Population: Concept | Zoology Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Distribution of Population

1. Regional Variation: India's population distribution is highly uneven, with some states having significantly higher populations than others. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal are among the most populous states.

2. Sparse Population in Some States: Some states, like Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, have relatively small populations despite their large geographical areas. This can be attributed to factors such as difficult terrain, harsh climate, and historical settlement patterns.

3. Relationship with Physical Factors: The distribution of population is closely related to physical factors like topography, climate, and access to water resources. For example, regions like the North Indian Plains, deltas, and coastal areas tend to have higher population densities.

4. Reasons for Population Growth in Sparse Areas: In some areas that were previously sparsely populated, population growth has been facilitated by factors like irrigation development (e.g., Rajasthan), the availability of mineral and energy resources (e.g., Jharkhand), and the development of transport networks (e.g., Peninsular States).

5. Socio-Economic and Historical Factors: Population distribution is also influenced by socio-economic and historical factors. Settlement patterns, agricultural development, transport infrastructure, industrialization, and urbanization have played a role in shaping population distribution.

6. Urbanization: Major urban centers in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and others, have high population concentrations due to industrial development and rural-urban migration. These urban areas offer economic opportunities and draw migrants from rural regions.

7. Population Density: Population density is a key metric for understanding the spatial distribution of population in relation to land. It is often expressed as the number of persons per unit area.

8. Physiological Density: This metric considers the population in relation to the net cultivated area. It helps assess the pressure on agricultural resources.

9. Agricultural Density: This metric focuses on the agricultural population, including cultivators and agricultural laborers, in relation to the net cultivable area. It provides insights into the reliance on agriculture in a region.

Growth of Population

1. Definition of Population Growth: Population growth refers to the change in the number of people living in a particular area over a specific period. This change is typically expressed as a percentage.

2. Components of Population Growth:

   • Natural Growth: This component is assessed by considering the crude birth rate (number of births per 1,000 people) and the crude death rate (number of deaths per 1,000 people). The difference between these rates represents natural population growth.
   • Induced Growth: Induced growth is explained by the volume of inward and outward migration of people in a given area. It includes both international and internal migration.

3. High and Increasing Growth Rates: The decadal and annual growth rates of India's population have been consistently high and steadily increasing over time. As of 2011, India's annual growth rate was 1.64 percent.

4. Four Distinct Phases of Growth:

   • Phase One (1901-1921): This period is characterized as stagnant or stationary growth with a very low growth rate. The birth rate and death rate were both high, resulting in minimal population growth. This was due to poor health and medical services, widespread illiteracy, and inefficient food distribution systems.

   • Phase Two (1921-1951): This was a period of steady population growth. Improved health and sanitation measures led to a decline in the mortality rate. Better transport and communication systems improved food distribution. The crude birth rate remained high, resulting in higher growth compared to the first phase.

   • Phase Three (1951-1981): This period witnessed a population explosion due to a rapid fall in the mortality rate, coupled with a high fertility rate. The average annual growth rate during this phase was as high as 2.2 percent. Centralized planning and developmental activities contributed to a higher natural increase, and international migration also played a role.

   • Phase Four (Post-1981): In this phase, population growth remained high but started slowing down gradually. A declining crude birth rate was responsible for this trend, influenced by factors such as an increase in the mean age at marriage, improved quality of life, and female education. Despite the slowdown, India's population growth rate is still relatively high.

5. Projected Population Growth: India's population is projected to continue growing, with estimates suggesting it could reach 1,350 million by 2025.

Population growth is a complex phenomenon influenced by a multitude of factors, including birth and death rates, migration patterns, and socio-economic development. Understanding these trends and their implications is essential for planning and policymaking in a densely populated country like India.

Regional Variation in Population Growth

• Some Indian states, such as Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, and Goa, experienced low population growth rates during 1991-2001, not exceeding 20 percent.
• Kerala had the lowest growth rate (9.4 percent) in India.
• The growth rates of almost all states and union territories during 2001-2011 were lower compared to the previous decade.
• The growth rates of the six most populous states, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, all decreased during 2001-2011, with the lowest decline in Andhra Pradesh (3.5 percent) and the highest in Maharashtra (6.7 percent).

Adolescent Population

• India's adolescent population, up to the age group of 10-19 years, accounted for approximately 20.9 percent of the population in 2011.
• Male adolescents constituted 52.7 percent, while female adolescents constituted 47.3 percent.
• Adolescents face various challenges, including early marriage, illiteracy, school dropouts, poor nutrition, maternal mortality among young mothers, HIV/AIDS infections, disabilities, drug abuse, alcoholism, and juvenile delinquency.
• Government policies like the National Youth Policy (2014) and the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (2015) aim to address these challenges and provide education and skill development opportunities to adolescents.

Population Composition

• The rural-urban composition of India's population is an important indicator. In 2011, 68.8 percent of the population lived in villages.
• India has 640,867 villages, of which 93.2 percent are inhabited.
• Some states like Bihar and Sikkim have a high percentage of rural population, while Goa and Maharashtra have only a little over half of their population residing in villages.
• Urbanization has been on the rise, with a low degree of urbanization in specific regions like agriculturally stagnant parts of the Ganga Plains and hilly tribal areas.
• The proportion of urban population (31.16 percent) is increasing due to economic development and improved health and hygiene conditions.

Linguistic and Religious Composition

• India has a diverse linguistic landscape with about 22 scheduled languages and numerous non-scheduled languages.
• Hindus are the majority religion, with the highest percentage in many states.
• Muslims form the largest religious minority and are concentrated in specific regions.
• Christians are mostly found in rural areas, while Sikhs are primarily concentrated in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
• Jains, Buddhists, and other religious groups also exist in select areas.

Occupational Trends

• The working population in India is divided into three groups: main workers, marginal workers, and non-workers.
• Around 60 percent of the population is categorized as non-workers, indicating a potential issue of unemployment or underemployment.
• There is a shift from farm-based occupations to non-farm-based ones, leading to a decline in the proportion of agricultural workers.
• Urbanization and industrialization have contributed to this shift.
• The participation rate in the secondary and tertiary sectors has increased.

This information provides insights into India's demographic characteristics, challenges, and the changes in its population composition and distribution over time.