Passage Based Questions: Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition | Geography Class 12 - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Passage - 1

Direction: Read the case study given below and answer the questions that follow:

National Youth Policy (NYP–2014)

The National Youth Policy (NYP–2014) launched in February 2014 proposes a holistic ‘vision’ for the youth of India, which is “To empower the youth of the country to achieve their full potential, and through them enable India to find its rightful place in the community of nations.” The NYP–2014 has defined ‘youth’ as persons in the age group of 15–29 years. The Government of India also formulated the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2015 to provide an umbrella framework for all skilling activities being carried out within the country and to align these to common standards and link skill development with demand centers.

Answer Any Three Questions: 

(i) When was the National Youth Policy (NYP) launched?
Ans: The government launched the National Youth Policy (NYP–2014) in February 2014 to address the needs of youth in India.

(ii) What is the primary focus of the National Youth Policy (NYP)?
Ans: The primary focus of the policy is to empower the youth by enabling their effective participation in decision-making processes and equipping them to take on leadership responsibilities.

(iii) According to the NYP, what age group is classified as ‘youth’?
Ans: In the National Youth Policy (NYP–2014), the age group defined as ‘youth’ is 15–29 years.

(iv) When did the Government of India establish the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship?
Ans: The National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship was formulated and approved by the Union Cabinet on 1st July 2015, and it was officially launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister on 15th July 2015, coinciding with World Youth Skills Day.

Passage - 2

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
As far as the physical factors are concerned, it is clear that climate along with terrain and availability of water largely determines the pattern of the population distribution. Consequently, we observe that the North Indian Plains, deltas and Coastal Plains have higher proportion of population than the interior districts of southern and central Indian States, Himalayas, some of the north eastern and the western states. However, development of irrigation (Rajasthan), availability of mineral and energy resources (Jharkhand) and development of transport network (Peninsular States) have resulted in moderate to high concentration of population in areas which were previously very thinly populated.

Q1: What physical factors are identified as significant in determining the pattern of population distribution, according to the passage?
Ans: The physical factors mentioned in the passage that largely determine the pattern of population distribution are climate, terrain, and the availability of water.

Q2: How do these physical factors influence the distribution of population in India, as described in the passage?
Ans:

• The North Indian Plains, deltas, and Coastal Plains are areas with a higher proportion of population due to favorable physical factors such as climate, terrain, and water availability.
• In contrast, the interior districts of southern and central Indian states, Himalayas, some north-eastern regions, and western states have lower population densities due to less favorable physical conditions.

Q3: What other factors have contributed to changes in population distribution in certain regions, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• Development of irrigation in Rajasthan, availability of mineral and energy resources in Jharkhand, and the development of transport networks in Peninsular States have resulted in moderate to high concentration of population in areas that were previously thinly populated.
• These factors indicate how human interventions and economic opportunities can alter the distribution of population in specific regions.

Passage - 3

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The earlier paragraph, is a crude measure of human and land relationship. To get a better insight into the human-land ratio in terms of pressure of population on total cultivable land, the physiological and the agricultural densities should be found out which are significant for a country like India having a large agricultural population.

Q1: Why is the information provided in the earlier paragraph considered a crude measure of human and land relationship, according to the passage?
Ans: The information provided in the earlier paragraph is considered a crude measure of human and land relationship because it only discusses general factors like climate, terrain, and water availability without delving into specific numerical data or densities.

Q2: What approach is suggested for a better understanding of the human-land ratio in terms of population pressure on cultivable land?
Ans:

• To gain a better insight into the human-land ratio, the passage suggests calculating physiological and agricultural densities.
• Physiological density measures the number of people per unit area of arable land, and agricultural density measures the number of farmers per unit area of arable land. These specific densities provide a more accurate understanding of the pressure of population on total cultivable land.

Q3: Why are physiological and agricultural densities significant for a country like India with a large agricultural population?
Ans:

• Physiological and agricultural densities are significant for a country like India because they offer precise metrics for evaluating the relationship between the population and available cultivable land.
• In a country where a large portion of the population is engaged in agriculture, these densities provide valuable information about the intensity of human activity on the agricultural landscape, aiding in more informed policy and resource management decisions.

Passage - 4

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
Growth of population is the change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points of time. Its rate is expressed in percentage. Population growth has two components namely; natural and induced. While the natural growth is analysed by assessing the crude birth and death rates, the induced components are explained by the volume of inward and outward movement of people in any given area. However, in the present chapter, we will only discuss the natural growth of India’s population.

Q1: How is population growth defined in the passage?
Ans:

• Population growth is defined as the change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points in time.
• The rate of population growth is expressed in percentage terms.

Q2: What are the two components of population growth mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The two components of population growth are natural growth and induced growth.
• Natural growth is determined by analyzing crude birth and death rates, while induced growth is explained by the volume of inward and outward movement of people in a specific area.

Q3: What specific aspect of population growth does the passage focus on?
Ans:

• The passage focuses specifically on the natural growth of India’s population.
• While induced growth involves migration patterns, the passage limits its discussion to the natural growth component, which is determined by birth and death rates.

Passage - 5

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of steady population growth. An overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country brought down the mortality rate. At the same time better transport and communication system improved distribution system. The crude birth rate remained high in this period leading to higher growth rate than the previous phase. This is impressive at the backdrop of Great Economic Depression, 1920s and World War II.

Q1: What period is referred to as the period of steady population growth according to the passage?
Ans: The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of steady population growth in the passage.

Q2: What were the factors that contributed to the steady population growth during the period of 1921-1951?
Ans:

• An overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country reduced the mortality rate during this period.
• Better transport and communication systems improved the distribution system, facilitating the movement of goods and services.
• Despite these improvements, the crude birth rate remained high during this period, leading to a higher growth rate compared to the previous phase.

Q3: What challenging global events occurred during this period of steady population growth, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The period of steady population growth (1921-1951) occurred against the backdrop of challenging global events, including the Great Economic Depression of the 1920s and World War II. 
• Despite these challenges, India experienced a consistent increase in its population during these years.

Passage - 6

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
In the post 1981 till present, the growth rate of country’s population though remained high, has started slowing down gradually (Table 1.1). A downward trend of the crude birth rate is held responsible for such a population growth. This was, in turn, affected by an increase in the mean age at marriage, improved quality of life particularly education of females in the country.

Q1: What trend in the population growth rate is observed in India from the post-1981 period till present, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans: The population growth rate in India, though it remained high, has started slowing down gradually from the post-1981 period till the present, according to the passage.

Q2: What factors are mentioned as contributing to the slowing down of the population growth rate during this period?
Ans:

• The slowing down of the population growth rate is attributed to a downward trend in the crude birth rate.
• This decline in birth rate was influenced by an increase in the mean age at marriage and an improved quality of life, especially in terms of the education of females in the country.

Q3: How is the improved quality of life, particularly the education of females, related to the decline in the birth rate, according to the passage?
Ans:

• The improved quality of life, specifically the education of females, is linked to the decline in the birth rate.
• When females have access to education and an enhanced quality of life, it often leads to delayed marriages and family planning, resulting in a lower birth rate, which contributes to the slowing down of the overall population growth rate.

Passage - 7

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The States like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, and Goa show a low rate of growth not exceeding 20 percent over the decade. Kerala registered the lowest growth rate (9.4) not only in this group of states but also in the country as a whole. A continuous belt of states from west to east in the north-west, north, and north central parts of the country has relatively high growth rate than the southern states. It is in this belt comprising Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand, the growth rate on the average remained 20-25 percent.

Q1: Which states in India are mentioned as having a low rate of population growth, not exceeding 20 percent over the decade, according to the passage?
Ans: The states with low rates of population growth, not exceeding 20 percent over the decade, include Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, and Goa.

Q2: Which state is cited as having the lowest growth rate in the mentioned group of states and in the entire country?
Ans: Kerala is mentioned as having the lowest growth rate (9.4 percent) not only among the mentioned states but also in the entire country.

Q3: Which regions in India are noted as having relatively higher population growth rates compared to the southern states, and which states are part of this higher growth rate belt?
Ans:

• A continuous belt of states from west to east in the north-west, north, and north-central parts of the country has relatively higher growth rates than the southern states.
• States in this higher growth rate belt include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand.

Passage - 8

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The Government of India also formulated the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2015 to provide an umbrella framework to all skilling activities being carried out within the country, and to align these to common standards and link skilling with demand centres. It appears from the above discussion that the growth rate of population is widely variant over space and time in the country and also highlights various social problems related to the growth of population. However, in order to have a better insight into the growth pattern of population it is also necessary to look into the social composition of population.

Q1: What was the purpose of formulating the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2015 by the Government of India?
Ans:

• The National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship in 2015 was formulated by the Government of India to provide an umbrella framework for all skilling activities in the country.
• The policy aimed to align these activities to common standards and connect skilling with demand centers, facilitating skill development initiatives across the nation.

Q2: How does the discussion in the passage emphasize the variation in population growth rates and its connection to social problems in India?
Ans:

• The passage highlights that the growth rate of population varies widely over space and time in India, indicating disparities in population growth across regions and periods.
• These variations also underscore various social problems related to population growth, showcasing the complexities associated with demographic changes in the country.

Q3: Why does the passage suggest the need to examine the social composition of the population to understand the growth pattern better?
Ans:

• To have a better insight into the growth pattern of the population, it is necessary to look into the social composition of the population.
• Examining social composition helps in understanding demographic trends, social inequalities, and the impact of various factors on population growth, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics at play in the country's demographic landscape.

Passage - 9

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The Union Territories, on the other hand, have smaller proportion of rural population, except Dadra and Nagar Haveli (53.38 per cent). The size of villages also varies considerably. It is less than 200 persons in the hill states of north-eastern India, Western Rajasthan and Rann of Kuchchh and as high as 17 thousand persons in the states of Kerala and in parts of Maharashtra. A thorough examination of the pattern of distribution of rural population of India reveals that both at intra-State and interState levels, the relative degree of urbanisation and extent of rural-urban migration regulate the concentration of rural population.

Q1: Which Union Territory is mentioned as having a higher proportion of rural population compared to others?
Ans: Dadra and Nagar Haveli is mentioned as the Union Territory having a higher proportion of rural population (53.38 percent) compared to other Union Territories.

Q2: How does the size of villages vary in different regions of India, as stated in the passage?
Ans:

• The size of villages varies considerably in India. It is less than 200 persons in hill states of north-eastern India, Western Rajasthan, and Rann of Kuchchh.
• In contrast, some parts of Kerala and Maharashtra have villages with populations as high as 17 thousand persons.

Q3: What factors regulate the concentration of rural population in India, as per the passage?
Ans:

• The concentration of rural population in India is regulated by the relative degree of urbanization and the extent of rural-urban migration, both at intra-state and inter-state levels.
• These factors influence the distribution patterns of rural population, indicating the impact of urbanization and migration on rural demographics.

Passage - 10

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The spatial distribution of religious communities in the country (Appendix–v) shows that there are certain states and districts having large numerical strength of one religion, while the same may be very negligibly represented in other states. Hindus are distributed as a major group in many states (ranging from 70-90 per cent and above) except the districts of states along IndoBangladesh border, Indo-Pak border, Jammu & Kashmir, Hill States of North-East and in scattered areas of Deccan Plateau and Ganga Plain.

Q1: How does the spatial distribution of religious communities in India vary, according to the passage?
Ans:

• The spatial distribution of religious communities in India shows significant variation. Some states and districts have a large numerical strength of one religion, while the same religion may be negligibly represented in other states.
• Hindus are distributed as a major group in many states, ranging from 70-90 percent and above, except in specific areas such as districts along the Indo-Bangladesh border, Indo-Pak border, Jammu & Kashmir, Hill States of North-East, and scattered areas of the Deccan Plateau and Ganga Plain.

Q2: Which religious group is mentioned as having a major presence in many states in India, and where are the exceptions to this trend?
Ans:

• Hindus are mentioned as having a major presence in many states in India, ranging from 70-90 percent and above.
• The exceptions to this trend are found in districts along the Indo-Bangladesh border, Indo-Pak border, Jammu & Kashmir, Hill States of North-East, and scattered areas of the Deccan Plateau and Ganga Plain, where the Hindu population is not as dominant.

Q3: How are religious communities distributed in specific regions of India, as per the passage?
Ans:

• Certain states and districts have a large numerical strength of one religion, while the same religion may be very negligibly represented in other states.
• This spatial distribution varies significantly, with specific areas showing dominance of particular religious groups and exceptions in regions where these groups are not predominant.

Passage - 11

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The proportion of working population, of the states and Union Territories show a moderate variation from about 39.6 per cent in Goa to about 49.9 per cent in Daman and Diu. The states with larger percentages of workers are Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya. Among the Union Territories, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have higher participation rate. It is understood that, in the context of a country like India, the work participation rate tends to be higher in the areas of lower levels of economic development since number of manual workers are needed to perform the subsistence or near subsistence economic activities.

Q1: What is the range of variation in the proportion of working population among the states and Union Territories mentioned in the passage?
Ans: The proportion of working population among the states and Union Territories shows a moderate variation, ranging from about 39.6 percent in Goa to about 49.9 percent in Daman and Diu.

Q2: Which states are mentioned as having larger percentages of workers according to the passage?
Ans: States with larger percentages of workers include Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya.

Q3: Why does the work participation rate tend to be higher in areas of lower levels of economic development, as per the passage?
Ans:

• In areas with lower levels of economic development, the work participation rate tends to be higher because a significant number of manual workers are needed to perform subsistence or near subsistence economic activities.
• These areas often rely heavily on manual labor for basic economic activities, leading to a higher proportion of the population participating in the workforce.

Passage - 12

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The occupational composition (see box) of India’s population (which actually means engagement of an individual in farming, manufacturing, trade, services or any kind of professional activities) show a large proportion of primary sector workers compared to secondary and tertiary sectors. About 54.6 per cent of total working population are cultivators and agricultural labourers, whereas only 3.8% of workers are engaged in household industries and 41.6 % are other workers including nonhousehold industries, trade, commerce, construction and repair and other services. As far as the occupation of country’s male and female population is concerned, male workers out-number female workers in all the three sectors.

Q1: What does the term "occupational composition" refer to in the context of India's population, according to the passage?
Ans: Occupational composition refers to the engagement of an individual in farming, manufacturing, trade, services, or any kind of professional activities in India's population.

Q2: What is the proportion of workers engaged in the primary sector, secondary sector, and tertiary sector, respectively, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans: About 54.6 percent of the total working population are cultivators and agricultural laborers (primary sector), 3.8 percent are engaged in household industries (secondary sector), and 41.6 percent are other workers, including non-household industries, trade, commerce, construction and repair, and other services (tertiary sector).

Q3: How does the occupational composition differ between male and female workers in India?
Ans:

• Male workers outnumber female workers in all three sectors (primary, secondary, and tertiary) in India.
• The passage indicates that there is a gender disparity in the occupational distribution, with males having a higher representation across various sectors compared to females.

Passage - 13

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
The division of the society into male, female and transgender is believed to be natural and biological. But, in reality, there are social constructs and roles assigned to individuals which are reinforced by social institutions. Consequently, these biological differences become the basis of social differentiations, discriminations and exclusions. The exclusion of over half of the population becomes a serious handicap to any developing and civilised society.

Q1: How does the passage describe the division of society into male, female, and transgender individuals?
Ans: The division of society into male, female, and transgender individuals is believed to be natural and biological, but in reality, these divisions are social constructs reinforced by social institutions.

Q2: According to the passage, what happens due to the social constructs and roles assigned to individuals based on their biological differences?
Ans:

• Social constructs and roles assigned to individuals based on their biological differences become the basis of social differentiations, discriminations, and exclusions.
• These divisions lead to social inequalities and exclusions based on gender, reinforcing discrimination and disparities within society.

Q3: How does the exclusion of a significant portion of the population impact a developing society, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The exclusion of over half of the population, likely referring to women and transgender individuals, becomes a serious handicap to any developing and civilized society.
• This exclusion hampers social progress, limits the potential contributions of a significant portion of the population, and impedes the development of a more equitable and advanced society.

Passage - 14

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
All efforts need to be made to address the denial of opportunities of education, employment, political representation, low wages for similar types of work, disregard to their entitlement to live a dignified life, etc. A society, which fails to acknowledge and take effective measures to remove such discriminations, cannot be treated as a civilised one. The Government of India has duly acknowleged the adverse impacts of these discriminations and launched a nationwide campaign called ‘Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao’.

Q1: What issues related to gender discrimination are highlighted in the passage?
Ans: The passage mentions issues such as denial of opportunities for education, employment, political representation, low wages for similar types of work, and disregard for the entitlement to live a dignified life. These issues point towards gender discrimination.

Q2: What is the significance of the 'Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao' campaign mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The 'Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao' campaign, launched by the Government of India, is a nationwide initiative aimed at addressing and combating gender discrimination.
• It emphasizes the importance of saving and educating the girl child, aiming to raise awareness and bring about positive changes in societal attitudes towards gender equality.

Q3: According to the passage, what does a society need to do to be considered civilized in the context of gender discrimination?
Ans:

• A society needs to acknowledge and take effective measures to remove discriminations related to gender, such as denial of education, employment opportunities, political representation, and fair wages for similar work.
• Failure to address these discriminations indicates a lack of civilization in the society, emphasizing the importance of addressing gender inequalities for a society to be considered civilized.

Passage - 15

Direction: Read the following Passage and Answer the Questions.
It is important to note that the proportion of workers in agricultural sector in India has shown a decline over the last few decades (58.2% in 2001 to 54.6% in 2011). Consequently, the participation rate in secondary and tertiary sector has registered an increase. This indicates a shift of dependence of workers from farmbased occupations to non-farm based ones, indicating a sectoral shift in the economy of the country. The spatial variation of work participation rate in different sectors in the country is very wide. For instance, the states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have very large shares of cultivators.

Q1: How has the proportion of workers in the agricultural sector changed in India over the last few decades, according to the passage?
Ans: The proportion of workers in the agricultural sector in India has declined from 58.2% in 2001 to 54.6% in 2011.

Q2: What is the consequence of the decline in the proportion of agricultural workers in India, as mentioned in the passage?
Ans:

• The decline in the proportion of agricultural workers has led to an increase in the participation rate in the secondary and tertiary sectors.
• This shift indicates a movement of workers from farm-based occupations to non-farm-based ones, representing a sectoral shift in the country's economy.

Q3: How does the passage describe the spatial variation of work participation rate in different sectors in India?
Ans:

• The passage states that the spatial variation of work participation rate in different sectors in India is very wide.
• For example, states like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have very large shares of cultivators, indicating regional disparities in the distribution of labor across sectors.