Population

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CLASS IX Social Science ~4 marks/year Ch 11 of 20
Population

Class 9 · Social Science · NCERT chapter notes · Akanksha Classes

Snapshot
  • India is the 2nd most populous country in the world with 1.21 billion people (Census 2011), supporting 17.5% of world population on just 2.4% of world land area.
  • Population is unevenly distributed — the Northern Plains and coastal areas are densely packed; Himalayan, forested, and desert areas are sparsely populated.
  • Population growth is driven by Birth Rate, Death Rate, and Migration; Natural Growth Rate = Birth Rate minus Death Rate.
  • India's population growth has passed through four distinct phases since 1901 — from stagnant to rapid to moderating growth. 1921 = Year of the Great Divide.
  • Age composition divides people into three groups; a large young population creates both a dividend and a burden via the dependency ratio.
  • Sex Ratio (2011) = 940 females per 1000 males; Literacy Rate (2011) = 74.04%.
  • National Population Policy 2000 aims to stabilise India's population by 2045 and targets adolescents (10–19 years) especially.
Detailed Notes

1. Size of Population

According to the Census of 2011, India's population stood at 1.21 billion (121 crore) — making it the second most populous country in the world, after China. India accounts for 17.5% of the world's population while occupying only about 2.4% of the total land area of the world.

Population is an important resource. It is the point of reference from which all resources are observed. Human beings are both producers and consumers of resources — they transform the physical environment into the cultural landscape. Therefore, population matters in every dimension of development.

  • Total population (Census 2011): approximately 1,21,08,54,977.
  • Total population (Census 2001): approximately 1.02 billion.
  • India added more than 181 million people between 2001 and 2011 — more than the entire population of Brazil at that time.
  • India crossed the 1 billion mark around the year 2000.
Key fact: India supports nearly 1 in 6 of all humans on just 1 in 50 parts of the world's land.

2. Population Distribution

India's population is very unevenly distributed across its states and union territories. The density of population is the number of persons per square kilometre.

Average density of India (Census 2011): 382 persons per sq. km.

Most Populous States

  • Uttar Pradesh — most populous state (about 200 million in 2011).
  • Maharashtra — second most populous.
  • Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh — among the highest population states.
  • These five states together account for nearly half of India's total population.

States with Highest Density

  • Bihar — highest population density among states: 1,106 persons/sq. km (Census 2011).
  • West Bengal — second highest density among states.
  • Delhi (NCT) — as a Union Territory, has the highest density: over 11,000 persons/sq. km.

Sparsely Populated Areas

  • Arunachal Pradesh — lowest population density: 17 persons/sq. km.
  • Mizoram, Sikkim, Andaman and Nicobar Islands — also very sparse.
  • Himalayan terrain, dense forests, desert (Rajasthan), and hilly interiors limit settlement.

Factors Affecting Population Distribution

Factor Dense Settlement Sparse Settlement
ReliefPlains, river deltasMountains, plateaus
Soil fertilityFertile alluvial plainsStony, sandy, or rocky soil
ClimateModerate climate, adequate rainExtreme heat, cold, or dry conditions
Mineral resourcesMining and industrial areasResource-poor areas
TransportWell-connected regionsRemote or inaccessible areas
UrbanisationCities and industrial beltsDeep rural and tribal areas

3. Population Growth

Population growth refers to the change in the number of inhabitants in a territory during a specific period of time, expressed as a percentage.

Key Terms Defined

  • Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1000 people per year. India's birth rate has fallen from about 40 per thousand in the 1950s to about 20.2 per thousand (around 2011).
  • Death Rate: The number of deaths per 1000 people per year. India's death rate has fallen sharply from about 40 per thousand in 1901 to about 7.2 per thousand (around 2011) due to better healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition.
  • Natural Growth Rate: The difference between birth rate and death rate. Formula: Natural Growth Rate = Birth Rate minus Death Rate. A positive value means population is growing.
  • Migration: Movement of people from one place to another. In-migration (immigration) increases population; out-migration (emigration) decreases it. Migration is an important determinant of population change in states and cities even when natural growth rate remains constant.
Formula: Population Change = (Births minus Deaths) + (In-migration minus Out-migration)

Annual Growth Rate

The annual growth rate expresses population change as a percentage per year. India's annual growth rate peaked at about 2.2% in the 1960s-70s and has declined to about 1.64% for the 2001-2011 decade.

Migration and Population Distribution

Migration alters the demographic composition of regions significantly. Rural-to-urban migration swells city populations. Maharashtra (Mumbai) and Delhi are major in-migration states. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are major out-migration states. International emigration to the Middle East and Western nations also affects India's labour pool.

4. Characteristics of Population Growth — The Four Phases

India's population growth since the first synchronised Census in 1881 can be divided into four phases:

Phase Period Character Key Reason
Phase I 1901 to 1921 Stagnant or very slow growth; 1911 to 1921 saw actual decline Famines, epidemics (plague, influenza pandemic of 1918), very high death rates
Phase II 1921 to 1951 Steady moderate growth; 1921 = Year of the Great Divide Improved sanitation and healthcare beginning; death rate falling while birth rate high
Phase III 1951 to 1981 Rapid or explosive growth — "population explosion" Dramatic fall in death rate while birth rate still high; Green Revolution ensured food supply
Phase IV 1981 to present High growth but rate beginning to slow Family planning, rising literacy (especially female), better healthcare reducing fertility
Remember: 1921 = "Year of the Great Divide" — the turning point when India's population began its sustained rise. 1951 to 1981 = the "Population Explosion" phase.

Census Data Milestones

  • 1901: about 238 million
  • 1921: about 251 million (stagnant since 1901)
  • 1951: about 361 million
  • 1981: about 683 million
  • 2001: about 1,027 million (India crossed 1 billion)
  • 2011: 1,210 million

5. Age Composition

Age composition refers to the number of people in different age groups. It is one of the most fundamental characteristics of a population because it determines what a population needs (food, schools, hospitals, jobs) and what it can produce. The age structure is usually shown as a population pyramid.

Three Age Groups

Group Age Range Description
Children (Young) 0 to 14 years Economically unproductive; need education, food, healthcare — create pressure on the economy as dependents
Working Age 15 to 59 years Economically active and productive; the working population who produce goods and services
Aged (Old) 60 years and above Economically less active; may contribute some work but generally dependent on working-age population

Dependency Ratio

The dependency ratio measures the burden placed on the working population by those not in the working age group (children + aged).

Dependency Ratio = [(Population aged 0-14) + (Population aged 60+)] divided by (Population aged 15-59), multiplied by 100

India has a large young population (about 29% below 14 years in 2011). This creates a relatively high dependency ratio in the short term, but offers a "demographic dividend" — if these young people are educated and productively employed, their large numbers can drive economic growth for decades.

Population Pyramid

  • Wide base, narrow top (like India currently) = high birth rate, large young population, growing fast — typical of developing countries.
  • Narrowing base, wider middle = lower birth rate, ageing population, slower growth — typical of developed countries like Germany or Japan.
  • Population pyramid shape reveals information about birth rates, death rates, life expectancy, and gender balance of a population.

6. Sex Ratio

The sex ratio is defined as the number of females per 1000 males in the population. It is an important social indicator measuring the degree of equality between men and women in a society.

Sex Ratio (Census 2011) = 940 females per 1000 males
Census 2001: 933 females per 1000 males

The number has always been below 1000 in India since Census data began, indicating a consistently adverse sex ratio. The improvement from 933 (2001) to 940 (2011) is a positive trend but the gap is still a cause for concern.

States with Notable Sex Ratios (2011)

  • Kerala — highest sex ratio among states: 1084 females per 1000 males (only major state above 1000, meaning more females than males).
  • Puducherry (UT) — also above 1000.
  • Haryana — lowest sex ratio among major states: 879 females per 1000 males.
  • Other states with low sex ratio: Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi.

Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years)

The child sex ratio (girls per 1000 boys aged 0-6 years) is particularly alarming. It dropped from 945 in 1991 to 914 in 2011, reflecting female foeticide, infanticide, and neglect of the girl child. This is a serious concern. Government programmes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (launched 2015) specifically target this issue.

Causes of Adverse Sex Ratio in India

  • Preference for male child (son preference) in many communities due to economic and social reasons.
  • Female foeticide (sex-selective abortion), despite the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act banning it.
  • Female infanticide (killing of girl babies at or after birth).
  • Neglect of the girl child in nutrition, healthcare, and education, leading to higher female mortality.
  • Violence against women.

7. Literacy Rate

The literacy rate is the percentage of the literate population in the total population aged 7 years and above. The Census of India defines a literate person as one who can read and write with understanding in any language. A person who can only read but not write is not considered literate.

Literacy Rate (Census 2011):
Overall: 74.04%
Male: 82.14%
Female: 65.46%
Gender gap: about 16.7 percentage points
  • Census 2001 literacy rate: 64.8%.
  • Significant improvement from about 18% in 1951 to 74% in 2011 — over 50 years, literacy more than tripled.
  • The gender gap in literacy has been narrowing but persists across all states and regions.

Regional Disparities in Literacy (Census 2011)

  • Kerala — highest literacy: 93.91% (model state for education in India).
  • Lakshadweep (UT) — 91.85%.
  • Mizoram — 91.33% (very high for a small NE state).
  • Bihar — lowest literacy among major states: 63.82%.
  • Arunachal Pradesh — 65.38%.
  • Southern states (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka) generally have higher literacy than BIMARU states (Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh).

Importance of Literacy

  • Literate populations make better economic and health decisions.
  • Female literacy is the single most powerful tool for controlling birth rate, improving child health, and raising the sex ratio.
  • Literacy enables participation in democracy, access to government schemes, and economic empowerment.
  • The Right to Education Act (2009) made free and compulsory education a fundamental right for children aged 6-14.

8. Occupational Structure

The distribution of population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure. Occupations are grouped into three sectors:

Sector Activities Included India's Share (approx. 2011)
Primary Agriculture, fishing, forestry, animal husbandry, mining About 58-64% of workforce
Secondary Manufacturing, construction, processing industries About 10-11%
Tertiary Trade, commerce, transport, banking, communication, services, IT About 25-27%

In developed countries most workers are in secondary and tertiary sectors. India's large primary sector workforce signals agricultural dependence and relatively lower industrialisation. The shift from primary to secondary and tertiary sectors is a key indicator of economic development and structural transformation.

Categories of Workers

  • Main workers: those who worked for 6 months or more in a year.
  • Marginal workers: those who worked for less than 6 months in a year.
  • Non-workers: those who did not participate in any economically productive work during the reference period.

9. Health

Health is a vital aspect of population quality. Improvements in health outcomes have both resulted from and contributed to population growth. India has made remarkable progress since independence, though challenges remain.

Health Indicator At Independence (~1951) Around 2011
Life expectancy at birth About 32 years About 67 years
Infant Mortality Rate (per 1000 live births) About 146 About 44 (still declining)
Death Rate (per 1000 population) About 40 About 7.2

Persistent Health Problems

  • Malnutrition: India has one of the highest rates of child malnutrition. Protein-energy malnutrition affects a large proportion of children under five. Anaemia affects women and adolescent girls widely.
  • Communicable diseases: Malaria, tuberculosis (TB), diarrhoea, and dengue remain significant challenges despite progress.
  • Non-communicable diseases: Diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer are rising fast — creating a double burden of disease.
  • Unequal healthcare access: Rural and tribal areas have far fewer doctors, hospitals, and medical facilities than urban areas. Doctor-to-population ratios remain below WHO recommendations.
  • Safe drinking water and sanitation: Lack of access contributes heavily to diarrhoeal and waterborne disease burden.

Government Health Initiatives

  • National Health Mission (NHM): Aims to bring rural healthcare to acceptable standards through health sub-centres, primary health centres, and community health centres.
  • Universal Immunisation Programme: Has dramatically reduced polio, measles, tetanus, and other vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Pulse Polio Programme: India was declared polio-free in 2014 — a landmark achievement.
  • Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY): Health insurance scheme for economically weaker sections.

10. Adolescent Population

Adolescents are people in the age group of 10 to 19 years. They constitute about one-fifth (approximately 20.9%) of India's total population — making India home to one of the largest adolescent populations in the world. They are often called "tomorrow's citizens" — they will be the main working-age population in the coming decades.

Key Issues Facing Adolescents in India

  • Anaemia (nutritional deficiency): A very large proportion of adolescent girls in India suffer from anaemia due to poor diet, lack of iron, and early marriage. This weakens them and threatens future pregnancies.
  • Malnutrition: Both undernutrition (low weight, stunting) and rising obesity are problems, particularly among adolescent girls in rural areas.
  • Child marriage: Despite laws setting minimum age at 18 for girls and 21 for boys, early marriages continue in parts of India — denying girls education and endangering their health through early pregnancy and childbirth.
  • School dropout: Dropout rates are high, particularly for girls, at the secondary level. Economic pressures, distance of schools, and lack of toilets for girls are major factors.
  • Substance abuse: Rising concern, especially in urban and peri-urban areas.
  • Mental health: Increasingly recognised as a serious issue; peer pressure, examination stress, depression, and anxiety affect large numbers of adolescents.
  • Unsafe sexual behaviour: Lack of proper sex education increases risk of STIs and unplanned pregnancies.

NPP 2000 and Adolescents

The National Population Policy 2000 specifically addresses adolescents with the following goals:

  • Making free and compulsory school education up to age 14 a national priority.
  • Reducing school dropout rates, especially for girls.
  • Promoting delayed marriage and delayed childbearing.
  • Providing nutrition supplementation and services to reduce anaemia among adolescent girls.
  • Making family life education and sexual health education available in schools and communities.

11. National Population Policy 2000 (NPP 2000)

India was the first country in the world to launch a national programme to control population growth — the National Family Planning Programme in 1952. The National Population Policy 2000 (NPP 2000) is a comprehensive policy framework to address population challenges over the next 20 years.

Immediate Objectives (Short-term)

  • Address the unmet need for basic reproductive and child health services.
  • Improve contraception awareness and access, especially in rural areas.
  • Strengthen healthcare infrastructure — health sub-centres, primary health centres, and community health centres.

Medium-term Objectives

  • Bring the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to replacement level of 2.1 children per woman.
  • Reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to below 30 per 1000 live births.
  • Reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) to below 100 per 100,000 live births.
  • Achieve universal immunisation of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases.
  • Promote delayed marriage for girls — not before 18 years; ideally after 20 years.
  • Make school education up to age 14 free and compulsory and reduce dropout rates to below 20%.
  • Achieve 100% registration of births, deaths, marriages, and pregnancies.

Long-term Objective

  • Achieve a stable population by 2045 at a level consistent with sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

Key Targets at a Glance

Target NPP 2000 Goal
Infant Mortality RateBelow 30 per 1000 live births
Maternal Mortality RateBelow 100 per 100,000 live births
Universal Immunisation100% of children for all vaccine-preventable diseases
Girls' minimum marriage ageNot before 18 years of age
Birth, death, marriage registration100% registration
School dropout rateBelow 20% at primary level
Stable population target year2045
Three-tier structure of NPP 2000: (1) Immediate — access to healthcare; (2) Medium-term — reduce IMR, MMR, TFR; promote delayed marriage, literacy; (3) Long-term — stable population by 2045.

12. NCERT Exercises — Fully Solved

Q1. Why is the rate of population growth in India declining since 1981?

Answer: The rate of population growth in India has been declining since 1981 because of the following factors:

  • Family planning programmes: Government-sponsored family welfare programmes have increased awareness of and access to family planning methods, reducing family size.
  • Rise in female literacy: Educated women tend to marry later and choose to have fewer children.
  • Raising of marriage age: Legal minimum age — 18 for women and 21 for men — has helped reduce fertility by shortening the reproductive period.
  • Better child survival: Improved healthcare has reduced infant mortality. Parents who are confident their children will survive tend to have fewer children.
  • Urbanisation: Urban families tend to have fewer children due to higher cost of living and greater economic independence of women.
  • Changing social attitudes: The norm of small families has been spreading, especially in educated and urban communities.
Q2. Discuss the major components of population growth.

Answer: The three major components of population growth are:

  • Birth Rate: Number of live births per 1000 people per year. High birth rates add to population. India's birth rate has fallen from about 40 in the 1950s to about 20 by 2011, due to family planning and rising literacy.
  • Death Rate: Number of deaths per 1000 people per year. India's death rate has fallen from about 40 in 1901 to about 7 in 2011, due to better healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition. This sharp fall in death rate has been the primary driver of population growth.
  • Migration: Movement of people from one area to another. In-migration adds to, and out-migration reduces, the population of an area. At the national level, international migration is the third component; internally, rural-to-urban migration reshapes state populations significantly.
Natural Growth Rate = Birth Rate minus Death Rate. When birth rate exceeds death rate, population grows.
Q3. What is age structure, sex ratio, and literacy rate?

Answer:

  • Age structure: The distribution of the population among different age groups. India uses three broad groups — 0-14 years (children), 15-59 years (working age), and 60+ years (aged). Age structure determines the dependency ratio and the productive potential of a population.
  • Sex ratio: The number of females per 1000 males. India's sex ratio was 940 in Census 2011. An adverse sex ratio indicates gender discrimination. Kerala has the most favourable sex ratio (1084); Haryana has the least favourable (879) among states.
  • Literacy rate: The percentage of the population aged 7 and above who can read and write with understanding in any language. India's overall literacy rate was 74.04% in 2011, with male literacy at 82.14% and female literacy at 65.46%.
Q4. How is migration a determinant of population change?

Answer: Migration influences population by changing the number, distribution, and composition of people in a region:

  • Population increase in destination: In-migrants add to population of cities and states that receive them (Maharashtra, Delhi).
  • Population decrease at source: Out-migration reduces population in source states (Bihar, UP) and typically draws away the young, working-age population.
  • Changing sex composition: Rural-to-urban migration in India is predominantly male, leaving a female-dominated population in villages, which affects the sex ratio of both source and destination areas.
  • Changing age composition: Young adults migrate, making source areas older on average.
  • Economic impact: Migrants send remittances home, reducing poverty in source areas, while filling labour shortages in destination cities.
Q5. What are the socio-economic implications of a large working population?

Answer: India has a large working-age population (15-59 years) which creates a "demographic dividend" — a potential advantage if the workforce is skilled, educated, and employed. Key socio-economic implications include:

  • Higher productivity: A larger and skilled workforce can produce more goods and services, driving GDP growth.
  • Lower dependency ratio: Fewer dependents per worker means more savings and investment potential.
  • Challenge of employment: If the large working-age population cannot be productively employed, it creates unemployment, poverty, and social unrest.
  • Need for education and skill development: The demographic dividend is realised only if the workforce is educated, trained, and healthy.
  • Increased savings and investment: Working-age people save more than dependents, potentially fuelling capital formation and economic growth.
Practice MCQs
1. According to Census 2011, what is India's total population?
  1. 1.02 billion
  2. 1.21 billion
  3. 1.35 billion
  4. 1.5 billion
Answer: (B) 1.21 billion. Census 2011 recorded 1,210 million (1.21 billion) people — making India the 2nd most populous country.
2. Which year is called the "Year of the Great Divide" in India's population history?
  1. 1901
  2. 1921
  3. 1951
  4. 1971
Answer: (B) 1921. After 1921, India's population began a sustained rise. Before 1921, growth was stagnant or even negative.
3. Sex ratio is defined as the number of:
  1. Males per 1000 females
  2. Females per 1000 males
  3. Females per 100 males
  4. Males per 100 females
Answer: (B) Females per 1000 males. India's sex ratio in Census 2011 was 940 females per 1000 males.
4. Which Indian state has the highest sex ratio according to Census 2011?
  1. Tamil Nadu
  2. Goa
  3. Kerala
  4. Himachal Pradesh
Answer: (C) Kerala with 1084 females per 1000 males — the only major state with a sex ratio above 1000.
5. The literacy rate in India as per Census 2011 is:
  1. 64.8%
  2. 74.04%
  3. 82.14%
  4. 65.46%
Answer: (B) 74.04%. This is the overall literacy rate. Male literacy was 82.14% and female literacy was 65.46%.
6. What is the working-age population group as per NCERT classification?
  1. 0 to 14 years
  2. 15 to 64 years
  3. 15 to 59 years
  4. 18 to 60 years
Answer: (C) 15 to 59 years. NCERT classifies the three age groups as: 0-14 (children), 15-59 (working age), and 60+ (aged).
7. Which state has the lowest population density in India as per Census 2011?
  1. Mizoram
  2. Meghalaya
  3. Sikkim
  4. Arunachal Pradesh
Answer: (D) Arunachal Pradesh with only 17 persons per sq. km — the lowest among all states.
8. Natural Growth Rate of population is calculated as:
  1. Birth Rate + Death Rate
  2. Birth Rate minus Death Rate
  3. Death Rate minus Birth Rate
  4. Birth Rate divided by Death Rate
Answer: (B) Birth Rate minus Death Rate. A positive result means population is growing naturally. Migration is not included in the natural growth rate.
9. The National Population Policy 2000 aims to achieve a stable population by:
  1. 2025
  2. 2035
  3. 2045
  4. 2050
Answer: (C) 2045. The long-term objective of NPP 2000 is to achieve a stable population by 2045, consistent with sustainable development.
10. Adolescent population in India refers to the age group:
  1. 5 to 14 years
  2. 10 to 19 years
  3. 14 to 25 years
  4. 15 to 24 years
Answer: (B) 10 to 19 years. This group constitutes about one-fifth of India's total population and is a key focus of NPP 2000.
11. Which sector employs the largest proportion of India's workforce?
  1. Secondary (manufacturing)
  2. Tertiary (services)
  3. Primary (agriculture)
  4. Quaternary (IT and research)
Answer: (C) Primary sector (agriculture, fishing, forestry, mining) employs about 58-64% of India's workforce — a sign of agricultural dependence.
12. The population of India accounts for what percentage of world population?
  1. 12.5%
  2. 15%
  3. 17.5%
  4. 20%
Answer: (C) 17.5%. India supports about 17.5% of the world's population on just 2.4% of land area — highlighting the pressure on resources.
Previous-Year Questions (PYQs)
PYQ 1. What is the sex ratio? State India's sex ratio as per Census 2011. Name the state with the highest and lowest sex ratio. (CBSE 3 marks)
Answer: Sex ratio is the number of females per 1000 males in the population. As per Census 2011, India's sex ratio is 940 females per 1000 males. Kerala has the highest sex ratio (1084 per 1000 males). Haryana has the lowest sex ratio among major states (879 per 1000 males). A low sex ratio reflects gender discrimination — female foeticide, infanticide, neglect, and higher female mortality.
PYQ 2. Explain the National Population Policy 2000 and its major objectives. (CBSE 5 marks)
Answer: The National Population Policy 2000 (NPP 2000) is a comprehensive policy framework for stabilising India's population. Its objectives have three tiers: (1) Immediate: address unmet needs for basic reproductive and child health services and improve access to contraception. (2) Medium-term: reduce IMR to below 30 per 1000 live births; reduce MMR to below 100 per 100,000; achieve universal immunisation; promote girls' marriage not before 18 years; make school education up to age 14 free and compulsory; achieve 100% registration of births and deaths. (3) Long-term: achieve a stable population by 2045. The policy places special emphasis on adolescents (10-19 years), targeting better nutrition, education, and delayed marriage for this group.
PYQ 3. Distinguish between birth rate and death rate. How do they affect population growth in India? (CBSE 3 marks)
Answer:
  • Birth rate is the number of live births per 1000 persons per year. A high birth rate increases population size. India's birth rate fell from about 40 in 1951 to about 20 by 2011.
  • Death rate is the number of deaths per 1000 persons per year. A falling death rate reduces how fast population shrinks. India's death rate fell from about 40 in 1901 to about 7 by 2011 due to better healthcare and sanitation.
The gap between the sharply falling death rate and the relatively slower-falling birth rate caused India's population explosion during 1951-1981. As birth rates gradually decline towards death rates, population growth rate slows — which is the trend since 1981.
PYQ 4. What do you mean by literacy rate? Explain the regional disparities in literacy in India. (CBSE 3 marks)
Answer: Literacy rate is the percentage of the population aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding in any language. India's literacy rate in 2011 was 74.04% (male 82.14%, female 65.46%). Regional disparities: Kerala leads with 93.91%; Lakshadweep (91.85%) and Mizoram are also high. Bihar has the lowest (63.82%) among large states. Urban literacy significantly exceeds rural literacy. Female literacy lags behind male literacy in all states. Southern states generally have higher literacy than north and east India, partly because of longer traditions of public education and better implementation of education programmes.
PYQ 5. Describe the four phases of population growth in India. (CBSE 4 marks)
Answer:
  • Phase I (1901-1921): Stagnant growth; the decade 1911-1921 saw population actually decline due to famines, the 1918 influenza pandemic, and high death rates. 1921 is called the "Year of the Great Divide."
  • Phase II (1921-1951): Steady but moderate growth. Improved sanitation and healthcare began reducing death rates while birth rates remained high.
  • Phase III (1951-1981): Rapid explosive growth — the "population explosion." Death rate fell dramatically due to post-independence healthcare expansion; birth rate remained high. Population nearly doubled.
  • Phase IV (1981-present): High but decelerating growth. Birth rate began declining due to rising female literacy, urbanisation, and family planning. Annual growth rate has fallen from a peak of about 2.2% to about 1.64% in the 2001-2011 decade.
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More Class 9 Social Science chapters
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