UPSC Topic Wise Notes - Upsc Exam Topic wise notes

POPULATION: DISTRIBUTION, DENSITY, GROWTH AND COMPOSITION

1. Patterns of Population Distribution in India

India, with its vast populace of 1,210 million (2011), ranks as the second most populous nation globally, emphasising the pivotal role of people within its borders. This immense population surpasses the combined total of North America, South America, and Australia. The substantial population often leads to discussions about resource pressure and various socio-economic challenges faced by the country.

Identity Beyond Territory: India's identity transcends mere geographical boundaries. It represents a diverse amalgamation of people, cultures, and traditions, forming a vibrant tapestry of human civilisation. India is not just a landmass but a living entity inhabited by individuals thriving under distinct governance structures and societal norms.
Data Collection and Census: Population data in India are meticulously collected through Census operations conducted every decade, with the first comprehensive Census dating back to 1881, marking a crucial milestone in understanding India's demographic landscape.
Patterns of Population Distribution: India exhibits a highly uneven pattern of population distribution, influenced by a myriad of factors such as physical geography, socio-economic conditions, and historical contexts. States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal host significant population shares, contributing to about 76% of the total populace.

Factors Influencing Distribution:

Physical Factors: Climate, terrain, and water availability play a pivotal role in shaping population patterns. Regions like the North Indian Plains and Coastal Plains boast higher population concentrations compared to interior and mountainous areas.
Development Initiatives: Efforts such as irrigation projects in Rajasthan, mineral and energy resource utilisation in Jharkhand, and robust transport networks in Peninsular States have led to increased population concentrations in previously sparsely populated areas.

Socio-economic and Historical Influences: Key factors affecting population distribution include the evolution of settled agriculture, the development of transport networks, industrialization, and urbanization. River plains and coastal regions historically witness larger population concentrations due to early settlements and transport advantages. Urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and others draw substantial populations due to industrial and urban development, attracting rural-urban migration.

2. Understanding Population Density

Population density is the number of persons per unit area, providing insights into the spatial distribution of population about available land resources. It is a crucial metric for understanding the human-land relationship and the pressure of population on various regions.

Population Density in India (2011): As of 2011, India's population density stands at 382 persons per square kilometre, showcasing a steady increase over the past 50 years. In 1951, the density was 117 persons per square kilometre, highlighting a significant population growth and concentration.
Spatial Variation in Population Density: Appendix (i) illustrates the wide range of population densities across India. Arunachal Pradesh exhibits a low density of 17 persons per square kilometre, while the National Capital Territory of Delhi has a high density of 11,297 persons. Northern states like Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh have higher densities, whereas Kerala and Tamil Nadu lead among the peninsular states.

Regional Patterns

High Densities: Northern Indian states such as Bihar, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh exhibit higher population densities.
Moderate Densities: States like Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Odisha have moderate population densities.
Low Densities: Hill states in the Himalayan region and northeastern states (excluding Assam) generally have relatively lower population densities.
Union Territories: Excluding Andaman and Nicobar islands, Union Territories have very high population densities.

Refinement of Population Density: While population density provides a basic understanding of human-land interaction, further analysis of physiological and agricultural densities is crucial. These refined measures help evaluate the pressure of the population on cultivable land, offering deeper insights into the sustainable utilization of resources, especially in a country like India with a significant agricultural population.

3. Population Growth Trends in India

Population growth refers to the change in the number of individuals living in a specific area over a defined period, typically expressed as a percentage. In India, population growth comprises two components: natural and induced. While natural growth relates to birth and death rates, induced growth considers migration.

India has experienced consistently high growth rates over the past century, primarily driven by birth and death rates, as well as migration patterns. The annual growth rate reached 1.64% in 2011, indicating a sustained upward trend.

Population doubling time denotes the duration required for a population to double at its current growth rate. In India, this period reflects the pace of population expansion, influenced by various demographic factors.

Phases of Population Growth

Stagnant Phase (1901-1921): Characterized by low or negative growth rates due to high birth and death rates. Factors like inadequate healthcare, illiteracy, and food distribution inefficiencies contributed to this phase.
Steady Growth (1921-1951): Witnessed an improvement in health and sanitation, leading to reduced mortality rates. Despite these advancements, high birth rates sustained population growth, even during challenging economic periods like the Great Depression and World War II.
Population Explosion (1951-1981): Marked by a significant surge in population attributed to declining mortality rates and high fertility rates. Post-independence developmental efforts and migration influx further fueled population growth during this period.
Moderating Growth (Post-1981): Growth rates began slowing down gradually post-1981, influenced by declining birth rates and improved socio-economic conditions. Factors like increased age at marriage and enhanced female education contributed to this trend.

4. Regional Variation in Population Growth

Decadal Growth Trends (1991-2001): During this period, distinct regional patterns in population growth emerged across Indian states and Union Territories.

Low Growth States: States like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, and Goa exhibited growth rates below 20%. Kerala recorded the lowest growth rate nationwide at 9.4%, highlighting significant regional variations.
High Growth Belt: A contiguous belt of states from west to east in the northwest, north, and north-central regions displayed relatively higher growth rates, averaging between 20-25%. This belt includes Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.

Decadal Growth Shift (2001-2011): The growth rates experienced a shift during the subsequent decade, with most states and Union Territories showing a decrease compared to the previous decade.

Fall in Growth Rates: Major states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh witnessed a decline in growth rates during 2001-2011 compared to 1991-2001.
Regional Variations: The decline varied across regions, with Andhra Pradesh experiencing the least decrease (3.5% percentage points) and Maharashtra the highest (6.7% percentage points). However, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry registered slight increases during this period.

Youth and Adolescent Population: India's demographic landscape also includes a significant share of youth and adolescents, constituting about 20.9% of the population. This segment, although potentially dynamic, faces various challenges such as

Social Challenges: Issues like early marriage, illiteracy (especially among females), school dropouts, malnutrition, maternal mortality, HIV/AIDS infections, disabilities, substance abuse, and juvenile delinquency pose significant societal concerns.
Government Initiatives: The Government of India has introduced policies like the National Youth Policy (NYP–2014) and the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (2015) to address these challenges. These initiatives aim to empower and guide the youth towards productive and responsible pathways.

5. Population Composition

Rural-Urban Composition

The distribution of population by rural and urban areas is a crucial indicator of socio-economic characteristics. In India, approximately 68.8% of the population resides in rural areas, with significant variations across states and Union Territories.

Rural Population: India boasts 640,867 villages, of which 93.2% are inhabited. States like Bihar and Sikkim exhibit high percentages of rural population, contrasting with Goa and Maharashtra, where over half of the population resides in villages.
Urban Population: Although comprising only 31.16% of the total population, urban areas are experiencing rapid growth due to economic development and improved health conditions. Urban population distribution varies widely across states and Union Territories, influenced by socio-economic factors and rural-urban migration trends.

Linguistic Composition

India's linguistic diversity is profound, with numerous languages and dialects spoken across the country. Scheduled and non-scheduled languages contribute to the rich linguistic tapestry of India.

Scheduled Languages: Hindi speakers constitute the largest percentage among scheduled languages, while languages like Sanskrit, Bodo, and Manipuri have smaller speaker groups.
Linguistic Classification: Major Indian languages belong to four language families, each with sub-families and branches. Linguistic regions in India gradually blend into one another without distinct boundaries.

Religious Composition

Religion plays a significant role in Indian society, influencing cultural and political aspects. The spatial distribution of religious communities varies across states and districts.

Major Religions: Hindus constitute the majority in many states, while Muslims are concentrated in specific regions like Jammu & Kashmir and certain districts of West Bengal and Kerala. Christians are predominantly found in rural areas, particularly along the Western coast and in hill states.
Other Religious Groups: Sikhs are concentrated mainly in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, while Jains and Buddhists have specific pockets of concentration in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and others. Additionally, Zoroastrians, tribal, and other indigenous faiths are scattered throughout the country.

Occupational Composition

India's population is classified into main workers, marginal workers, and non-workers based on their economic status.

Work Participation Rate: Only 39.8% of India's population are workers, with significant variation across states and Union Territories. States like Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and Chhattisgarh exhibit higher work participation rates.
Occupational Distribution: The majority of India's workforce is engaged in the primary sector, with 54.6% involved in agriculture. The secondary and tertiary sectors also contribute to employment, albeit to a lesser extent. Male workers outnumber female workers across all sectors.

6. Promoting Gender Sensitivity through the ‘Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao’ Social Campaign

The division of society into male, female, and transgender categories is often perceived as natural and biological. However, societal constructs and institutional roles reinforce these divisions, leading to social differentiation, discrimination, and exclusion. Gender discrimination, in particular, poses a significant challenge to societal development and civility, and is recognized globally as a crime against humanity.

Addressing Gender Discrimination

Efforts must be concerted to address the systemic denial of opportunities such as education, employment, political representation, and fair wages, among others, faced by marginalized genders. Failure to acknowledge and rectify these discriminations undermines the claim of any society to civility and development. Recognizing the adverse impacts of such discrimination, the Government of India has initiated the nationwide campaign 'Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao' (Save Daughter, Educate Daughter).

Gender Dynamics in the Workforce

The participation of women in the workforce, particularly in the primary sector, has historically been significant, although recent years have seen improvements in their engagement across secondary and tertiary sectors. Notably, there has been a decline in the proportion of workers in the agricultural sector over the past few decades, accompanied by an increase in participation rates in secondary and tertiary sectors. This indicates a notable sectoral shift in the country's economy, with workers transitioning from farm-based to non-farm-based occupations.

Spatial Variation in Workforce Participation

The distribution of workforce participation across sectors exhibits considerable spatial variation throughout the country. States like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have a high proportion of cultivators, while others like Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha have a larger share of agricultural labourers. Highly urbanized areas such as Delhi and Chandigarh show a significant engagement of workers in non-farm sectors, reflecting limited farming land availability and the demands of urbanization and industrialization.

Recognizing and addressing gender discrimination is imperative for fostering inclusive development and societal progress. Initiatives like 'Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao' play a crucial role in promoting gender sensitivity and equality, paving the way for a more equitable and just society.

Previous Year Questions

1. India is regarded as a country with “Demographic Dividend’’. This is due to– (upsc 2011)

(a) Its high population in the age group below 15 years.

(b) Its high population in the age group of 1564 years.

(d) Its high total population.

Answer: B

1. What characteristics can be assigned to monsoon climate that succeeds in feeding more than 50 percent of the world population residing in Monsoon Asia? (upsc 2017)

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POPULATION: DISTRIBUTION, DENSITY, GROWTH AND COMPOSITION

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