer: High density population puts pressure on land, water and other natural resources, and creates problems such as unemployment, shortage of housing and pollution.

Teacher's Note:
a) More people share the same land, so per person availability falls.
b) Shortage of housing and services is the most visible effect in cities.

Q.12 Why peninsular states have moderate population densities?

Answer: The peninsular plateau has hilly and rugged terrain, thin and less fertile soil in many parts, and uneven rainfall. These conditions restrict agriculture and settlement, so the population density is moderate.

Teacher's Note:
a) Link the reason to the terrain, soil and rainfall, not just to the word "peninsular".
b) Compare with the Gangetic plain, which has fertile alluvial soil and high density.

Q.13 Define sex-ratio? Give two reasons responsible for unfavourable sex-ratio?

Answer:
Sex ratio is the number of females per 1000 males in the population.
Two reasons for an unfavourable sex ratio:
1. Preference for sons, which leads to female foeticide and female infanticide.
2. Lower status of women, with poor access to education, health care and employment.

Teacher's Note:
a) A sex ratio below 1000 means fewer females than males.
b) Dowry and early marriage also add to the preference for sons.

Q.14 What do you understand by growth rate?

Answer: Growth rate is the speed at which the population increases, expressed as a percentage per year.

Teacher's Note:
a) Growth rate is the pace of population increase.
b) It is different from the magnitude, which is the number of people added.

Q.15 How is populations living in various regions compared?

Answer: Populations living in various regions are compared by their density, which is the number of persons per unit area.

Teacher's Note:
a) Density allows regions of different sizes to be compared fairly.
b) Sex ratio, literacy and growth rate are other measures used for comparison.

Q.16 Why is north India plain thickly populated?

Answer: The north India plain is thickly populated because it has fertile alluvial soil, good rainfall or sufficient irrigation from rivers, flat land that is easy to settle, and developed industries and cities.

Teacher's Note:
a) Fertile soil supports dense farming communities.
b) Flat land and river water make settlement and transport easy.

Q.17 Why is there less population in Rajasthan?

Answer: Rajasthan has less population because much of it lies in the Great Indian Desert, where rainfall is scarce, water is limited, the soil is sandy and the climate is harsh.

Teacher's Note:
a) Rajasthan is the biggest state by area, but its density is low.
b) Scarce water is the main reason, because it limits farming and settlement.

Q.18 Define the term birth rate?

Answer: Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year.

Teacher's Note:
a) Only live births are counted.
b) Birth rate is measured per 1000 persons, not per 100.

Q.19 What is dependent ratio of population?

Answer: The dependency ratio is the ratio between the economically working population and the dependent population.

Teacher's Note:
a) Dependent people are mainly children and the aged.
b) A high ratio means each worker supports more dependants.

Q.20 What do you mean by migration? What are its two types?

Answer: Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories. Its two types are internal migration, which takes place within the country, and international migration, which takes place between countries.

Teacher's Note:
a) Internal migration moves people from one part of the country to another.
b) International migration moves people from one country to another.

Q.21 Give two reasons for migration of people from rural to urban areas is India.

Answer:
1. Lack of demand for labour in agriculture, along with a rising population in rural areas.
2. Better employment opportunities, education and living standards in urban areas.

Teacher's Note:
a) Less farm work in villages pushes people out.
b) Expanding industries and services in cities pull people in.

B. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 What is the importance of studying population?

Answer:
1. It estimates the total manpower available for production.
2. It estimates the total amount of goods and services required for consumption.
3. It helps the government plan for education, health, housing and employment.

Teacher's Note:
a) Population is both the producer and the consumer.
b) Planning needs the size, distribution and quality of population, not just the total.

Q.2 What is the main causes of the rapid population growth in India?

Answer:
1. High birth rate.
2. Decline in death rate.
3. Child marriage.
4. Poverty.
5. Marriage as a necessity.
6. Illiteracy.

Teacher's Note:
a) A fall in death rate without a fall in birth rate causes rapid growth.
b) Illiteracy and child marriage keep the birth rate high.
c) Poverty makes families depend on more children for earnings.

Q.3 Why has Kerala a better sex ratio than the rest of the country?

Answer:
1. Kerala has a high female literacy rate, which gives women greater awareness and status.
2. Women in Kerala have better access to health care, which reduces female deaths.
3. The social status of women is higher, and the practice of female infanticide is low.

Teacher's Note:
a) Kerala's sex ratio is above 1000, so it has more females than males.
b) Literacy and the status of women are the main reasons to write.

Q.4 What is migration? What are two types of migrations in India?

Answer:
Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories.
1. Internal migration: movement of people from one part of the country to another.
2. International migration: movement of people from one country to another, such as Indians moving abroad for work.

Teacher's Note:
a) Internal migration is much larger in number than international migration in India.
b) Name the two types clearly, with one example each.

Q.5 What is natural growth rate of population? How can birth rate be brought down? Give two methods.

Answer:
Natural growth rate of population is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate.
Two methods to bring down the birth rate:
1. Promoting delayed marriage for girls.
2. Making contraceptive services accessible and affordable.

Teacher's Note:
a) Natural growth rate ignores migration, so it measures only births and deaths.
b) Spreading education among girls also helps to bring down the birth rate.

Q.6 Describe occupational structure?

Answer: The occupational structure is the distribution of the population according to different types of occupation. It has three sectors:
1. Primary sector: agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, logging and fishery.
2. Secondary sector: manufacturing industries, small and large scale industries and construction work.
3. Tertiary sector: services such as transport, communication, banking, insurance and public administration.

Teacher's Note:
a) Primary activities depend directly on nature.
b) The tertiary sector serves both the primary and the secondary sectors.

Q.7 How can we control the rapid growth of population in India? Explain any five measures.

Answer:
1. Provide free and compulsory school education up to 14 years, which spreads awareness of family planning.
2. Reduce the infant mortality rate to below 30 per thousand live births, so that parents need fewer children.
3. Promote delayed marriage for girls.
4. Achieve universal immunisation of children against vaccine-preventable diseases.
5. Make contraceptive services accessible and affordable, and make family welfare a people-centred programme.

Teacher's Note:
a) Each measure works on a cause of high birth rate.
b) Lower infant mortality makes families feel safer with fewer children.
c) Voluntary participation is the key to family planning.

Q.8 Write a short note on population growth?

Answer:
1. Population growth is the change in the number of inhabitants of a country during a specific period, usually the last 10 years.
2. Its two important elements are magnitude, the number of persons added, and pace, the rate of increase per year.
3. It is controlled by three processes: birth rate, death rate and migration.

Teacher's Note:
a) Growth is measured over a period, not at one point in time.
b) Do not mix up magnitude and pace.
c) Birth rate, death rate and migration decide the final growth.

Q.9 "Health situation in India is still a cause for serious concern". Give reasons.

Answer:
1. About five lakh people die from tuberculosis every year, and almost two million cases of malaria are reported every year.
2. Around 21 percent of communicable diseases are water-borne, because clean drinking water is not available to all.
3. Half of all children in India do not get adequate food and are undernourished.
4. A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia.
5. Health centres and doctors are concentrated in urban areas, and rural people have to travel long distances for treatment.

Teacher's Note:
a) Under-nutrition and water-borne diseases are closely linked.
b) The health situation has improved in some respects, but gaps remain.

Q.10 What are the main objective of new national population policy?

Answer:
1. To fulfil nutritional requirements of adolescents.
2. To protect adolescents from unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.
3. To encourage delayed marriage and child bearing.
4. To educate adolescents about the risk of unprotected sex.
5. To make contraceptive services accessible and affordable.
6. To provide food supplements.
7. To strengthen legal measures to prevent child marriage.

Teacher's Note:
a) The National Population Policy 2000 gives special attention to adolescents.
b) Child marriage is covered by both the education and the legal objectives.

Q.11 What is adolescent population? How is this age group a very critical stage in a nation's life?

Answer:
Adolescent population is the population in the age group of 10-19 years. It forms one fifth of India's total population. This age group is critical because adolescents are the most important resource for the future, their nutritional needs are higher than those of children or adults, and poor nutrition leads to deficiency and stunted growth. Their education and health decide the quality of the future workforce.

Teacher's Note:
a) The age group is 10-19 years, not 10-18.
b) Adolescent girls need special attention because a large number suffer from anaemia.

Q.12 Define census. What is the importance of the study of population?

Answer:
Census is the process of collection, compilation and publication of information relating to different aspects of people living in a country at a specific time. It is an official enumeration of population done periodically.
The study of population is important because it helps to estimate the manpower available for production, the goods and services needed for consumption, and the planning needed for education, health and employment.

Teacher's Note:
a) A census is official and is conducted periodically.
b) The census data is the basis for most population planning in India.

Q.13 Describe age compositions.

Answer:
1. Children (0-14 years): They are economically unproductive and need food, clothing, education and medical care.
2. Working age (15-59 years): They are economically productive and form the working population.
3. Aged (above 59 years): They may be economically productive, but they are not usually available for employment through recruitment.

Teacher's Note:
a) The three groups together make up the whole population.
b) The working-age group decides the size of the workforce.

Q.14 How is population growth related to female literacy?

Answer:
1. Educated women tend to marry later and have fewer children, which slows population growth.
2. Educated women are more aware of family planning and health care, so they use contraceptive services more.
3. Where female literacy is high, the child mortality rate is lower, so families need fewer births.

Teacher's Note:
a) Female literacy is a strong link to lower birth rates.
b) Higher female literacy also improves the health and survival of children.

Q.15 Discuss the causes of decline in death rate.

Answer:
1. Diseases like smallpox and plague have been eradicated, and malaria has been brought under control.
2. Medical facilities such as Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres have spread to many areas.
3. Life expectancy has increased from 41 years in 1951-61 to 61 years in 2001.
4. Better nutrition, clean drinking water and sanitation have reduced deaths from common diseases.

Teacher's Note:
a) Death rate fell faster than birth rate, which caused rapid population growth.
b) Better health services are the most direct cause of the decline.

C. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Q.1 Write a note on the population distribution in India pointing out the geographical factors influencing the same.

Answer:
1. Population distribution in India is uneven. Densely populated areas have more than 300 persons per sq. km, while thinly populated areas have less than 100 persons per sq. km.
2. Fertile soil in the Gangetic plain and the coastal plains supports farming and attracts dense settlement.
3. Good rainfall or sufficient irrigation makes farming possible and increases population density.
4. The Great Indian Desert and the hills of the north-eastern states have harsh climate, rugged terrain and little water, so their population is thin.
5. Rivers, flat land and transport routes make settlement easy, while mountains and deserts restrict it.
6. Mineral resources and industrial areas, such as the Chota Nagpur plateau, attract population to them.

Teacher's Note:
a) Physical geography decides where people can farm and live.
b) Economic factors such as industries and urbanisation pull people to some regions.
c) Compare the Gangetic plain with the Rajasthan desert while writing this answer.

Q.2 Why has the rapid growth of population in the metropolitan cities of India become serious problem?

Answer:
1. Metropolitan cities face a shortage of housing, which leads to slums and overcrowded living conditions.
2. Water supply, sanitation and drainage are overloaded, which causes health problems.
3. Traffic congestion and air and noise pollution increase with more vehicles and people.
4. Jobs in the formal sector are not enough for the migrants, so unemployment and poverty grow.
5. Pressure on schools, hospitals and public transport reduces the quality of services for all.

Teacher's Note:
a) Migration from rural areas adds to the growth of cities.
b) Slums are the most visible result of unplanned growth.
c) Link each problem to the rapid increase in numbers, not only to the city itself.

Q.3 What are the demerits of over population? explain giving examples from different parts of India.

Answer:
1. Unemployment: More people than jobs leads to unemployment, for example in rural Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
2. Poverty: Income per person falls when population grows faster than the economy, as seen in many parts of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
3. Pressure on land and food: Smaller farms and food shortages result from more people on the same land, as in the Gangetic plain.
4. Poor health and nutrition: Many children are undernourished and health services are stretched, as seen in several states of northern India.
5. Environmental damage: Forests, water and soil are over-used, for example the depletion of groundwater in Punjab and Haryana.
6. Pressure on housing and services: Metropolitan cities such as Mumbai and Delhi face shortages of housing, water and transport.

Teacher's Note:
a) Over population is judged by the number of people relative to resources.
b) Examples must be real and from different parts of India, as the question asks.
c) Poverty and unemployment usually appear together.

Q.4 Why is necessary to change the present occupational structure of India? Explain by giving five examples.

Answer:
Much of India's population still depends on agriculture, which contributes less to national income than its share of workers. Shifting workers to industry and services raises productivity and income. Five examples are:
1. Textile and garment industries in Tamil Nadu and Gujarat provide jobs to workers from farms.
2. Information technology services in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Pune create white-collar jobs.
3. Tourism in Kerala, Rajasthan and Goa creates jobs in hotels, transport and guiding.
4. Banking and insurance services employ people in urban and semi-urban areas.
5. Food processing and small scale industries in rural areas provide jobs close to home.

Teacher's Note:
a) Too many people on farms means low income per person.
b) The secondary and tertiary sectors need to grow faster to absorb workers.
c) Name the sector for each example, because the question asks about the structure.

Q.5 Explain five factors which are responsible for the uneven distribution of population.

Answer:
1. Physical factors: Mountains, deserts and dense forests make settlement difficult, so these areas have low population.
2. Soil fertility: Fertile alluvial soil in the Gangetic plain supports farming and high density.
3. Water availability: Regions with good rainfall or irrigation have higher population than dry regions.
4. Minerals and industries: Mineral-rich and industrial areas attract workers and settlers.
5. Urbanisation and transport: Cities and well-connected areas offer jobs and services, so they attract more people.

Teacher's Note:
a) Physical factors set the limits, while economic factors decide the pattern.
b) Give one example region for each factor.
c) Social and historical factors also matter, for example the settlement of river valleys in early times.

D. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Q.1 India has .............. of total world population.
(A) 17.7 %
(B) 16.7 %
(C) 18.2 %
(D) 20 %

Answer: (B) 16.7 %

1. India's population in 2001 was 1.028 billion.
2. This is 16.7 % of the world population.
3. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) India has about one sixth of the world's people, which is the main fact to remember.
b) The figure is for the 2001 census, so it is the number the key expects.

Q.2 Literacy rate in India according to 2001 census is -
(A) 55.3 %
(B) 62.25 %
(C) 63.35 %
(D) 67 %

Answer: (C) 63.35 %

1. The census of 2001 gives the literacy rate of India as 64.84 %.
2. None of the options is exactly 64.84 %.
3. The closest option is (C) 63.35 %, which is the key's choice.

Teacher's Note:
a) The official key shows (C) 63.35 %, which is the nearest of the given options. The census figure itself is 64.84 %.
b) Remember the exact census figures: India 64.84 %, males 75.26 %, females 53.67 %.

Q.3 Kerala's literacy rate is -
(A) 90.92 %
(B) 100 %
(C) 95 %
(D) 97 %

Answer: (A) 90.92 %

1. Kerala has the highest literacy rate among the Indian states.
2. Its literacy rate in the 2001 census was 90.92 %.
3. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) Options such as 97 % or 100 % are tempting, but they are not the census figure.
b) Kerala is the highest literate state, so its figure is above the national average.

Q.4 The percentage of children below 15 years is-
(A) 35.20 %
(B) 34.33 %
(C) 34.44 %
(D) 50 %

Answer: (A) 35.20 %

1. Children in the 0-14 age group form about 35.20 % of India's population in the 2001 census.
2. The key's option (B) 34.33 % is not the census figure.
3. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) The official key shows (B) 34.33 %, which is wrong; the correct answer is (A) 35.20 %.
b) Children form more than a third of the population, which means a large dependent group.

Q.5 The percentage of senior citizen is -
(A) 9.6 %
(B) 6.10 %
(C) 6.97 %
(D) 10 %

Answer: (C) 6.97 %

1. Senior citizens are the aged population above 59 years, which is a small share of the total.
2. The share in the 2001 census was about 6.97 %.
3. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Senior citizens are a small group compared with children and the working population.
b) The share of senior citizens rises slowly because life expectancy has risen only gradually.

Q.6 The percentage of working population is -
(A) 58.7 %
(B) 57.35 %
(C) 56.8 %
(D) 50 %

Answer: (A) 58.7 %

1. The working population is the 15-59 years age group.
2. This group forms about 58.7 % of India's population in the 2001 census.
3. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) The working age group is 15 to 59 years, so do not include the aged above 59.
b) Working age is about 58.7 % of the total population.

Q.7 What is the marriage age for boys and girls -
(A) 21 yrs & 18 yrs
(B) 15 yrs and 10 yrs
(C) 14 yrs and 12 yrs
(D) all the above

Answer: (A) 21 yrs & 18 yrs

1. The legal minimum marriage age for boys is 21 years.
2. The legal minimum marriage age for girls is 18 years.
3. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) Options (B) and (C) are below the legal age for both sexes.
b) Child marriage is prohibited by law, which the National Population Policy also supports.

Q.8 What is life expectancy in India?
(A) 55 yrs
(B) 50 yrs
(C) 61 yrs
(D) 65 yrs

Answer: (C) 61 yrs

1. Life expectancy in India had gone up to 61 years in 2001.
2. It was about 41 years during 1951-61.
3. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Life expectancy rose by about 20 years in fifty years.
b) The figure 61 years is the 2001 value that is often asked.

Q.9 Which state has the highest literacy level -
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Gujarat
(C) Punjab
(D) Kerala

Answer: (D) Kerala

1. Kerala has the highest literacy rate among the states of India.
2. Gujarat, which is the key's printed choice, has a literacy rate well below Kerala.
3. Hence, the correct option is (D).

Teacher's Note:
a) The official key shows (B) Gujarat, which is wrong; the correct answer is (D) Kerala.
b) Kerala's literacy rate was 90.92 % in 2001, far above the other states.

Q.10 Which state has the lowest literacy level -
(A) Karnataka
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Haryana
(D) Bihar

Answer: (D) Bihar

1. Among the four states, Bihar has the lowest literacy rate.
2. Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Haryana have higher literacy rates than Bihar.
3. Hence, the correct option is (D).

Teacher's Note:
a) Bihar has been among the lowest in literacy in the census data.
b) Compare the options with the state rates, not with the population size.

Q.11 According to 2001 census the sex ratio in India is -
(A) 950
(B) 933
(C) 960
(D) 970

Answer: (B) 933

1. Sex ratio is the number of females per 1000 males.
2. The 2001 census recorded a sex ratio of 933 for India.
3. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) A value below 1000 means there are fewer females than males.
b) Kerala, with a sex ratio above 1000, is an exception.

Q.12 Name the state having the highest density of population -
(A) Punjab
(B) Haryana
(C) West Bengal
(D) Rajasthan

Answer: (C) West Bengal

1. Density is the number of persons per sq. km.
2. West Bengal has the highest density among these four states.
3. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Rajasthan has the lowest density of these four.
b) Density depends on area as well as population, so check both.

Q.13 Name the state having the lowest density of population -
(A) Rajasthan
(B) Uttar Pradesh
(C) Arunachal Pradesh
(D) Bihar

Answer: (C) Arunachal Pradesh

1. Arunachal Pradesh is a large but thinly populated state in the north-east.
2. Its density is far lower than that of the other three states.
3. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Hills and forests keep the density low in the north-eastern states.
b) Rajasthan is also thinly populated, but Arunachal Pradesh is the lowest.

Q.14 What is the annual growth rate of population of India -
(A) 1.93 %
(B) 5 %
(C) 7 %
(D) 10 %

Answer: (A) 1.93 %

1. The annual growth rate of India's population is about 1.93 %.
2. The other options are far too high for India.
3. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) A rate above 5 % a year would double the population in about 14 years, which is not India's case.
b) Growth rate is always per cent per year.

Q.15 Which is the most densely populated country of the world -
(A) Pakistan
(B) Bhutan
(C) Nepal
(D) India

Answer: (D) India

1. India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world.
2. Among the four countries given, India has the highest density.
3. Hence, the correct option is (D).

Teacher's Note:
a) Bhutan has the lowest density among these four countries.
b) India's density of 324 persons per sq. km is the figure to remember.

Q.16 Which is the most populous state of India -
(A) Uttar Pradesh
(B) West Bengal
(C) Bihar
(D) Punjab

Answer: (A) Uttar Pradesh

1. Uttar Pradesh has a population of 166 million in the 2001 census.
2. It is the most populous state of India.
3. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) Uttar Pradesh accounts for about 16 % of the country's population.
b) Do not confuse "populous" (number of people) with "dense" (people per sq. km).

Q.17 Which is the least populous state of India -
(A) Haryana
(B) Tamil Nadu
(C) Sikkim

Answer: (C) Sikkim

1. Sikkim has a population of about 0.5 million in the 2001 census.
2. Haryana and Tamil Nadu have much larger populations.
3. Hence, the correct option is (C).

Teacher's Note:
a) Lakshadweep, a union territory, has a smaller population than Sikkim, but it is not a state.
b) Sikkim is small in area as well as in population.

Q.18 What is India share in total area of the world -
(A) 2.4 %
(B) 3.3 %
(C) 5.5 %
(D) 6.2 %

Answer: (A) 2.4 %

1. India's area of 3.28 million km² is 2.4 % of the world's area.
2. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) India has about 16.7 % of the world's people but only 2.4 % of its land.
b) This gap explains why India is so densely populated.

Q.19 The position of India in terms of population size -
(A) First
(B) Second
(C) Third
(D) Fourth

Answer: (B) Second

1. India is the second most populous country in the world after China.
2. Hence, the correct option is (B).

Teacher's Note:
a) China is first in population size, and India is second.
b) In the 2001 census, China was the only country with a larger population than India.

Q.20 Total population of India according to 2001 census -
(A) 1, 028 million
(B) 900 million
(C) 7500 million
(D) 1200 million

Answer: (A) 1, 028 million

1. India's total population in March 2001 was about 1.028 billion, that is 1,028 million.
2. Hence, the correct option is (A).

Teacher's Note:
a) 1.028 billion equals 1,028 million.
b) 7500 million is the world's population, not India's.

Question And Answer

Question : Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.

(i) Migrations change the number, distribution and composition of the population in
(a) The area of departure
(b) Both the area of departure and arrival
(c) The area of arrival
(d) None of the above
Answer: (b) Both the area of departure and arrival

(ii) A large proportion of children in a population is a result of
(a) High birth rates
(b) High death rates
(c) High life expectancies
(d) More married couples
Answer: (a) High birth rates

(iv) According to the Census 2001, a “literate” person is one who
(a) Can read and write his/her name
(b) Can read and write any language
(c) Is 7 years old and can read and write any language with understanding
(d) Knows the 3 ‘R’s (reading, writing, arithmetic)
Answer: (a) Can read and write his/her name

Question : Distinguish between population growth and population change.
Answer : Population growth is about increase or decrease in the population. Population change is about changes in population composition; like age structure, sex ratio, literacy rate, occupational structure, etc.

Question : Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Why is the rate of population growth in India declining since 1981?
(ii) Discuss the major components of population growth.
(iii) Define age structure, death rate and birth rate.
(iv) How is migration a determinant factor of population change?
Answer :
(i) The family planning programme helped in increasing the awareness about the benefits of smaller family size. This helped in reducing the rate of population growth in India since 1981.

(ii) Birth rate, death rate and migration are the major components of population growth. A higher birth rate; coupled with a lower death rate leads to population growth. International migration can lead to population growth of more number of people are coming from other countries than the number of people going outside the country.

(iv) Migration within the country is called internal migration, while that between two countries is called international migration. Internal migration has no change on population size but it changes the population composition of a particular area. International migration can lead to a growth or degrowth in population; depending on the degree of immigration and emigration.

Question : What are the significant features of the National Population Policy 2000?
Answer : NPP 200 has put special emphasis on the adolescent population. Focus is given to special nutritional needs of the adolescents. Awareness programmes are conducted to increase awareness about STDs, unwanted pregnancies, child marriage, risks of unprotected sex, etc.

Question : What are the advantages of having a healthy population?
Answer : A healthy population helps in building a productive workforce for the country. Even the non-productive age group needs to be healthy to reduce the burden of healthcare. Healthy children would grow into healthy adults and would be able to contribute better in the economy. Healthy elders would mean less strain on the resources.

Question : What is the relation between occupational structure and development?
Answer : Occupational structure greatly affects the development of a country. A large portion of the Indian population is still dependent on the primary sector for employment; which is one of the reasons for lack of development in India. Examples of developed nations suggest that when a greater portion of population engages in secondary and tertiary activities, it leads to proper development.

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