Test: Population : Distribution, Density, Growth And Composition - UPSC MCQ

- Density of population, is expressed as number of persons per unit area.

- It helps in getting a better understanding of the spatial distribution of population in relation to land.

- The density of population in India (2011) was 382 people per square kilometer and ranks third among the most densely populated countries of Asia following Bangladesh (1203 people per square kilometer in 2013) and Japan (350 people per square kilometer in 2011). There has been a steady increase of more than 200 people per square kilometer over the last 50 years as the density of population increased from 117 people per square kilometer.

The National Capital Region area of Delhi possesses the highest of the population density 2011 among the states of India having a statistics of 11,297 per square kilometre.

According to the provisional data released by Census India, the proportion of rural population declined from 72.19% in 2001 to 68.84% in 2011.

At present, Nearly 70% of the country's population lives in rural areas where, for the first time since Independence, the overall growth rate of population has sharply declined, according to the latest Census.

India is ranked first in the world by population, with an estimated 1,440,696,325 people. This represents 17.76% of the world's total population as of June 3, 2024,

The proportion of migrants decrease with the increasing distance from source area.

- The records of population density 2011 of India state that the density 2011 has increased from a figure of 324 to that of 382 per square kilometer.

- Bihar is the most thickly populated state (1106 persons/sq km.) followed by west bengal-1028 and Kerala 860.

India's population growth rate was 1.2%, in 2013. The growth rate of population in India has been caused by annual birth rate, death rate and rate of migration.

- An uneven spatial distribution of population in India suggests a close relationship between population and physical, socioeconomic and historical factors.

- Fertility rate, mortality rate and migration are the demographic factors that affect the distribution of population.

Correct Answer :- c

Explanation : Density of population in India is 382 persons per sq km. Delhi (11,320) turns out to be the most densely inhabited followed by Chandigarh (9,258), among all States/UTs, both in 2001 and 2011 Census.

The capital city of West Bengal, Kolkata has one of the oldest operating ports in the country. Its population density is high, with 24,000 people per square kilometre. The city has a sex ratio of 899 females to 1,000 males. The State pollution control board stated that the pollution is seven times more than the limit set by the WHO.

About 60 percent of Mumbai’s population lives in slums, with no clean drinking water, electricity, or gas. The city’s slum rehabilitation authority has been implementing multiple plans to re-home slum residents. Due to overcrowding, Mumbai is also one of the most polluted cities in India, with approximately 7,000 metric tonnes of waste being discarded by individuals every day in the city. The city is so overcrowded that the local trains transport nearly six million people daily, and there has been a number of deaths due to stampedes at the stations because of overcrowding.

- Level of urbanization increased from 27.81% in 2001 Census to 31.16% in 2011 Census.

- According to the UN the year 2007 witnessed the turning point when more than 50% of the world population were living in cities, for the first time in human history.