Increasing population ,high industrialisation and developing technology

8 Factors Influencing the Distribution and Density of Population in india
Factors Influencing the Distribution and Density of Population in India are as follows:
One of the most important aspects of India’s population is its uneven distribution. On one hand the population of India is highly concentrated in some pockets such as highly urbanized and industrialised areas and areas of high agricultural productivity, while on the other hand there are virtually demographic deserts in high mountains, arid lands, thickly forested areas and some remote corners of the country.
Such a situation needs some explanation and the explanation is found, to a great extent, by the study of some geographical factors which affect the distribution and density of population in a given area. Besides some social, demographic, political and historical factors play their own role in influencing the distribution and density of population. It may further be emphasised that these factors act in totality and not individually.
While some scholars attach more importance to natural factors, Clarke and Zelinsky are of the view that cultural factors are more prominent in determining the concentration of population in an area. According to Clarke, economic conditions, technological development, social organisation, government policy, etc. play a vital role in the distribution of population. Major factors influencing the distribution and density of population are described as under:
1. Terrain:Terrain of land is a potent factor which influences the concentration and growth of population. Normally speaking, plain areas encourage higher density of population as compared to mountain regions. The steep slope in mountain areas restrict the availability of land for agriculture, development of transport, industries and other economic activities which may tend to discourage concentration of population and its proper growth.
It is because of these adverse circumstances that the Himalayan region, though occupies about 13 per cent of India’s land area, supports only 1-2 per cent of the country’s population. In contrast to this, the Great Plain of North India is a land of extremely gentle slope and offers great opportunities for the growth of agriculture, transport and industries.
This results in higher concentration of population. Although the Great Plain of North India covers less than one fourth of the country’s land area, it is the home to more than half of India’s population.
2. Climate:Climate is as important as terrain in influencing population. Of all the climatic factors, twin elements of rainfall and temperature play the most important role in determining the population of an area. Man cannot go beyond the limits set by climate.
Extremes of climate discourage the concentration of population. Such climates include the too cold climate of Himalayas, and the too hot and dry climate of the Thar Desert. A moderate climate, on the other hand, is favourable for population.
Of the twin factors of rainfall and temperature, rainfall is more effective in determining the distribution of population. It is generally said that the population map of India follows its rainfall map. Rainfall supplies sufficient water for agriculture which is the main occupation of Indian masses.
As we move from the Ganga-Brahmaputra Delta in the east towards the Thar Desert in the west, the amount of rainfall and consequently the density of population decrease. However, there are a few exceptions to this general observation.
The Assam valley in the north-east and the Circars coast on the Bay of Bengal has moderate density of population although these areas receive heavy rainfall. Similarly, southern face of the Himalayas is scarcely populated though this area receives sufficiently high rainfall.
Some of the adverse factors such as steep slope, frequent floods, infertile soils and dense forests counterbalance the positive effect of rainfall. Increased use of irrigation facilities in north-west India comprising Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh has resulted in higher concentration of population than normally expected considering the amount of rainfall received by this region.
Since India is a tropical country, temperature is fairly high and does not play as important a role as is done by rainfall except in extreme cases. On high altitudes, in the Himalayan region, climate is too cold beyond 2,000 m and population is sparse there. There is practically no population in areas over 3,000 m above sea level.
3. Soil:Soil is an important factor in determining the density of population in an overwhelmingly agricultural country like India. Fertile soil supports higher population density while infertile soil leads to low density. In the northern plain of India, the soil is regularly enriched by annual floods of the great rivers like the Indus, the Ganga and the Brahmaputra and their tributaries.
Therefore, this is an area of high population density. The coastal plains also have fertile soils and are areas of high population density. The Black soil of the Deccan Plateau also supports high population density. On the other hand, desert soils, mountain soils, laterite soils are infertile soils and are not capable of supporting high population densities. However, new technology in agricultural field may change the future population scenario to some extent.
4. Water Bodies:Availability of water plays a significant role in determining the population of a given area. Water is the basic necessity for several purposes including irrigation, industries, transport and domestic affairs. Rivers are the greatest source of fresh potable water. Therefore, most of the population is concentrated in the river valleys.
5. Mineral Resources:Minerals act as great source of attraction for people from different areas, which results in higher density of population. The higher population densities in the Chhota Nagpur Plateau of Jharkhand and in the adjoining areas of Orissa are largely due to the availability of minerals.
6. Industries:Industrial growth offers massive employment opportunities and acts as a great magnet to attract people, particularly from the neighbouring areas. This results in higher population density. Industrial areas are almost invariably associated with areas of high population densities.
One hectare of industrial land is capable of supporting several thousand persons, while the most fertile area devoted to agriculture may not support more than a few hundred persons per hectare. One of the major causes of high population density in West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, Maharashtra and Gujarat is the phenomenal growth of industries in these states.
7. Transport:Growth of population is directly proportional to the development of transport facilities. The northern plain of India has a dense network of transport routes and is densely populated region. The peninsular plateau has moderate network of transport route and is moderately populated area. The Himalayan region badly lacks transport facilities and is scarcely populated.

8. Urbanization:Urbanization and population concentration go hand-in-hand and are closely related to each other. All the urban centres are marked by high density of population. The minimum density, that an area should have to be designated as urban, is 400 persons per sq km. The highly urbanized districts of Kolkata, Chennai, Greater Mumbai, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chandigarh have population densities of over 6,000 persons per sq cm