Population: NBSE class 9 chapter 17 Population answers, notes

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Get notes, questions, solutions, textual answers, pdf, and extras for Chapter 17: Population, which is a part of the social science class 9 syllabus for students studying under the Nagaland Board of School Education. However, these notes should be used only for references and additions/modifications should be made as per the requirements.

Introduction

Population is the total number of people in a political or geographical area at a particular time. This chapter deals with the human population, which is an important topic in the world. It is estimated that the world has about 753 crores of people right now, and out of these, more than 121 crores are living in India. India is the second most populous country in the world, the first being China.

India has a huge number of people and it is both good news and bad news for the country. It is good news in the sense that we have a large labour force which can improve our economy rapidly. On the other hand, it is also not good for the country because we are running out of resources. In India states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have the highest number of population.

In this chapter, you will learn about the impacts of population growth, how it is affecting our society, and what are the different aspects of it.

Textual questions and answers

Choose the correct answer

1. Which state has the lowest density of population as per Census 2011?

(a) Mizoram (b) Arunachal Pradesh (c) Sikkim (d) Manipur

Answer: (b) Arunachal Pradesh

2. What is the key principle underlying the National Population Policy’s approach to population issues?

(a) Encouraging unrestricted population growth (b) Promoting population control by any means necessary (c) Voluntary and informed choice in family planning (d) Promoting early marriages and large families

Answer: (c) Voluntary and informed choice in family planning

3. Identify the statements that describe correctly focus of NPP 2000 on adolescents.

I. popularise delayed marriage
II. encourage delayed pregnancies
III. make contraceptive services accessible and cheaper
IV. strengthen laws to encourage child marriages

(a) I & II are correct
(b) II & III are correct
(c) I, II, III are correct
(d) Only IV is correct

Answer: (c) I, II, III are correct

4. There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided below.

Assertion (A) The main reason behind high growth rate of India’s population is the ever growing gap between the birth rate and death rate.
Reason (R) The decline in death rate has been due to success achieved in control of epidemics and advancement in medicine.

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct

Answer: (a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)

5. Consider the statements given below and choose the correct answer.

Statement I: Migration is a major factor of population change.
Statement II: Internal migration is mostly from rural to urban areas.

(a) statement I is correct and II is incorrect
(b) statement I is incorrect and II is correct
(c) Both I & II are incorrect
(d) Both I & II are correct

Answer: (d) Both I & II are correct

Very short answer type questions

1. What is a population?

Answer: Population is the total number of persons in a political or geographical area at a particular time.

2. Define ‘Demography’.

Answer: Demography is the statistical analysis and study of the population.

3. What is overpopulation?

Answer: Overpopulation is a situation when the resources are too few for the size of the population.

4. List the factors that determine the population change.

Answer: Three major factors that determine the population change are:
(i) birth rate
(ii) death rate
(iii) migration.

5. What is meant by internal migration?

Answer: When the migration of people takes place within the country, it is called internal migration.

Short answer type questions

1. Differentiate between the working population and the dependent population.

Answer: A person becomes a member of the working population when he becomes involved in productive work and also has the required qualifications for the work.

On the other hand, the people either in the age group of below 15 years or in the age group of over 64 years are called the dependent population. They depend on the working population for their needs.

2. What has caused internal migration in India?

Answer: Internal migration in India is caused by vast and various employment avenues, good education and better living standards lure the rural folks to the towns and cities causing internal migration.

3. How does migration influence population growth?

Answer: Migration is the movement of people from one area to another. Migration (emigration) of people from rural to urban areas also led to a steep growth in the urban population in India. Migration (immigration) of people from India to Europe, the Middle East, and Canada led to a decrease in the population of India.

4. What do you mean by optimum population?

Answer: Optimum population of a country refers to the size of the population which produces the maximum amount of goods and services with the help of its resources.

Long answer type questions

1. How is the development of the economy related to the occupational structure?

Answer: Economy and its development and occupational structure are closely related. When a larger number of the population are involved in secondary and tertiary activities in a country, that country has a higher level of income. Lower levels of income are observed in countries where people are mostly engaged in agriculture. In India, the proportion of the population dependent on agriculture was around 61% in 2000. The proportion of the population that is engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors was around 18% and 2I% respectively. People have now become increasingly engaged in secondary and tertiary activities and this has led to faster growth of our economy.

2. Write about the type of population found in the Northern Plains, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Why is there a sparse population in some parts of India?

Answer: High density of population is observed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Northern Plains. This is because these states have plain terrain along with rich, fertile soil, moderate climate and a lot of rainfall.

There is a sparse population in some parts of India due to unfavourable climatic conditions and rugged terrain in these states.

3. What problems occur when the population in cities grow faster than the capacity of the economy to support them? [HOTS]

Answer: When the population in cities grow faster than the capacity of the economy to support them, the following problems occur:

I. Overpopulation leads to the collapse of infrastructure in the cities.
II. Overpopulation leads to high density, which results in a shortage of living space and other resources.
III. Often, a high population leads to a scarcity of jobs available and this causes a problem of unemployment.
IV. Unemployment and the fight for resources sometimes lead to petty crimes in the cities.

4. Summarise the National Population Policy 2000.

Answer: The government of India announced in February 2000, the National Population Policy (NPP) with the following objectives:

(i) The immediate objective was to address the needs for contraception, healthcare infrastructure, and basic reproductive and child health.
(ii) The medium-term objective was to bring the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement levels of 2.1 by 2010.
(iii) The long-term objective was to achieve a stable population by 2045.

The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 is now working towards stabilising the population by 2045. According to the NPP 2000, this is to be done by :

(i) raising the marriageable age.
(ii) making school education free and compulsory up to the age of 14 years.
(iii) reducing drop-outs at primary and secondary levels.

5. Explain the following terms :
(i) Density of population (ii) Birth Rate (iii) Death Rate

Answer: (i) The average number of people who live in a fixed area is called population density or density of population.

(ii) Birth Rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year.

(iii) Death Rate is the number of deaths per thousand people in a year.

Extra MCQs

1: What is the term for the total number of persons in a political or geographical area at a particular time?

A. Census
B. Demography
C. Population
D. Density

Answer: C. Population

2: According to the 2011 Census, what was the sex ratio in India?

A. 940 females per 1000 males
B. 382 females per 1000 males
C. 1102 females per 1000 males
D. 82.14 females per 1000 males

Answer: A. 940 females per 1000 males

3: Which of the following activities is considered a secondary occupation?

A. Banking services
B. Agriculture
C. Animal husbandry
D. Manufacturing industries

Answer: D. Manufacturing industries

4: What was the total literacy rate in India as per the 2011 Census?

A. 65.46%
B. 74.04%
C. 82.14%
D. 17.64%

Answer: B. 74.04%

5: The process of counting the inhabitants of a defined area, which in India is generally conducted every ten years, is known as a:

A. Survey
B. Poll
C. Census
D. Registration

Answer: C. Census

6: Which state had the highest population density according to the 2011 Census?

A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Kerala
C. West Bengal
D. Bihar

Answer: D. Bihar

7: The term ‘birth rate’ generally indicates the number of live births per how many people in a given year?

A. 100
B. 10,000
C. 1000
D. 1,000,000

Answer: C. 1000

8: What is the term for the movement of people from one area to another?

A. Mortality
B. Fertility
C. Migration
D. Overpopulation

Answer: C. Migration

9: In the context of population change, what does ’emigration’ refer to?

A. Incoming population
B. Stable population
C. Outgoing population
D. Internal movement

Answer: C. Outgoing population

10: According to the 2011 Census, which state was the most populous?

A. Bihar
B. Maharashtra
C. Uttar Pradesh
D. West Bengal

Answer: C. Uttar Pradesh

11: The National Population Policy (NPP) of 2000 set a long-term objective to achieve a stable population by which year?

A. 2025
B. 2035
C. 2045
D. 2050

Answer: C. 2045

12: What is the age group defined for adolescents?

A. 5-14 years
B. 10-19 years
C. 15-24 years
D. 13-21 years

Answer: B. 10-19 years

13: Which of the following is a primary reason for low population density in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand?

A. Lack of industrial development
B. Government policies
C. Unfavourable climate and rugged terrain
D. High literacy rates

Answer: C. Unfavourable climate and rugged terrain

14: What does the term ‘optimum population’ refer to?

A. The maximum population a country can support
B. The population size that produces the maximum amount of goods and services
C. A situation where resources are too few for the population
D. The minimum population required for economic growth

Answer: B. The population size that produces the maximum amount of goods and services

15: What was the decadal population growth rate for India between 2001 and 2011?

A. 19.30%
B. 21.54%
C. 17.64%
D. 24.66%

Answer: C. 17.64%

16: (I) The death rate in India has declined over the last few decades.
(II) There has been success in controlling epidemics and advancements in medical know-how.

A. I is a contradiction of II.
B. I is independent of II.
C. II is the cause of I.
D. I is an example of II.

Answer: C. II is the cause of I.

17: Statement 1: A country with a large population is not necessarily overpopulated.
Statement 2: Overpopulation occurs when a country’s resources are insufficient to maintain a respectable standard of living for its people.

A. Statement 1 is true, and Statement 2 is false.
B. Statement 2 explains the principle behind Statement 1.
C. Both statements are false.
D. Statement 1 contradicts Statement 2.

Answer: B. Statement 2 explains the principle behind Statement 1.

18: (I) The urban population in India has grown steeply.
(II) Migration from rural areas has occurred due to employment opportunities and better living standards in cities.

A. I is the cause for II.
B. I is independent of II.
C. I is a contradiction of II.
D. I is the result of II.

Answer: D. I is the result of II.

19: (I) Primary activities include agriculture, animal husbandry, and forestry.
(II) These occupations are termed primary because nature directly helps in them.

A. I is an example of II.
B. II provides the reason for the terminology in I.
C. I is independent of II.
D. I is a contradiction of II.

Answer: B. II provides the reason for the terminology in I.

20: Statement 1: The population density is very high in the Northern Plains.
Statement 2: The region has plain terrain, rich fertile soil, and a lot of rainfall.

A. Both statements are true, but Statement 2 is not the correct explanation of Statement 1.
B. Statement 1 is true, but Statement 2 is false.
C. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1.
D. Statement 1 is false, but Statement 2 is true.

Answer: C. Both statements are true, and Statement 2 is the correct explanation of Statement 1.

21: (I) The National Population Policy aims to make school education free and compulsory up to the age of 14.
(II) One of the goals of the policy is to raise the marriageable age.

A. I is the cause for II.
B. I is an example of II.
C. I and II are two independent objectives of the same policy.
D. I is a contradiction of II.

Answer: C. I and II are two independent objectives of the same policy.

22: Arrange the following census years in ascending order of India’s total population, then choose the correct option.

(i) 1921
(ii) 1951
(iii) 1981
(iv) 1901

A. (iv) → (i) → (ii) → (iii)
B. (i) → (iv) → (ii) → (iii)
C. (iv) → (ii) → (i) → (iii)
D. (i) → (ii) → (iv) → (iii)

Answer: A. (iv) → (i) → (ii) → (iii)

23: Arrange the following decades in descending order of their decadal population growth rate.

(i) 1991-2001
(ii) 1961-1971
(iii) 2001-2011
(iv) 1971-1981

A. (iii) → (i) → (iv) → (ii)
B. (ii) → (iv) → (i) → (iii)
C. (ii) → (i) → (iv) → (iii)
D. (iv) → (ii) → (iii) → (i)

Answer: B. (ii) → (iv) → (i) → (iii)

24: Consider the following years. Arrange them in ascending order based on the percentage of urban population in India.

(i) 1981
(ii) 2011
(iii) 1961
(iv) 2001

A. (iii) → (i) → (iv) → (ii)
B. (i) → (iii) → (iv) → (ii)
C. (iii) → (iv) → (i) → (ii)
D. (iv) → (iii) → (i) → (ii)

Answer: A. (iii) → (i) → (iv) → (ii)

25: Arrange the following census years based on their annual population growth rate, from lowest to highest.

(i) 1921
(ii) 1981
(iii) 1951
(iv) 1911

A. (ii) → (iii) → (iv) → (i)
B. (i) → (ii) → (iii) → (iv)
C. (i) → (iv) → (iii) → (ii)
D. (iv) → (i) → (ii) → (iii)

Answer: C. (i) → (iv) → (iii) → (ii)

Extra questions and answers

1. Why is it important to know how many people live in a country?

Answer: It is important to know how many people live in a country because this information is important in many ways. How well a government serves its people depends partly on the knowledge of how many there are to be served and how large is the area they live in. It is also important to know how many people are in each age group, as younger people will need schools, while health care and social security may be more important to older people. Business prospects, opportunities for jobs, and even crime rates are influenced by the size of the population.

2. Define the term ‘Census’.

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 point of time.

3. What is the science of demography?

Answer: The science of demography is the statistical analysis and study of population.

4. How often is a census generally conducted in India?

Answer: Generally, a census is conducted every ten years.

5. When was the last census conducted in India?

Answer: The last census was conducted in 2011.

6. What was the total population of India according to the 2011 Census?

Answer: The total population of India according to the 2011 Census was 1,21,01,93,422.

7. What was the number of males in India as per the 2011 Census?

Answer: The number of males in India as per the 2011 Census was 62,37,24,248.

8. What was the number of females in India as per the 2011 Census?

Answer: The number of females in India as per the 2011 Census was 58,64,69,174.

9. What was the percentage of decadal growth from 2001-2011?

Answer: The percentage of decadal growth from 2001-2011 was 17.64%.

10. What was the density of population in India in 2011?

Answer: The density of population in India in 2011 was 382 per sq. km.

11. Which state had the highest density of population in 2011?

Answer: The state with the highest density of population in 2011 was Bihar, with 1102 per sq. km.

12. What was the sex ratio in India as per the 2011 Census?

Answer: The sex ratio in India as per the 2011 Census was 940.

13. What was the total literacy rate in 2011?

Answer: The total literacy rate in 2011 was 74.04%.

14. Which is the most populous state in India?

Answer: The most populous state in India is Uttar Pradesh.

15. What is population density?

Answer: The average number of people who live in a fixed area is called population density.

16. Which are the two most densely populated continents?

Answer: The most densely populated continents are Asia and Europe.

17. Define the term ‘birth rate’.

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

18. Define the term ‘death rate’.

Answer: Death Rate is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year.

19. What does the difference between birth rate and death rate show?

Answer: The difference between the birth rate and the death rate shows the natural rate of growth or the survival rate per 1000 people in a country.

20. What is fertility in the context of population?

Answer: The number of children born is called the fertility of a population.

21. What is mortality in the context of population?

Answer: The number of deaths is called mortality.

22. What does immigration denote?

Answer: Immigration denotes incoming population.

23. What does emigration refer to?

Answer: Emigration refers to outgoing population.

24. What do primary activities include?

Answer: Primary activities include agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishery, etc.

25. What do secondary activities include?

Answer: Secondary activities include manufacturing industries.

26. What do tertiary activities include?

Answer: Tertiary activities include transport, communications, banking services, etc.

27. Who are considered adolescents?

Answer: Boys and girls between 10-19 years are called adolescents.

28. When did the Government of India announce the National Population Policy (NPP)?

Answer: The Government of India announced the National Population Policy (NPP) in February 2000.

29. What is the estimated population of India as of mid-year 2023?

Answer: India 2023 population is estimated at 1,428,627,663 people at mid year.

30. What percentage of the total world population is India’s population equivalent to?

Answer: India’s population is equivalent to 17.76% of the total world population.

31. What is the median age in India in 2023?

Answer: The median age in India is 28.2 years.

32. What is India’s global rank by population in 2023?

Answer: India ranks number 1 in the list of countries (and dependencies) by population.

33. What are the various uses of population statistics derived from a census?

Answer: The census is a source of population statistics, which have many uses. It can serve as a basic tool of the science of demography, the statistical analysis and study of population. Accurate population figures are required to plan immigration policies, public health programmes, advertising and marketing campaigns and many other public and private activities.

34. Why is the population density very low in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand?

Answer: The low population density in states like Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand is due to unfavourable climatic conditions and rugged terrain in these states.

35. What factors contribute to the high population density in the Northern Plains?

Answer: High population density is observed in the Northern Plains because these areas have plain terrain along with rich, fertile soil, moderate climate and a lot of rainfall.

36. Does a large population density necessarily mean a country is overpopulated? Explain.

Answer: Large density or size of population does not necessarily mean that a country is overpopulated. Overpopulation is a situation when the resources are too few for the size of population. A country like the UK cannot be called overpopulated even though it has a population of 58 million because the country has enough resources to provide for the large population. The overpopulation problem plagues India because the population size is more than the available resources.

37. What is the main reason behind the high growth rate of India’s population?

Answer: The main reason behind the high growth rate of India’s population is the ever growing gap between the birth rate and the death rate.

38. What factors have led to the decline in the death rate in India?

Answer: The decline in the death rate in India has been due to the success achieved in control of epidemics such as smallpox and plague, increasing public health measures, and advancement in medical know-how.

39. Why does the birth rate in India continue to remain high?

Answer: The birth rate in India is still high as Indian society still follows ancient norms of early marriages, no or wrong birth control measures, and ignorance due to lack of education.

40. How has internal migration affected the population density in India’s cities?

Answer: The increase in population density is easy to observe in cities as internal migration is mostly from rural to urban areas.

41. What are the main reasons for migration from rural to urban areas in India?

Answer: Increasing population in rural areas and mechanisation of agriculture leading to less demand for labour are two major reasons for migration from rural to urban areas. Vast and various employment avenues, good education and better living standards lure the rural folks to the towns and cities. As the industrial and service sectors are expanding in urban areas, the chance of employment is more there.

42. How is a country’s economy related to its occupational structure?

Answer: A country’s economy and its development and occupational structure are closely related. When a larger number of the population are involved in secondary and tertiary activities in a country, that country has a higher level of income. Lower levels of income are observed in countries where people are mostly engaged in agriculture.

43. Why do adolescents require special attention regarding their nutritional needs?

Answer: Adolescents, who are boys and girls between 10-19 years, are the future citizens of the country and as such their needs require special attention. During adolescence when they are growing up, both girls and boys need nutrition in terms of calories and other nutrients such as proteins, minerals, iodine and iron.

44. Why is anaemia a common health issue among adolescent girls in India?

Answer: Iron deficiency in girls caused by menstruation needs to be supplemented. A large number of adolescent girls are married in India and are likely to become pregnant. Anaemia during pregnancy is a common cause of illness and death among mothers and their newly born babies.

45. What was the immediate objective of the National Population Policy (NPP) 2000?

Answer: The immediate objective of the National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 was to address the needs for contraception, healthcare infrastructure, and basic reproductive and child healthcare.

46. What was the medium-term objective of the NPP 2000?

Answer: The medium-term objective of the NPP 2000 was to bring the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement levels of 2.1 by 2010.

47. What is the long-term objective of the National Population Policy 2000?

Answer: The long-term objective of the National Population Policy 2000 was to achieve a stable population by 2045, at a level consistent with the requirements of sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

48. How does the NPP 2000 aim to achieve its goal of stabilising the population?

Answer: According to the NPP 2000, the goal of stabilising the population is to be done by:

(i) raising the marriageable age
(ii) making school education free and compulsory up to the age of 14 years.
(iii) reducing drop-outs at primary and secondary levels.

49. Explain the importance of studying population for a country’s planning and development.

Answer: It is important to know how many people live in a country and whether the number is increasing or decreasing. Information about population is important in many ways. How well a government serves its people depends partly on the knowledge of how many there are to be served and how large is the area they live in. It is also important to know how many people are in each age group. Younger people will need schools, while health care and social security may be more important to older people. Business prospects, opportunities for jobs, and even crime rates are influenced by the size of the population.

The importance of studying population is mainly to estimate the total manpower which is present for production and the total amount of goods and services needed to consume them. Accurate population figures are required to plan immigration policies, public health programmes, advertising and marketing campaigns and many other public and private activities.

50. Describe the distribution of population in India. Why do some regions have high density while others have low density?

Answer: In 2011, the density of population in India is about 382 persons per sq. km. The distribution of population is not even.

Very low to low population density is found in the States of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This low population is due to unfavourable climatic conditions and rugged terrain in these states.

Most of the areas in peninsular India and Assam have moderate density of population. The distribution of population here is affected by infertile or less fertile soil, shallow soil, low to moderate rain and rocky terrain.

High density population is observed in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and the Northern Plains. This is because these states have plain terrain along with rich, fertile soil, moderate climate and a lot of rainfall.

51. Explain the three major factors that determine population change in a country.

Answer: Three major factors that determine the population change are birth rate, death rate, and migration.

The term ‘birth rate’ generally indicates the number of live-births per 1000 of population during a particular year.

The death rate denotes the number of deaths per 1000 people in the country in a particular year. The difference between the birth rate and the death rate shows the natural rate of growth or the survival rate per 1000 people in a country.

Migration is the movement of people from one area to another. The number of people entering or leaving a country can cause either an increase or a decrease in population. Immigration denotes incoming population whereas emigration refers to outgoing population.

52. What is the difference between optimum population and overpopulation? Explain with examples.

Answer: Overpopulation is a situation when the resources are too few for the size of population. Such a situation occurs when a country is not able to maintain a respectable standard of living for its population. For example, the overpopulation problem plagues India because the population size is more than the available resources, which means overuse of the available resources. In contrast, a country like the UK cannot be called overpopulated even though it has a population of 58 million, because the country has enough resources to provide for the large population.

The optimum population of a country refers to the size of population which produces the maximum amount of goods and services with the help of its resources. In a country when the population grows, it produces more. After some time the country is no longer able to provide basic facilities to the population, overuse of resources occurs and per head availability of goods and facilities declines.

53. How has the gap between birth rate and death rate contributed to India’s population growth?

Answer: The main reason behind the high growth rate of India’s population is the ever growing gap between the birth rate and the death rate.

The decline in death rate has been due to the success achieved in control of epidemics such as small pox and plague, increasing public health measures and advancement in medical know-how in the last thirty years. After Independence, the government also took positive steps to fight famine, which was a major cause for high death rates during the British Raj.

The birth rate is still on a high as Indian society still follows ancient norms of early marriages, no or wrong birth control measures and ignorance due to lack of education. A natural increase in population of a country comes from a greater number of births than deaths.

54. Explain how migration, both internal and external, is a major factor of population change.

Answer: Migration, a major factor of population change, is the movement of people from one area to another. It can be both internal, within the country, or external, between different countries.

External migration affects a country’s total population size. Immigration to a country leads to an increase in its population, whereas emigration from a country leads to a decline in its population. For example, the immigration of people from neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh to India after Independence is an important factor leading to growth in India’s population. Conversely, the migration (emigration) of people from India to Europe, Middle East, and Canada led to a decrease in population of India.

Internal migration does not cause a change in the total population size of a country, but it surely affects the population distribution of an area. This increase in population density is easy to observe in cities as internal migration is mostly from rural to urban areas. Increasing population in rural areas and mechanisation of agriculture leading to less demand for labour are two major reasons for migration from rural to urban areas.

55. Describe the occupational structure of a country. How has India’s occupational structure changed over time?

Answer: The distribution of a country’s population in accordance with its various occupations is termed as the occupational structure of a country. The various occupations may be:

Primary Activities: These include agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishery, etc. They are termed primary as nature helps in these occupations.
Secondary Activities: These include manufacturing industries.
Tertiary Activities: These include transport, communications, banking services, etc.

In India, the occupational structure has changed over time. The proportion of population dependent on agriculture was around 61% in 2000. The proportion of population that was engaged in secondary and tertiary sectors was around 18% and 21% respectively. People have now become more engaged in secondary and tertiary activities. This is due to more industrialisation and urbanisation in the country.

56. Who are adolescents? What are the specific health and nutritional challenges they face in India?

Answer: Boys and girls between 10-19 years are called adolescents. They are nearly one-fifth of India’s total population. As future citizens, their needs require special attention.

The specific health and nutritional challenges they face are:

During adolescence, both girls and boys need nutrition in terms of calories and other nutrients such as proteins, minerals, iodine and iron. Deficiency in nutrition retards growth, both physical and mental, and delays sexual maturation.

Iron deficiency in girls caused by menstruation needs to be supplemented.

A large number of adolescent girls are married in India and are likely to become pregnant. Anaemia during pregnancy is a common cause of illness and death among mothers and their newly born babies.

Adolescents need scientific information about reproductive and sexual health, HIV/AIDS and drug abuse.

57. How does the National Population Policy 2000 specifically address the problems faced by adolescents?

Answer: The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 has identified adolescents as one of the most important sections of the population who need priority attention. Other than their nutritive needs, the NPP 2000 is aiming on other adolescent problems such as:

(i) protection from unwanted pregnancies.
(ii) protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STD).

NPP has made plans to implement programmes that would:

(i) popularise delayed marriage
(ii) encourage delayed pregnancies
(iii) educate adolescents about risks caused by unprotected sex.
(iv) make contraceptive services accessible and cheaper.
(v) provide food supplements and nutritional services.
(vi) strengthen laws to restrain child marriages.

58. Discuss the problem of overpopulation in India. What are its causes and consequences on the country’s resources?

Answer: Overpopulation is a situation when the resources are too few for the size of the population, which occurs when a country is not able to maintain a respectable standard of living for its people. The overpopulation problem plagues India because the population size is more than the available resources.

The main cause behind the high growth rate of India’s population is the ever-growing gap between the birth rate and the death rate. The death rate has declined due to success in controlling epidemics like smallpox and plague, increased public health measures, and advancements in medical know-how. However, the birth rate is still high because Indian society follows ancient norms of early marriages, there is a lack of or wrong use of birth control measures, and ignorance due to a lack of education.

The major consequence of a large population is the overuse of available resources. When a population grows, after some time the country is no longer able to provide basic facilities to the population. This leads to the overuse of resources, and the per-head availability of goods and facilities declines.

59. Explain the causes and consequences of rural-to-urban migration in India. How has this trend impacted both rural and urban areas?

Answer: The causes of rural-to-urban migration in India are twofold. Firstly, increasing population in rural areas and the mechanisation of agriculture lead to less demand for labour, pushing people to move. Secondly, urban areas pull people from rural folks with the lure of vast and various employment avenues, good education, and better living standards. As industrial and service sectors expand in urban areas, the chance of employment is greater there.

The consequence of this internal migration is that it affects the population of an area. This increase in population density is easy to observe in cities. This trend has caused the urban population to increase from 17.29% in 1951 to 30% in 2011. This rapid population growth in urban areas leads to several challenges, including increased strain on infrastructure, housing shortages, and traffic congestion, which impact the residents’ quality of life.

60. Discuss the National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 in detail. What were its immediate, medium-term, and long-term objectives?

Answer: The Government of India announced the National Population Policy (NPP) in February 2000. The policy has the following objectives:

Immediate Objective: The immediate objective was to address the needs for contraception, healthcare infrastructure, and basic reproductive and child healthcare.
Medium-term Objective: The medium-term objective was to bring the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement levels of 2.1 by 2010.
Long-term Objective: The long-term objective was to achieve a stable population by 2045, at a level consistent with the requirements of sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

To achieve the long-term objective, the NPP 2000 proposed to do this by:

(i) raising the marriageable age
(ii) making school education free and compulsory up to the age of 14 years.
(iii) reducing drop-outs at primary and secondary levels.

61. “Adolescents are the future citizens of the country.” In light of this statement, explain the special needs of adolescents and the focus of NPP 2000 on them.

Answer: Boys and girls between 10-19 years are called adolescents. They are nearly one-fifth of India’s total population and are the future citizens of the country, so their needs require special attention.

Adolescents have several special needs. During their growing years, they need nutrition in terms of calories and other nutrients such as proteins, minerals, iodine, and iron. A deficiency in nutrition can retard physical and mental growth and delay sexual maturation. Adolescent girls, in particular, need iron supplements due to menstruation. Health is another important need, as many adolescent girls in India are married and likely to become pregnant, making them vulnerable to anaemia, which is a common cause of illness and death. They also need scientific information about reproductive and sexual health, HIV/AIDS, and drug abuse, along with life skills training to improve self-esteem and encourage safe behaviour.

The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 has identified adolescents as an important section of the population needing priority attention. Beyond nutritive needs, the NPP 2000 aims to address other adolescent problems such as:

(i) protection from unwanted pregnancies.
(ii) protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STD).

To achieve this, the NPP has made plans to implement programmes that would:

(i) popularise delayed marriage
(ii) encourage delayed pregnancies
(iii) educate adolescents about risks caused by unprotected sex.
(iv) make contraceptive services accessible and cheaper.
(v) provide food supplements and nutritional services.
(vi) strengthen laws to restrain child marriages.