India : Population (Demography) Part-VII

Total Questions: 47

11. According to the UNICEF report, the highest child mortality rate is in: [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2001]

Correct Answer: (d) Odisha
Solution:According to then UNICEF report, Odisha had the highest child mortality rate (75 per 1000 live births). As per the latest SRS Bulletin (May, 2022), the States with the highest infant mortality rate in the year 2020 are: Madhya Pradesh (43), Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh (38 each), Odisha and Assam (36 each).

12. Assertion (A): According to statistics, more female children are born each year than male children in India. Reason (R): In India, the death rate of a male child is higher than that of the female child. [I.A.S. (Pre) 1999]

Correct Answer: (d) (A) is false, but (R) is true
Solution:It is clear from the Census data of India that more male children are born each year than female children. Again, the infant mortality rate among boys is higher than girls. Hence the Assertion is false, while the Reason is true.

Total Fertility Rate (TFR)

  • Definition: TFR refers to the average number of children a woman is expected to bear during her reproductive years (usually 15-49 years) under current fertility patterns.
  • A TFR above 2.1 indicates population growth, around 2.1 suggests replacement-level fertility, while below 2.1 signals population decline and aging, leading to long-term socio-economic and workforce challenges for a country.
    Replacement Level TFR
  • Definition: Replacement level TFR is the average number of children per woman required to maintain a population at a stable level, without immigration. It is generally considered to be 2.1 for most populations.
  • Significance: Achieving replacement level fertility implies a balance between births and deaths, helping to stabilize the population in the long term.

13. Which Indian State has the highest percentage of children suffering from malnutrition? [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) (Re-Exam) 2013]

Correct Answer: (b) Madhya Pradesh
Solution:According to the assessment of the Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation of the year 2011, Madhya Pradesh had the highest percentage of malnourished children in India. Here 60 percent of children were affected by malnutrition. Apart from this, 56.5 percent children in Jharkhand and 55.9 percent of children in Bihar were malnourished.
  • As per WHO, malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person's intake of energy and nutrients.
  • It is a condition that arises from inadequate intake of vital nutrients essential for optimal health, growth, and development within an individual's diet
  • Wasting: Low weight-for-height is known as wasting. It occurs when a person has not had enough food to eat and/or they have had an infectious disease.
  • Stunting: Low height-for-age is known as stunting. It often occurs due to insufficient calorie intake, leading to a low weight for a given height.
  • Underweight: Children with low weight-for-age are known as underweight. A child who is underweight may be stunted, wasted, or both.
  • Globally in 2022, 149 million children under 5 were estimated to be stunted (too short for age), 45 million were estimated to be wasted (too thin for height), and 37 million were overweight or obese.
  • Nearly half of deaths among children under 5 years of age are linked to undernutrition.
  • 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, while 462 million are underweight.

14. Which of the following ministries/organizations has re- leased 'Youth in India Report, 2022"? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re.Exam) 2022]

Correct Answer: (c) Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI)
Solution:The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) has released 'Youth in India 2022' Report. Citing the findings from the Report of Technical Group on Popula- tion Projections, 2020, constituted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, this report said youth in the age group of 15-29 years comprise 27.2 percent of the population for 2021.

Proportion of youth to the total population had in- creased from 26.6 percent in 1991 to 27.9 percent in 2016 and then projected to start a downward trend and reach 22.7 percent by 2036. On the contrary, the proportion of elderly population to the total population has increased from 6.8% in 1991 to 9.2% in 2016 and is projected to reach 14.9% in 2036.

The states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which experienced a rise in proportion of youth population to total population till 2021, are expected to see a decline from hereon.

15. The Census Projection Report shows that India is one of the youngest nation in the world. In year 2020, the aver- age age of Indians will be of: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) 29 years
Solution:In the Economic Survey 2013-14, it was estimated that the average age of Indian population in the year 2020 would be 29 years. As per the National Health Profile, 2022 the median age in India is estimated at 28.4 in 2021 and 30.27 in 2026.

India's population stands at 1.412 billion in 2022 and is projected to have a population of 1.668 billion in 2050, 68% of India's population is between 15-64 years old in 2022, while people aged 65 and above comprise % of the population.
Social Factors for the Population Growth of India

  • High fertility: The accessibility of contraceptives is still relatively more difficult in remote rural and tribal areas.
  • Low mortality: A decrease in the death rate as well as infant mortality rate due to improved healthcare facilities is one of the major causes of population growth.
  • Early marriage of girls: According to NFHS-5, 23.3% of women surveyed got married before attaining the legal age of 18 years.
  • Son preference: As per the Economic Survey 2018, India's meta-preference for sons led to 21 million unwanted girls. The adverse sex ratio of females to males has led to 63 million 'missing women'
  • Poverty and educational backwardness: The families living in poverty are those having the most children because they are
    consistently trapped in poverty from generation to generation with little opportunity.
  • Religious beliefs: Where some communities believe that children are gifts of god.

16. According to the 1991 Census, the highest percentage of population in India is to be found in the age-group of: [I.A.S. (Pre) 1995]

Correct Answer: (d) 5 to 14 years
Solution:As per the question period, option (d) was the correct answer. Whereas, according to NFHS-5 (2019-21) data, the percentage of population in the age group of 0-14 years (un- der 15 years), 15-59 years and 60 years and older are 27%, 61% and 12%, respectively.

India's population stands at 1.412 billion in 2022 and is projected to have a population of 1.668 billion in 2050, 68% of India's population is between 15-64 years old in 2022, while people aged 65 and above comprise % of the population.
Social Factors for the Population Growth of India

  • High fertility: The accessibility of contraceptives is still relatively more difficult in remote rural and tribal areas.
  • Low mortality: A decrease in the death rate as well as infant mortality rate due to improved healthcare facilities is one of the major causes of population growth.
  • Early marriage of girls: According to NFHS-5, 23.3% of women surveyed got married before attaining the legal age of 18 years.
  • Son preference: As per the Economic Survey 2018, India's meta-preference for sons led to 21 million unwanted girls. The adverse sex ratio of females to males has led to 63 million 'missing women'
  • Poverty and educational backwardness: The families living in poverty are those having the most children because they are
    consistently trapped in poverty from generation to generation with little opportunity.
  • Religious beliefs: Where some communities believe that children are gifts of god.

17. According to Census 2011, what percentage of total population in India is under 14 years? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]

Correct Answer: (a) 29%
Solution:According to the final figures of Census 2011, the total population of India is 1210854977, in which the total population of 0-13 years age group is 347185947. Therefore, the population under 14 years (0-13 years) in India is about 29 percent (28.67) of the total population.

Salient Features of India's Population
With a population of over 1.42 billion, India is the most populous country in the world. Following are the key characteristics of the population of India.

  • Stage of demographic transition: India is currently in the second stage, characterised by a high population growth rate due to the combination of high birth rates and declining death rates
  • High population density: India's population density is high and rapidly rising, currently standing at around 464 people per square kilometre.
  • Skewed Sex Ratio: India has a skewed sex ratio, with a preference for male children leading to a higher number of males than females. This has led to an unfavourable sex ratio at birth for children of 931 as per NFHS.-5
  • Youngest Population: India has a relatively young population with 68% of India's population being between 15-64 years old in 2022.
  • Skewed Population across the states: India's population is not evenly distributed across the country, with large variations among states. Some states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have a much higher population and density than others, like Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

18. The percentage of the population in the age group 20 years and above out of the total population of India as per 2011 Census is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2016]

Correct Answer: (a) 59.29%
Solution:As per Census 2011, the percentage of people aged 20 years and above is about 59.29 percent of the total population of India.

Salient Features of India's Population
With a population of over 1.42 billion, India is the most populous country in the world. Following are the key characteristics of the population of India.

  • Stage of demographic transition: India is currently in the second stage, characterised by a high population growth rate due to the combination of high birth rates and declining death rates
  • High population density: India's population density is high and rapidly rising, currently standing at around 464 people per square kilometre.
  • Skewed Sex Ratio: India has a skewed sex ratio, with a preference for male children leading to a higher number of males than females. This has led to an unfavourable sex ratio at birth for children of 931 as per NFHS.-5
  • Youngest Population: India has a relatively young population with 68% of India's population being between 15-64 years old in 2022.
  • Skewed Population across the states: India's population is not evenly distributed across the country, with large variations among states. Some states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have a much higher population and density than others, like Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

19. According to the provisional figures of Census 2011, what percentage of population is below the age of 35 years in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]

Correct Answer: (c) 65%
Solution:As per provisional figures of Census 2011, 65 percent of India's population was under 35 years of age (0-34 years). According to final figures of Census 2011, the population below 35 years of age is 65.6 percent of the total population.

Salient Features of India's Population
With a population of over 1.42 billion, India is the most populous country in the world. Following are the key characteristics of the population of India.

  • Stage of demographic transition: India is currently in the second stage, characterised by a high population growth rate due to the combination of high birth rates and declining death rates
  • High population density: India's population density is high and rapidly rising, currently standing at around 464 people per square kilometre.
  • Skewed Sex Ratio: India has a skewed sex ratio, with a preference for male children leading to a higher number of males than females. This has led to an unfavourable sex ratio at birth for children of 931 as per NFHS.-5
  • Youngest Population: India has a relatively young population with 68% of India's population being between 15-64 years old in 2022.
  • Skewed Population across the states: India's population is not evenly distributed across the country, with large variations among states. Some states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have a much higher population and density than others, like Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.

20. The old age dependency ratio in India (2011) is: [U.P.P.C.S (Mains) 2016]

Correct Answer: (c) 14.28
Solution:The approximate percentage of persons over 65 years of age in India's population was about 5% in the year 2005. As per Census 2011, 65 plus age group population in the total population is about 4.8 percent.

Salient Features of India's Population
With a population of over 1.42 billion, India is the most populous country in the world. Following are the key characteristics of the population of India.

  • Stage of demographic transition: India is currently in the second stage, characterised by a high population growth rate due to the combination of high birth rates and declining death rates
  • High population density: India's population density is high and rapidly rising, currently standing at around 464 people per square kilometre.
  • Skewed Sex Ratio: India has a skewed sex ratio, with a preference for male children leading to a higher number of males than females. This has led to an unfavourable sex ratio at birth for children of 931 as per NFHS.-5
  • Youngest Population: India has a relatively young population with 68% of India's population being between 15-64 years old in 2022.
  • Skewed Population across the states: India's population is not evenly distributed across the country, with large variations among states. Some states, like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, have a much higher population and density than others, like Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh.