Class 9 Social Science Notes Chapter 6 (Population) – Contemporary India Book
Alright class, let's focus on Chapter 6, 'Population,' from your Contemporary India textbook. This is a crucial chapter, not just for your exams but also for understanding the human dimension of our country's geography and development. For government exam preparation, understanding population dynamics is absolutely essential as it impacts policy-making, resource allocation, and socio-economic planning.
Here are the detailed notes covering the key aspects:
Chapter 6: Population - Detailed Notes for Exam Preparation
1. Introduction: Why Study Population?
- People as Resources: Humans are the most important resource. They utilize other resources and create social and cultural environments.
- People as Producers & Consumers: Population creates demand (consumers) and also fulfills it through production (producers).
- Point of Reference: All other elements (resources, calamities, disasters) are significant only in relation to humans.
- Census: The official enumeration of population done periodically. In India, the first census was held in 1872, but the first complete census was conducted in 1881. Since then, censuses have been held regularly every tenth year. It's the most comprehensive source of demographic, social, and economic data.
2. Three Major Questions About Population:
- (i) Population Size and Distribution: How many people are there and where are they located?
- (ii) Population Growth and Processes of Population Change: How has the population grown and changed through time?
- (iii) Characteristics or Qualities of the Population: What are their age, sex composition, literacy levels, occupational structure, and health conditions?
3. Population Size and Distribution (India)
- Size: As per the March 2011 Census, India's population stood at 1,210.6 million, accounting for 17.5% of the world's population.
- Area: India's landmass is 3.28 million sq km, which is 2.4% of the world's total area.
- Uneven Distribution:
- India's population is very unevenly distributed.
- Highly Populated States: Uttar Pradesh (highest population), Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh. Almost half of India's population lives in just these five states.
- Sparsely Populated Areas: States like Sikkim (lowest population among states), Arunachal Pradesh, and mountainous regions like Jammu & Kashmir (pre-reorganisation), Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand have low populations.
- Factors Influencing Distribution:
- Physical Factors:
- Terrain: Plains (Northern Plains, coastal plains) are densely populated due to fertile land suitable for agriculture, infrastructure development. Mountains and arid regions are sparsely populated.
- Climate: Areas with moderate climate attract more population than areas with extreme hot/cold or very heavy rainfall.
- Soil: Fertile soils support agriculture and hence higher population density.
- Socio-Economic & Historical Factors:
- Availability of Water: River valleys are densely populated.
- Mineral Deposits: Areas rich in minerals attract industries and people (e.g., Chotanagpur plateau).
- Urbanisation: Cities offer better employment, education, health facilities, attracting large populations.
- Industrialisation: Industrial belts provide job opportunities, leading to high population concentration.
- Transport Network: Areas with good transport connectivity tend to be more populated.
- Physical Factors:
- Population Density:
- Definition: Number of persons per unit area (usually per sq km).
- India's Density (2011): 382 persons per sq km. (This figure is important!)
- Variations: Ranges from 1,102 persons per sq km in Bihar (highest) to only 17 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh (lowest).
- Reasons for Variation: Primarily due to relief (terrain) and climate. (e.g., Assam and most Peninsular states have moderate density due to hilly/rocky terrain, moderate rainfall, less fertile soil compared to Northern Plains).
4. Population Growth and Processes of Population Change
- Population Growth: Change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during a specific period, say the last 10 years.
- Absolute Increase: The absolute number added each decade. Calculated by subtracting the earlier population (e.g., 2001) from the later population (e.g., 2011).
- Annual Growth Rate: The pace or rate of increase, expressed in percent per annum. (e.g., a rate of 2% means an increase of 2 persons for every 100 persons in the base population).
- Trend in India's Growth:
- India's population has been steadily increasing.
- However, the rate of growth started declining gradually since 1981. This indicates that although the population is still growing, it's growing at a slower pace.
- Despite the decline in growth rate, the absolute increase continues to be high because when a low rate is applied to a very large base population (like India's), it leads to a large absolute addition.
- Processes of Population Change: Three main processes:
- (a) Birth Rate (BR): Number of live births per thousand persons in a year. High birth rates have been a major cause of India's population growth.
- (b) Death Rate (DR): Number of deaths per thousand persons in a year. Rapid decline in death rates (due to better health, sanitation, disease control) is the main reason for India's high population growth, especially post-independence.
- (c) Migration: Movement of people across regions and territories.
- Internal Migration: Within the country (e.g., rural to urban). Does not change the size of the national population but influences its distribution. Rural-to-urban migration is significant in India, driven by poverty/unemployment in rural areas (push factors) and better opportunities in cities (pull factors).
- International Migration: Between countries. Affects both size and composition (less significant for India's overall size compared to BR/DR).
5. Characteristics or Qualities of the Population
- (a) Age Composition: Refers to the number of people in different age groups. Crucial for planning.
- Children (Generally below 15 years): Economically unproductive (dependents), need food, clothing, education, healthcare.
- Working Age (Generally 15-59 years): Economically productive, biologically reproductive. Form the bulk of the workforce. India has a high proportion in this group (demographic dividend potential).
- Aged (Generally Above 59 years): Can be economically productive (may work voluntarily) but often retired (dependents). Need healthcare and support.
- (b) Sex Ratio:
- Definition: Number of females per 1000 males in the population.
- Importance: Important social indicator of equality between males and females.
- India's Sex Ratio (2011): 943 females per 1000 males. (Historically unfavourable to females).
- Variations: Kerala has a favourable sex ratio (1084), while Haryana (879) and Delhi (868) have very low ratios (as per 2011 Census).
- Reasons for Low Sex Ratio: Social factors like preference for male child, female foeticide, neglect of girl child, higher mortality rates among females.
- (c) Literacy Rate:
- Definition (Census 2011): A person aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding in any language is treated as literate.
- Importance: Indicator of socio-economic development.
- India's Literacy Rate (2011): 73%.
- Gender Gap: Male literacy (80.9%) is higher than female literacy (64.6%). Efforts are ongoing to bridge this gap.
- (d) Occupational Structure:
- Definition: Distribution of the population according to different types of occupations.
- Classification:
- Primary Activities: Agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishing, mining, quarrying.
- Secondary Activities: Manufacturing industry, building and construction work.
- Tertiary Activities: Transport, communications, commerce, administration, and other services.
- India's Structure: A large proportion (around 64% historically, though declining) engaged in primary activities. Developed nations have a higher proportion in secondary and tertiary sectors.
- Trend: Shift from primary to secondary and tertiary sectors due to industrialization and urbanization, indicating economic development.
- (e) Health:
- Importance: Affects the process of development. A healthy population is more productive.
- Improvements: Significant improvement due to government efforts - death rates declined, life expectancy increased.
- Challenges: Malnutrition (especially among children and women), access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation remain concerns for a large part of the population.
- (f) Adolescent Population:
- Age Group: Generally 10 to 19 years. Constitute about one-fifth of India's population.
- Importance: Future resource of the country.
- Needs: Higher nutritional requirements. Vulnerable group needing awareness regarding issues like early marriage, anaemia, education, legal rights. Policies need to focus on their specific needs.
6. National Population Policy (NPP) 2000
- Aim: Provides a policy framework for improving quality of life and achieving sustainable development.
- Key Objectives/Features:
- Imparting free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age.
- Reducing infant mortality rate (IMR) to below 30 per 1000 live births.
- Achieving universal immunization of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Promoting delayed marriage for girls.
- Making family welfare a people-centered program.
- Focus on adolescent health, nutrition, and protection from unwanted pregnancies and STDs.
- Promoting smaller family norms on a voluntary basis.
Conclusion: Population is the central element in social studies. Understanding its size, distribution, growth, and characteristics is vital for comprehending India's challenges and potential. A healthy, educated, and skilled population is the nation's greatest asset.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) for Practice:
-
According to the Census of India 2011, what percentage of the world's population resides in India?
a) 15.5%
b) 17.5%
c) 20.0%
d) 2.4% -
Which of the following factors is considered a 'pull' factor for migration?
a) Poverty in the place of origin
b) Lack of employment opportunities in the place of origin
c) Better job prospects in the destination
d) Natural disasters in the place of origin -
What is the term for the number of live births per thousand persons in a year?
a) Death Rate
b) Growth Rate
c) Birth Rate
d) Migration Rate -
As per the Census 2011, which Indian state has the highest population density?
a) West Bengal
b) Uttar Pradesh
c) Kerala
d) Bihar -
The National Population Policy (NPP) was implemented by the Government of India in which year?
a) 1991
b) 2000
c) 2005
d) 2011 -
Which age group is generally considered the 'working population' in India?
a) 0-14 years
b) 15-59 years
c) 60 years and above
d) 10-19 years -
What does 'Sex Ratio' measure?
a) Number of males per 1000 females
b) Number of females per 1000 males
c) Number of children per 1000 adults
d) Ratio of literate females to literate males -
Which of the following is classified as a Primary Activity in occupational structure?
a) Banking
b) Manufacturing
c) Fishing
d) Transportation -
What was India's overall literacy rate as per the 2011 Census?
a) 64.6%
b) 73.0%
c) 80.9%
d) 94.3% -
What is the main reason for the rapid increase in India's population growth rate after independence, despite a high birth rate?
a) Increase in migration into India
b) Rapid decline in the death rate
c) Significant increase in the birth rate
d) Government policies encouraging larger families
Answer Key:
- b) 17.5%
- c) Better job prospects in the destination
- c) Birth Rate
- d) Bihar
- b) 2000
- b) 15-59 years
- b) Number of females per 1000 males
- c) Fishing
- b) 73.0%
- b) Rapid decline in the death rate
Study these notes carefully. Remember the definitions, key figures (like density, sex ratio, literacy rate), and the factors influencing population dynamics. Good luck with your preparation!