India : Population (Part – VII)

Total Questions: 47

1. What does infant mortality rate refer to? [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2015]

(a) The ratio of number of children who die before their fifth birthday out of every 1000 live births
(b) The ratio of number of children who die before their first birthday out of every 1000 live births
(c) The ratio of number of children who die before their fifth birthday out of every 100 live births
(d) The ratio of number of children who die before their first birthday out of every 100 live births

Correct Answer: (b) The ratio of number of children who die before their first birthday out of every 1000 live births

Solution:The Infant Mortality Rate (IMR), which is widely accepted as a crude indicator of the overall health scenario of a country or a region, is defined as the infant deaths (less than one year) per thousand (1000) live births in a given time period (generally during a year) and for a given region. Hence, both of the given statements are incorrect.

2. Consider the following statements about infant mortality rate: [B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2023]

1. It is the probability of dying between birth and exactly 1 year of age, expressed per 10000 live births.

2. The infant mortality rate in the year 1950 was 189.6.

3. In the year 2019, the infant mortaility rate was 30.

4. As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletin of Registrar General of India (RGI), the State with the highest infant mortality rate in the year 2019 was Uttar Pradesh.

Which of the above statements are correct?

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

Correct Answer: (c) 2 and 3

Solution:Infant mortality rate is the probability of dying between birth and exactly 1 year of age, expressed per 1000 (not 10000) live births. Hence, statement 1 is incorrect.

The infant mortality rate in India (as per the World Bank data) in the year 1950 was 189.6. Hence, statement 2 is correct. BPSC has also accepted this statement correct in its final answer key. However, as per the data of Central Bureau of Health Intelligence, Government of India, average infant mortality rate during the period 1946-1950 was 134, while it was at 146 during the period 1951-1961.

As per the Sample Registration System (SRS) Bulletins, the infant mortality rate in India was 30 in 2019, while it was at 28 in 2020. Hence, statement 3 is correct. As per the SRS bulletins, the State with the highest infant mortality rate in 2019 was Madhya Pradesh (46), while in 2020 it was again highest in Madhya Pradesh (43). Hence, statement 4 is incorrect.

3. Under the Civil Registration System (CRS), it is legally mandatory to register birth and death events within how many days in India? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

(a) 15 days
(b) 21 days
(c) 26 days
(d) 30 days

Correct Answer: (b) 21 days

Solution:Post-independence, the Registration of Births and Deaths Act (RBD Act) was enacted in 1969 to promote uniformity and comparability in the registration of births and deaths across the country and compilation of vital statistics based thereon. In India it is mandatory under the aforesaid Act to register every birth/still birth and death with the concerned State/UT Government within 21 days of its occurrence. Reporting of birth/death for registration after 21 days of occurrence comes under the category of delayed registration.

4. Which of the following States has started the death Census? [U.P.U.D.A./L.D.A. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Karnataka
(b) Kerala
(c) Andhra Pradesh
(d) Himachal Pradesh

Correct Answer: (a) Karnataka

Solution:Karnataka was the first State in India, which started the death census.

5. Infant mortality rate in India at present is nearly: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2000]

(a) 120 per thousand
(b) 100 per thousand
(c) 70 per thousand
(d) 30 per thousand

Correct Answer: (c) 70 per thousand

Solution:As per the question period option (c) was the correct answer. According to the latest (May, 2022) available data of the Sample Registration System (SRS), India's infant mortality rate (IMR) has decreased to 28 per thousand live births in the year 2020 from 30 in the year 2019.

6. According to the Census 2011, which of the following States had the lowest infant mortality rate? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Punjab
(c) Kerala
(d) Karnataka

Correct Answer: (c) Kerala

Solution:As per Census 2011, Infant Mortality Rate in India was 44 per thousand live births. The lowest infant mortality rate was in Goa and Manipur (11 each) among the States, while Kerala's infant mortality rate was recorded 12 per thousand live births. The States with the highest infant mortality rate were Madhya Pradesh (59), Uttar Pradesh (57) and Odisha (57). As per SRS bulletin released in May 2022, India's infant mortality rate is 28 per thousand live births in the year 2020. The highest infant mortality is recorded in Madhya Pradesh (43). While, the lowest infant mortality rate is recorded in Mizoram (3). Infant mortality rate in the given States are:

State	Infant Mortality Rate (2020)
Tamil Nadu	13
Punjab	18
Kerala	6
Karnataka	19

7. According to the 2001 Census, which State of India has the lowest child mortality rate? [U.P.R.O./A.R.O. (Mains) 2014]

(a) Goa
(b) Kerala
(c) Maharashtra
(d) Tamil Nadu

Correct Answer: (b) Kerala

Solution:As per Census 2001, the child mortality rate in Kerala was 16 per thousand, while the child mortality rates in Goa, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu were 36, 49 and 53 per thou- sand respectively. According to the Census 2001, Infants mortality rate in India was 71 per thousand. As per Census 2011, the infant mortality rate was 44 per thousand live births in the country. The States with the lowest infant mortality in the country were Goa and Manipur (11 per thousand in each State). The State with the highest infant mortality rate was Madhya Pradesh (59 per thousand). After this, infant mortality was highest in Uttar Pradesh and Odisha (57 per thou- sand each).

8. The lowest infant mortality in urban areas of India is found in: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2005]

(a) Kerala
(b) Maharashtra
(c) Tamil Nadu
(d) Gujarat

Correct Answer: (a) Kerala

Solution:As per the question period, Kerala had the lowest infant mortality rate in urban areas among the given options. As per May, 2022 SRS data, Urban Infant Mortality Rate in Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat are 9, 11, 10 and 17 per thousand live births, respectively.

9. Which of the following States had less Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) than All India Average IMR in 2011? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2013]

(a) Tamil Nadu
(b) Uttar Pradesh
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Madhya Pradesh

Correct Answer: (a) Tamil Nadu

Solution:As per data of 2016 and 2020, the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) per thousand live births in the given States are as follows:

State	IMR2016	IMR 2020
Tamil Nadu	17	13
Rajasthan	41	32
Uttar Pradesh	43	38
Madhya Pradesh	47	43
All India	34	28

Hence option (a) is the correct answer.

10. The target to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) during Eleventh Plan period was kept at: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2017]

(a) 27 per 1000 live births
(b) 28 per 1000 live births
(c) 29 per 1000 live births
(d) 30 per 1000 live births

Correct Answer: (b) 28 per 1000 live births

Solution:

The target to reduce Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) during 11th Five-Year Plan period (2007-2012) was kept at 28 per 1000 live births by 2012. The 12th Five Year Plan (2012-17) had a target to reduce IMR to 25 per 1000 live births. As per SRS data released in May 2022, the IMR is still at the level of 28 per 1000 live births in 2020, which shows that we have failed to achieve the above mentioned Plan targets. However, in the last ten years, IMR has witnessed a decline of about 40.4% at all India level. IMR at all India level has declined from 47 to 28 in the last decade (2010-2020). The corresponding decline in rural areas is 51 to 31, and for urban areas it is from 31 to 19.

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