India : Population (Part – I)

11. Match list-I with list-II and select the correct answer using code given below the lists: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

Theories of Population	Propounders of Theories
A. Optimum Population Theory	1. Thompson
B. Social Maladjustment Theory	2. Malthus
C. Demographic Transition Theory	3. Edwin Cannan
D. Population-Food Supply Relationship Theory	4. Henry George

Codes:

	A	B	C	D
(a)	1	2	3	4
(b)	4	3	1	2
(c)	2	3	4	1
(d)	3	4	1	2

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)

Correct Answer: (d)

Solution:The correctly matched lists are as follows:

Theories of Population	Propounders of Theories
A. Optimum Population Theory	Edwin Cannan
B. Social Maladjustment Theory	Henry George
C. Demographic Transition Theory	Thompson
D. Population-Food Supply Relationship Theory	Malthus

12. Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R): [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

Assertion (A): Population control is necessary to maintain the environment of the country.

Reason (R): Due to the rapid increase in population, the environmental balance is maintained.

Select the correct answer using the code given below: 15.

Code:

(a) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not correct explanation of (A)
(b) (A) is false but (R) is true
(c) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is correct explanation of (A)
(d) (A) is true but (R) is false

Correct Answer: (d) (A) is true but (R) is false

Solution:Population control is necessary to maintain the environment of the country because growth in population increases burden on resources such as land, water and food. Hence, Assertion (A) is correct. Due to the rapid increase in population, the environmental balance is not maintained. Hence, Reason (R) is incorrect. Population increase impacts on the environment primarily through the overuse of natural resources and production of wastes and is associated with environmental stresses like biodiversity loss, air and water pollution and increased pressure on arable land. Thus, option (d) is the correct answer.

13. Which one of the following is not a part of the demographic feature of a population? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Density of population
(b) Standard of living
(c) Sex-ratio
(d) Rural-urban population

Correct Answer: (b) Standard of living

Solution:The standard of living is not a part of the demographic characteristics of the population. Demographic characteristics of the population include population density, sex-ratio, rural-urban population, literacy, age structure and life expectancy etc.

Some key factors underlying India's ongoing demographic transition are:

Falling fertility rates: India's total fertility rate has sharply reduced from 5.9 births per woman in 1951 to 2.0 births currently (as per NFHS-5). This is below the replacement level fertility of 2.1 births per woman. Widespread use of modern contraceptives, rising age of marriage and education levels among women has facilitated this decline.
Increasing life expectancy: Better nutrition, healthcare and income levels have increased average life expectancy from 37 years in 1951 to 70 years currently.
Reduced infant and child mortality: Due to improved maternal and child healthcare, India's under-five mortality rate has reduced from 379 deaths per 1000 live births in 1951 to only 35 at present.

14. The highest density of population in India is associated with: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2006]

(a) Industrialized areas
(b) Coastal plains
(c) Low hills
(d) Areas with plain topography, fertile soils and availability of water

Correct Answer: (a) Industrialized areas

Solution:The highest density of population in India is associated with industrialized areas such as Mumbai and Kolkata.

Density of Population

Density of population is a better measure of understanding the variation in the distribution of population
∗ It is expressed as the number of people per unit area
According to the census of 2011, the population density of India is 382 people/square km
The main cause of worry is that the Indian population density has been consistently increasing since 1921.

15. Some of the reasons for couples not willingly going for sterilization, which is a more reliable method for controlling population, are: [Uttarakhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2002]

1. Desire for male children

2. High child mortality rate

3. Lack of understanding

4. Economic compulsions in very poor families

Select the correct answer from the code given below:

(a) 1 and 2
(b) 1, 2 and 3
(c) 2, 3 and 4
(d) All the four

Correct Answer: (d) All the four

Solution:The rapid growth rate of population in India is a problem. Due to criticism of the efforts made by Indira Gandhi government in this direction in the 1970s, no other government has forced for sterlization. Factors of people's reluctance towards sterilization in India are structural with high infant mortality, poverty and economic compulsions, illiteracy, ignorance, desire for boys, religious beliefs, lack of understanding, lack of means of entertainment etc.

16. From which year was regular and scientific Census started in India? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

(a) 1861
(b) 1871
(c) 1881
(d) 1891

Correct Answer: (c) 1881

Solution:A systematic and modern population census, in its present form was conducted non-synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country. The effort culminating in 1872 has been popularly labelled as the first population census of India. However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Since then, regular and scientific censuses have been undertaken once in every ten years. It is to be noted that work of Census 2021 has been delayed due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

17. In which year was the first regular Census held in India? [U.P. P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]

(a) 1921
(b) 1881
(c) 1911
(d) 1931

Correct Answer: (b) 1881

Solution:A systematic and modern population census, in its present form was conducted non-synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country. The effort culminating in 1872 has been popularly labelled as the first population census of India. However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Since then, regular and scientific censuses have been undertaken once in every ten years. It is to be noted that work of Census 2021 has been delayed due to COVID-19 Pandemic.

18. When was the Census work done for first time in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

(a) In the year 1871
(b) In the year 1881
(c) In the year 1850
(d) In the year 1861

Correct Answer: (b) In the year 1881

Solution:A systematic and modern population census, in its present form was conducted non-synchronously between 1865 and 1872 in different parts of the country. The effort culminating in 1872 has been popularly labelled as the first population census of India. However, the first synchronous census in India was held in 1881. Since then, regular and scientific censuses have been undertaken once in every ten years. It is to be noted that work of Census 2021 has been delayed due to COVID-19 Pandemic. UPPSC in its official answer key given the answer (a) i.e. 1871. But according to the official website of Census, the first census can be considered in 1872 (or it can also be assumed 1881).

19. First Census in India was conducted in the year: [M.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1990]

(a) 1872
(b) 1881
(c) 1891
(d) 1894

Correct Answer: (a) 1872

Solution:Under the British rule, the first census of the modern system was held in 1872 during the reign of Lord Mayo. But, the first regular census was held in 1881 during the reign of Lord Ripon.

Population Census is the total process of collecting, compiling, analyzing and disseminating demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specific time, of all persons in a country or a well-defined part of a country.
It also provides the trends in population characteristics.
The Indian Census is one of the largest administrative exercises undertaken in the world.
Nodal Ministry:
The decennial Census is conducted by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Until 1951, the Census Organisation was set up on an ad-hoc basis for each Census.

20. In which year, first Census was introduced in India? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) (Re. Exam) 2022]