Important Questions & Answers: Demographic Structure & Indian Society - 1

Very Short Answer Type Question

Q.1. What is the population structure?

The population structure (also called demographic structure) refers to the composition of the population, particularly its age structure (proportion of persons in different age groups), sex ratio, and rural-urban distribution. The textbook focuses on how the share of 0-14, 15-59, and 60+ age groups is changing, along with declining sex ratio and high rural population (68.8% in 2011).

Q.2. What is the literal meaning of the term 'Demography'?

The term 'Demography' is of Greek origin and is composed of the two words 'demos' (people) and 'graphein' (describe), implying the description of people.

Q.3. What is life expectancy?

Life expectancy is the average number of years a person is expected to live from birth, based on current mortality rates. It is a widely used indicator of the overall health and living conditions in a society.

Q.4. What is meant by the growth rate of the population?

Population growth rate is the rate at which the size of a population increases over a period. It takes into account the difference between birth and death rates and net migration (immigration minus emigration) to show how rapidly the population is changing.

Q.5. What is meant by a population explosion?

A population explosion describes a very rapid increase in population over a short period. Such rapid growth can put pressure on food supplies, housing, health care, education and other services. India has experienced phases of rapid population growth, which pose social and economic challenges.

Q.6. What is Family Planning?

Family Planning refers to the conscious effort by individuals or couples to control the number and spacing of their children through birth control methods. In India, it was promoted through the National Family Planning Programme, which was later renamed the National Family Welfare Programme after the Emergency (1975-76).

Q.7. Give two methods of population control given by Malthus.

• Malthus suggested preventive checks such as postponing marriage, practising sexual restraint or celibacy. These measures reduce the number of births.
• He also mentioned positive checks in the form of famines, epidemics and wars which increase the death rate. According to him, such events check population growth by raising mortality.

Q.8. What do you know about the population theory of Malthus?

Malthus argued that population tends to increase faster than the means of subsistence. He claimed food production grows in an arithmetic progression (for example, 2, 4, 6, 8) while population grows in a geometric progression (for example, 2, 4, 8, 16). As a result, population can outstrip available food supply unless checked by preventive or positive factors.

Q.9. What do you know about the Demographic Transition theory of population?

The Demographic Transition theory, based on historical experience of societies, explains population change in stages. At first, both birth and death rates are high. With development, death rates fall (due to better health, sanitation and nutrition) while birth rates remain high for some time, causing a rapid rise in population. Later, birth rates also decline and population growth slows down and eventually stabilises.

Q.10. How can the birth rate be reduced?

The birth rate declines with overall socio-economic development. Important factors are:

• Increased prosperity and standard of living
• Decline in infant mortality rate
• Rise in levels of education and awareness
• Change in people's reproductive behaviour (which takes longer to adjust)

Q.11. Give the main features of the National Population Policy.

• Reduce Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 2.1 by 2025
• Reduce Under Five Mortality to 23 by 2025
• Reduce Maternal Mortality Rate to 100 by 2020
• Increase Life Expectancy at birth to 70 by 2025
• Achieve more than 90% family planning need fulfilment and skilled birth attendance
• Reduce stunting in under-five children by 40% by 2025

Q.12. Give the literal meaning of Demography.

Demography is the systematic study of human populations. The word comes from the Greek words demos (people) and graphy (writing or description), so demography literally means the description of people.

Q.13. When was the first and the last census survey carried out in India?

The first official census exercise in India took place in 1872 as a headcount; the first complete decennial census was held in 1881. Since then, a census has been conducted every ten years. The most recent census completed in India was in 2011.

Q.14. What is a Dependent population?

The dependent population comprises those who depend economically on others for food, shelter and care. In India this usually refers to children (age 0-14 years) and the elderly (60 years and above).

Q.15. Give some features of cities.

• Division of labour is widespread, with specialised occupations.
• Social relations tend to be more formal and impersonal.
• Cities contain more industries and service activities.
• There is less dependence on agriculture for livelihood.

Q.16. What is Town?

A town is an urban settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. According to census criteria, a place may be classified as a town if it has a population of at least 5,000, a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometre and at least 75% of the male working population engaged in non-agricultural activities.

Q.17. What is the modern village?

A modern village is one in which scientific methods and technology influence agriculture and everyday life, where production is more market-oriented, and where traditional bonds of cooperation and some customary values may weaken as people adopt new ideas and practices.

Q.18. Give three differences between village and city.

The population is smaller in villages and larger in cities.
Basic medical and educational services are limited in villages but more widely available in cities.
Most rural people engage in agricultural work, while most urban people are employed in non-agricultural occupations.

Q.19. Why are rural people moving towards urban areas?

Rural people migrate to urban areas because:

• There are limited employment opportunities in villages
• Common property resources (ponds, forests, grazing lands) have declined or been exhausted
• They now have to buy many things (fuel, fodder, supplementary food) that were earlier available free
• Cities offer relative anonymity and some protection from caste-based discrimination (especially for Scheduled Castes and Tribes)

Q.20. Tell us something about the literacy rate in India.

As per the 2011 Census:

• Literacy rate: 73.0%
• Male literacy: 80.9%
• Female literacy: 64.6%
• Male-Female gap: 16.3 percentage points