Population Related Issue - Social Issues for UPSC 2026 (Pre & Mains) PDF

 Page 1


 
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Sleepy Classes 
Population size - 
India second most populous country. 1.24 billion. ~17% global popln in 2.4% world area. 
Growth rate not always high. 
1901-51 ~ 1.33%pa 
1911-21 = -0.03% (influenza epidemic) 
Substantially rose after British rule ended – 1961-81 = 2.2% 
Since then decreasing. 
(For religious still 2001 census is used) – 
          Hindus – 80.5%.  
          Muslims – 13.4% etc. 
Sex ratio slightly improved. 
Every year a whole Malaysia and Australia is add to India's population.  
 
The problem of population growth is really a serious one as the increases in employment 
opportunities and other resources cannot keep up with increase in population. 
 
Composition -  
Gender Wise - The sex composition of India population shows that there are fewer females 
than males. 
Age-Group Wise - Nearly 40 % of India's population consist of those below 15 your of age 
and about 5-6% of 60 years and above.  
This shows that nearly half of India's population is dependent upon those who are earners.  
The dependency of such a large part of the population adversely effects economics and 
social development.  
Saving and investment become almost negligible.  
Page 2


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Population size - 
India second most populous country. 1.24 billion. ~17% global popln in 2.4% world area. 
Growth rate not always high. 
1901-51 ~ 1.33%pa 
1911-21 = -0.03% (influenza epidemic) 
Substantially rose after British rule ended – 1961-81 = 2.2% 
Since then decreasing. 
(For religious still 2001 census is used) – 
          Hindus – 80.5%.  
          Muslims – 13.4% etc. 
Sex ratio slightly improved. 
Every year a whole Malaysia and Australia is add to India's population.  
 
The problem of population growth is really a serious one as the increases in employment 
opportunities and other resources cannot keep up with increase in population. 
 
Composition -  
Gender Wise - The sex composition of India population shows that there are fewer females 
than males. 
Age-Group Wise - Nearly 40 % of India's population consist of those below 15 your of age 
and about 5-6% of 60 years and above.  
This shows that nearly half of India's population is dependent upon those who are earners.  
The dependency of such a large part of the population adversely effects economics and 
social development.  
Saving and investment become almost negligible.  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
b) COMPONENTS OF POPULATION GROWTH:  
- BIRTH 
- DEATH 
- MIGRATION 
 
Components of population growth ->  
a) Demographic ->  
- Natural Growth (Birth rate, Death rate) 
- Artificial (In migration, out migration)  
b) Natural Components ? 
- Soil Fertility 
- Environment 
- Region (Push-Pull Factor) 
c) Socio-Cultural Components –  
- Conscious Restrictions (late marriage because of education, employment, aspirations) 
- Unconscious Restrictions (Incest Taboo, widow Remarriage protest, Taboo on grand 
parents procreating)  
 
Before 1931 both death rates and birth rates are high whereas after this the death rates 
fall sharply . 
 
The principal reasons are :  
1. Increased  level of control over famines and epidemic diseases. The later cause was 
the most important. 
2. Lack of adequate means of transportation and communication. 
3. Amartya sen - famines were not necessarily due to fall in food grains production they 
were also caused by a failure of entitlements or the inability of people to buy or 
otherwise obtain food. (AAA) 
4. Improvements in productivity of Indian agriculture. 
5. Improved means of communication and  
6. More vigorous relief and preventive measures by the state. 
 
Page 3


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Population size - 
India second most populous country. 1.24 billion. ~17% global popln in 2.4% world area. 
Growth rate not always high. 
1901-51 ~ 1.33%pa 
1911-21 = -0.03% (influenza epidemic) 
Substantially rose after British rule ended – 1961-81 = 2.2% 
Since then decreasing. 
(For religious still 2001 census is used) – 
          Hindus – 80.5%.  
          Muslims – 13.4% etc. 
Sex ratio slightly improved. 
Every year a whole Malaysia and Australia is add to India's population.  
 
The problem of population growth is really a serious one as the increases in employment 
opportunities and other resources cannot keep up with increase in population. 
 
Composition -  
Gender Wise - The sex composition of India population shows that there are fewer females 
than males. 
Age-Group Wise - Nearly 40 % of India's population consist of those below 15 your of age 
and about 5-6% of 60 years and above.  
This shows that nearly half of India's population is dependent upon those who are earners.  
The dependency of such a large part of the population adversely effects economics and 
social development.  
Saving and investment become almost negligible.  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
b) COMPONENTS OF POPULATION GROWTH:  
- BIRTH 
- DEATH 
- MIGRATION 
 
Components of population growth ->  
a) Demographic ->  
- Natural Growth (Birth rate, Death rate) 
- Artificial (In migration, out migration)  
b) Natural Components ? 
- Soil Fertility 
- Environment 
- Region (Push-Pull Factor) 
c) Socio-Cultural Components –  
- Conscious Restrictions (late marriage because of education, employment, aspirations) 
- Unconscious Restrictions (Incest Taboo, widow Remarriage protest, Taboo on grand 
parents procreating)  
 
Before 1931 both death rates and birth rates are high whereas after this the death rates 
fall sharply . 
 
The principal reasons are :  
1. Increased  level of control over famines and epidemic diseases. The later cause was 
the most important. 
2. Lack of adequate means of transportation and communication. 
3. Amartya sen - famines were not necessarily due to fall in food grains production they 
were also caused by a failure of entitlements or the inability of people to buy or 
otherwise obtain food. (AAA) 
4. Improvements in productivity of Indian agriculture. 
5. Improved means of communication and  
6. More vigorous relief and preventive measures by the state. 
 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Nevertheless starvation deaths are still reported from some backward region of the 
country.  
The NREGA, FSA are the latest state initiative to tackle the problem of hunger and 
starvation in rural areas.  
Unlike the death rate, the birth rate has not registered a sharp fall.  
This is because -  
1. the birth rate is social cultural phenomenon that is relatively slow to change. 
2. by the large increased level of prosperity exerts a strong downward pull on the birth 
rate. (once infant mortality rates decline and there is an overall increse in level of 
education and awareness family size begins to fall.) 
3. More working hands, because people are agrarian  
4. Less awareness about contraceptives.  
5. High IMR led people to go for high birth rate  
6. Taboo related to sterilization, abortions  
 
There are very wide variations in the fertility rates across the state of India some states like 
kerala and Tamilnadu there fertility rate (TFR) is 2.1 and 1.8 respectively.  
 
This means that the every woman in Tamil Nadu produces only 2.1 children which is the 
'replacement level'. 
 
Some states notably Bihar Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan And Uttar Pradesh which still have 
very high TFR of 3 or more. 
(NFR – only girls born) 
 
  
Page 4


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Population size - 
India second most populous country. 1.24 billion. ~17% global popln in 2.4% world area. 
Growth rate not always high. 
1901-51 ~ 1.33%pa 
1911-21 = -0.03% (influenza epidemic) 
Substantially rose after British rule ended – 1961-81 = 2.2% 
Since then decreasing. 
(For religious still 2001 census is used) – 
          Hindus – 80.5%.  
          Muslims – 13.4% etc. 
Sex ratio slightly improved. 
Every year a whole Malaysia and Australia is add to India's population.  
 
The problem of population growth is really a serious one as the increases in employment 
opportunities and other resources cannot keep up with increase in population. 
 
Composition -  
Gender Wise - The sex composition of India population shows that there are fewer females 
than males. 
Age-Group Wise - Nearly 40 % of India's population consist of those below 15 your of age 
and about 5-6% of 60 years and above.  
This shows that nearly half of India's population is dependent upon those who are earners.  
The dependency of such a large part of the population adversely effects economics and 
social development.  
Saving and investment become almost negligible.  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
b) COMPONENTS OF POPULATION GROWTH:  
- BIRTH 
- DEATH 
- MIGRATION 
 
Components of population growth ->  
a) Demographic ->  
- Natural Growth (Birth rate, Death rate) 
- Artificial (In migration, out migration)  
b) Natural Components ? 
- Soil Fertility 
- Environment 
- Region (Push-Pull Factor) 
c) Socio-Cultural Components –  
- Conscious Restrictions (late marriage because of education, employment, aspirations) 
- Unconscious Restrictions (Incest Taboo, widow Remarriage protest, Taboo on grand 
parents procreating)  
 
Before 1931 both death rates and birth rates are high whereas after this the death rates 
fall sharply . 
 
The principal reasons are :  
1. Increased  level of control over famines and epidemic diseases. The later cause was 
the most important. 
2. Lack of adequate means of transportation and communication. 
3. Amartya sen - famines were not necessarily due to fall in food grains production they 
were also caused by a failure of entitlements or the inability of people to buy or 
otherwise obtain food. (AAA) 
4. Improvements in productivity of Indian agriculture. 
5. Improved means of communication and  
6. More vigorous relief and preventive measures by the state. 
 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Nevertheless starvation deaths are still reported from some backward region of the 
country.  
The NREGA, FSA are the latest state initiative to tackle the problem of hunger and 
starvation in rural areas.  
Unlike the death rate, the birth rate has not registered a sharp fall.  
This is because -  
1. the birth rate is social cultural phenomenon that is relatively slow to change. 
2. by the large increased level of prosperity exerts a strong downward pull on the birth 
rate. (once infant mortality rates decline and there is an overall increse in level of 
education and awareness family size begins to fall.) 
3. More working hands, because people are agrarian  
4. Less awareness about contraceptives.  
5. High IMR led people to go for high birth rate  
6. Taboo related to sterilization, abortions  
 
There are very wide variations in the fertility rates across the state of India some states like 
kerala and Tamilnadu there fertility rate (TFR) is 2.1 and 1.8 respectively.  
 
This means that the every woman in Tamil Nadu produces only 2.1 children which is the 
'replacement level'. 
 
Some states notably Bihar Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan And Uttar Pradesh which still have 
very high TFR of 3 or more. 
(NFR – only girls born) 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
CAUSES OF HIGH BIRTH RATE- 
 
Customs of early marriage: 
o It has been observed that persons who are married at an early age have more 
children.  
o Laws have been made from time to time to stop the practice of child marriage 
it is illegal for a girl to marry before she attains the age of 18 years and for a 
boy the age of 21 year. 
ILLITERACY 
o Education of woman is very important. It has been found that the families of 
illiterate women have more children.  
o Lack of Contraception knowledge 
POVERTY 
o For the poor people more children mean additional hands to earn. These 
children remain illiterate and unskilled labour throughout their life. 
PREFERENCE FOR MALE CHILD: 
o This kind of attitude is found not only in the illiterate family but also among the 
literates. The desire for a male child results in having more children. 
o Rites & rituals in name of male child property intendance. 
 
 
Unmanageable growth in population creates many problems 
• The country cannot provide nutritious food to its people. 
• Space and housing. 
• Unemployment grows  
• Standard of living decline. 
• Slum formation leads to sanitation issues  
• Increase in crime 
 
The problem is more acute in the rural area where the majority of our people live 
 
 
  
Page 5


 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Population size - 
India second most populous country. 1.24 billion. ~17% global popln in 2.4% world area. 
Growth rate not always high. 
1901-51 ~ 1.33%pa 
1911-21 = -0.03% (influenza epidemic) 
Substantially rose after British rule ended – 1961-81 = 2.2% 
Since then decreasing. 
(For religious still 2001 census is used) – 
          Hindus – 80.5%.  
          Muslims – 13.4% etc. 
Sex ratio slightly improved. 
Every year a whole Malaysia and Australia is add to India's population.  
 
The problem of population growth is really a serious one as the increases in employment 
opportunities and other resources cannot keep up with increase in population. 
 
Composition -  
Gender Wise - The sex composition of India population shows that there are fewer females 
than males. 
Age-Group Wise - Nearly 40 % of India's population consist of those below 15 your of age 
and about 5-6% of 60 years and above.  
This shows that nearly half of India's population is dependent upon those who are earners.  
The dependency of such a large part of the population adversely effects economics and 
social development.  
Saving and investment become almost negligible.  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
b) COMPONENTS OF POPULATION GROWTH:  
- BIRTH 
- DEATH 
- MIGRATION 
 
Components of population growth ->  
a) Demographic ->  
- Natural Growth (Birth rate, Death rate) 
- Artificial (In migration, out migration)  
b) Natural Components ? 
- Soil Fertility 
- Environment 
- Region (Push-Pull Factor) 
c) Socio-Cultural Components –  
- Conscious Restrictions (late marriage because of education, employment, aspirations) 
- Unconscious Restrictions (Incest Taboo, widow Remarriage protest, Taboo on grand 
parents procreating)  
 
Before 1931 both death rates and birth rates are high whereas after this the death rates 
fall sharply . 
 
The principal reasons are :  
1. Increased  level of control over famines and epidemic diseases. The later cause was 
the most important. 
2. Lack of adequate means of transportation and communication. 
3. Amartya sen - famines were not necessarily due to fall in food grains production they 
were also caused by a failure of entitlements or the inability of people to buy or 
otherwise obtain food. (AAA) 
4. Improvements in productivity of Indian agriculture. 
5. Improved means of communication and  
6. More vigorous relief and preventive measures by the state. 
 
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
Nevertheless starvation deaths are still reported from some backward region of the 
country.  
The NREGA, FSA are the latest state initiative to tackle the problem of hunger and 
starvation in rural areas.  
Unlike the death rate, the birth rate has not registered a sharp fall.  
This is because -  
1. the birth rate is social cultural phenomenon that is relatively slow to change. 
2. by the large increased level of prosperity exerts a strong downward pull on the birth 
rate. (once infant mortality rates decline and there is an overall increse in level of 
education and awareness family size begins to fall.) 
3. More working hands, because people are agrarian  
4. Less awareness about contraceptives.  
5. High IMR led people to go for high birth rate  
6. Taboo related to sterilization, abortions  
 
There are very wide variations in the fertility rates across the state of India some states like 
kerala and Tamilnadu there fertility rate (TFR) is 2.1 and 1.8 respectively.  
 
This means that the every woman in Tamil Nadu produces only 2.1 children which is the 
'replacement level'. 
 
Some states notably Bihar Madhya Pradesh Rajasthan And Uttar Pradesh which still have 
very high TFR of 3 or more. 
(NFR – only girls born) 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
CAUSES OF HIGH BIRTH RATE- 
 
Customs of early marriage: 
o It has been observed that persons who are married at an early age have more 
children.  
o Laws have been made from time to time to stop the practice of child marriage 
it is illegal for a girl to marry before she attains the age of 18 years and for a 
boy the age of 21 year. 
ILLITERACY 
o Education of woman is very important. It has been found that the families of 
illiterate women have more children.  
o Lack of Contraception knowledge 
POVERTY 
o For the poor people more children mean additional hands to earn. These 
children remain illiterate and unskilled labour throughout their life. 
PREFERENCE FOR MALE CHILD: 
o This kind of attitude is found not only in the illiterate family but also among the 
literates. The desire for a male child results in having more children. 
o Rites & rituals in name of male child property intendance. 
 
 
Unmanageable growth in population creates many problems 
• The country cannot provide nutritious food to its people. 
• Space and housing. 
• Unemployment grows  
• Standard of living decline. 
• Slum formation leads to sanitation issues  
• Increase in crime 
 
The problem is more acute in the rural area where the majority of our people live 
 
 
  
 
www.YouTube.com/SleepyClasses 
Sleepy Classes 
AGE STRUCTURE OF THE INDIAN POPULATION: 
 
Definition- The age structure of the population refers to the proportion of persons in 
different age groups relative to the total population.  
 
The structure changes in response to changes in levels of development and the average life 
expectancy. 
 
Structure of Population is directly proportional to Development which leads to increased 
life–span. 
 
Overall Global Population Growth Model - 
In a country, Initially -  
• Lack of Medical facilities  
• Prevalence of disease and other factors make for a relatively short lifespan.  
• High infant and maternal mortality rates also have an  impact on the age structure. 
 
With development -  
• Quality of life improves and with it the life expectancy also improves. 
• Relatively smaller proportions of the population are found in the younger age groups 
and larger proportions in the older age groups this is also referred to as the ageing of 
the population. 
 
The dependency ratio rises. A rising dependency ratio is a cause for worry in countries that 
are facing an aging population.) 
 
On the other hand, a falling dependency ratio can be a source of economic growth and 
prosperity due to larger portion of workers relative to the non workers.  
 
This is referred to as the demographic dividend. However this benefit is temporary.