Development and Population Growth | Sociology Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

The concepts of progress and development are often used interchangeably to refer to the process of change. Progress is closely related to the idea of development, although the idea of progress has been a subject of controversy. The concept of development, in the context of national growth, is relatively recent and widely accepted. Development is both an economic and social process, involving various interrelated factors that may operate individually or in combination.

• The process of development brings about several changes through these interrelated factors, which may be material, such as an increase in income levels or greater availability of food, or non-material, such as changes in ways of thinking, attitudes towards women's education, and opinions on the caste system. Changes may also occur in social systems, such as improvements in communication systems due to technological innovations. Thus, development is a complex process, and there is no single input-output law governing overall development.
• Development consists of three main components: goals or values, instruments or means, and structures. Many countries have specific development objectives, which may include increasing national per capita income, improving health status, and expanding educational opportunities. When development is not planned, these goals may not be explicitly stated, and the goals of development plans may not accurately reflect popular preferences. Establishing development goals is itself a developmental process.
• The development process involves building up instruments or infrastructure, such as capital, equipment, schools, and hospitals. There is a relationship between the goals and means of development, as factors that are goals in themselves can also become means to achieve them.
• As development occurs, changes may take place, resulting in the achievement of final goals, the growth of industries, and the development of new structures. For example, industrialization may lead to a decrease in agricultural involvement. Development may also bring about other changes, some of which may be undesirable, such as pollution in industrial areas and crime and disorganization in urban areas. These changes are not considered part of development.
• Measuring development is essential for evaluating development projects or programs and for making international comparisons of development levels. The most common means of measuring development is per capita national income (PCNI). However, PCNI has limitations, as it does not measure income distribution within the population and does not reflect gross income disparities. Therefore, PCNI is considered inadequate for measuring social and economic change and must be supplemented by other indicators.
• The United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) has prepared a list of multiple indicators for a more comprehensive analysis of development, consisting of both economic and social indicators. Social and demographic indicators include health and demographic factors, such as infant mortality rate and life expectancy at birth; nutrition factors, such as calorie and protein consumption per capita; education factors, such as literacy rates and secondary enrollment; housing factors, such as average number of persons per room and dwellings with electricity; communication factors, such as newspaper circulation and telephones per capita; transport services, such as railway and motor vehicle usage; agricultural factors, such as agricultural production per male worker; industrial factors, such as electricity and energy consumption per capita; trade factors, such as foreign trade per capita; and general factors.

In conclusion, understanding and measuring development is crucial for determining the progress and effectiveness of development projects and programs. By considering multiple indicators of development, a more accurate and comprehensive assessment of social and economic change can be achieved.

Population and Development: Examining the Relationship
The relationship between population and development can be analyzed from three different perspectives:

• Development is dependent on population: In this case, population is considered the independent variable, while development is the dependent variable. This means that the growth and characteristics of the population directly influence the overall development of a country.
• Population is dependent on development: In this perspective, development is the independent variable, and population is the dependent variable. This implies that the level of economic and social development in a country has a direct impact on the population's growth and characteristics.
• Population and development have a mutual impact: This view suggests that both population and development have a reciprocal cause-and-effect relationship. The population should adapt to the prevailing economic situation, and development should meet the requirements of the population. If development does not keep pace with population growth, it can result in poverty and overpopulation. Therefore, fertility control is essential for economic advancement.
• Economic development can control population growth, and an independent policy of population control in a developing country may not be necessary. Economic development will eventually bring about population control through improvements in living conditions and education. Both population and development have a mutual impact on each other, which is the most realistic approach. The World Population Plan of Action (WPPA) supports this idea of integrating population planning and development planning.
• The relationship between development and population varies widely depending on cultural, religious, and other factors. The demographic transition theory provides an explanation for this relationship. Demographic transition describes the process through which countries move from high birth and death rates to low ones as they undergo modernizing economic and social development.

The interrelationship between population and economic development can be divided into three stages:

• In the first stage, the population remains mostly stagnant, with high birth and death rates. The economy is pre-industrial and agrarian, with a traditional organization. High death rates result from malnutrition, famines, and epidemics, while high birth rates are supported by factors such as illiteracy, early marriage, traditional values, religious beliefs, and demand for family labor. In this stage, the country is economically underdeveloped.
• In the second stage of demographic transition, death rates decline while birth rates remain high. This is due to improvements in nutrition and living conditions. As a result, the net population growth rate increases.
• In the third stage, when a country's economy is fully developed, birth rates decline rapidly, and death rates decline slowly. Birth rates remain slightly higher than death rates, eventually stabilizing at low levels. As economic development continues, population growth rates slow down.

Consequences of Rapid Population Growth

Throughout human history, long-term economic growth has been a relatively recent phenomenon, primarily associated with the industrial revolution. This revolution transformed various economies, leading to changes in manufacturing processes, agriculture, transportation, commerce, banking, and social institutions. These changes, in turn, influenced demographic trends, with a decrease in mortality rates due to improvements in lifestyle, living standards, and environmental conditions. As a result, population growth increased in developed regions, prompting people to resort to abortions, limiting family size, marrying late, and migrating to control population growth. The relationship between population growth and socio-economic development is complex, with different countries experiencing varying outcomes. High rates of population growth are generally considered undesirable for socio-economic development.
Population growth and socio-economic development in India:
India's population problem can be analyzed from the following aspects:

1.  The absolute size of the population
2. The rate of growth of the population
3. Age structure of the population

In 1981, India's population was 68.38 crores, and it has now reached over 100 crores. This large population demands rapid economic development. However, due to the broad base of the population, even a low rate of growth adds a significant number of people each year. The geometric rate of population growth in India during 1971-1981 was 2.24% per year, which, although seemingly low, had a considerable impact on population increase.

The enormous size of India's population and its rapid growth have significant consequences for the country's social and economic progress. The age structure of the population also affects development. A high birth rate and large number of children in the population increase pressure on various services, such as maternal and child health services, nutritional services, primary and secondary school services, etc.
The consequences of rapid population growth in India lead to various problems:

• Development and absorption of human capital become challenging, leading to an increase in illiteracy.
• Utilization of manpower becomes problematic, as better-educated individuals aspire to prestigious jobs while traditional occupations become outdated, leading to unemployment and underemployment.
• Rapid population growth strains available infrastructure and opportunities in education, housing, transportation, and healthcare.
• Pressure on land and other natural resources, such as forests and water, leads to overexploitation, resulting in deforestation and desertification.
• The cost of producing basic necessities of life increases.
• Rapid population growth adversely affects the equitable distribution of income, leading to widening inequalities within the country.

The consequences of rapid population growth in India can be further analyzed by assessing three areas of social life: food and nutrition, educational attainment, and health and medical services.

• Food and Nutrition: Although the green revolution has increased agricultural production, the calorie and protein intake for an average Indian has declined from 1961 to 1971 due to excessive population growth.
• Educational Attainment: Population growth and education are closely related, with the demographic factor playing a significant role in educational planning. Rapidly increasing populations place heavy obstacles in the path of educational planning, making it difficult to achieve targets laid down for elementary education.
• Health and Medical Services: Rapid population growth slows down the growth of per capita income and restricts the growth of gross National Product (GNP) by holding down the rates of savings and capital formation. It also perpetuates disparities in income distribution and leads to an increase in the number of new entrants to the labor force, making it difficult for the country's economy to provide jobs for all. The availability of cheap labor inhibits technological development.

Population Growth in India

• India's population growth has been steadily declining over the years, with a growth rate of 1.63% per year between 2001 and 2011, compared to 1.94% per year during 1991-2001. This decrease in population growth is a significant indicator of the country's population transition, with the net addition to the population falling for the first time in the period 2001-2011.
• Several factors contribute to the population growth in India, such as high birth and death rates, fertility rates, and population density. The percentage decadal growth during 2001-2011 has recorded the sharpest decline since independence. However, the population density of India has increased from 142 persons per sq. km in 1901 to 382 in 2011, which indicates an overall growth in population.
• In terms of age structure, the working population (ages 15-60) is considered crucial for economic development. In India, the percentage of the population in the age group 0-14 years is still high, while the percentage of the population above 60 years is also increasing due to higher life expectancy and a reduction in the death rate.
• The rural-urban differentiation in India's population plays a significant role in the country's development. According to the 2011 census, 30% of the population lived in urban areas, while 70% lived in rural areas. This indicates that India is still primarily an agricultural country, with a low ratio of urban population compared to developed countries like England (80%) and the United States (74%).
• India's literacy rate has also been improving, with an overall literacy rate of 74.04% in 2011, up from 64.88% in 2001. This increase in literacy can be attributed to various public health programs and control of communicable diseases implemented after India's independence.

Conclusion

The relationship between population and development is complex and multifaceted, with various factors influencing each other. India's rapid population growth has significant consequences on its socio-economic development, including education, health, and resource utilization. However, recent trends show a decline in population growth and improvements in literacy rates, indicating progress in addressing these challenges. By understanding and measuring development with multiple indicators, policymakers can better address the interrelated issues of population and development to ensure equitable and sustainable growth for India's future.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) of Population Growth, Development, Policies and Programmes

What is the difference between progress and development?

Progress refers to the process of change, while development is an economic and social process involving various interrelated factors that may operate individually or in combination. Development involves the achievement of specific goals, such as increasing national per capita income, improving health status, and expanding educational opportunities.

What are the main components of development?

Development consists of three main components: goals or values, instruments or means, and structures. Goals include specific development objectives, such as increasing per capita income or improving health status. Instruments refer to the infrastructure and resources needed to achieve these goals, while structures refer to the changes that take place as a result of development.

What are some limitations of using per capita national income (PCNI) as a measure of development?

PCNI does not measure income distribution within the population and does not reflect gross income disparities. Therefore, it is considered inadequate for measuring social and economic change and must be supplemented by other indicators, such as health and demographic factors, nutrition, education, housing, and communication.

What is the demographic transition theory?

The demographic transition theory describes the process through which countries move from high birth and death rates to low ones as they undergo modernizing economic and social development. This transition is typically divided into three stages: pre-industrial, industrializing, and fully developed.

What are some consequences of rapid population growth in India?

The consequences of rapid population growth in India include challenges in developing and absorbing human capital, increased illiteracy, unemployment and underemployment, strained infrastructure and social services, overexploitation of natural resources, increased cost of basic necessities, and widening income inequalities.