India : Population (Part – VII)

Total Questions: 47

21. The old age dependency ratio in India (2011) is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2012]

(a) 14.0%
(b) 14.1%
(c) 14.2%
(d) 14.3%

Correct Answer: (c) 14.2%

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.

How do Countries Respond to Ageing Population?

China's Three-Child Policy: In 2016, China moved to allow its citizens to have two children and in 2021, China announced that families are permitted to have three children.
From 1980 to 2016, China imposed a one-child policy, which slowed population growth.
Japan's Parental Leave: It includes mandating twelve-month parental leave, offering direct financial aid to parents, and investing heavily in subsidised childcare.
Extended Retirement Age: Some countries, such as France and the Netherlands, extended the retirement age or the age at which people are eligible for pension benefits to alleviate pressure on pension systems.
Open Immigration Policy: Australia, Canada, and other countries have adopted more open immigration policies to counter labour shortages due to their declining populations.

22. India is regarded as a country with 'Demographic Dividend', this is due to : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2011]

(a) its high population in the age group below 15 years.
(b) its high population in the age group of 15-64 years.
(c) its high population in the age group above 65 years.
(d) its high total population.

Correct Answer: (b) its high population in the age group of 15-64 years.

Solution:India is regarded as a country with 'Demographic Dividend", as it has a higher percentage of working population i.e. 15-64 years of age.

Understanding India's Demographic Transition
India's demographic transition from a high fertility-high mortality population structure to a low fertility-low mortality one has reshaped its age profile, expanding the share of the working-age population.

As per the 2011 census, India had around 48% of its population in the working-age group of 15-59 years, while 31% were under 14 years old.
The over-60 elderly population was around 9%. The dependency ratio, which is the proportion of the non-working-age population to the working-age population, declined from 64% in 2001 to 55% in 2011.
This lowering of the age-dependent population signals the emergence of a demographic dividend for the country.
According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, India's demographic dividend will peak around 2041, when the share of working-age,i.e. 20-59 years, the population is expected to hit 59%.
India's population pyramid reveals that over two-thirds of the population is of working age, with the elderly comprising less than 7 percent.
This makes India one of the youngest countries in the world. The median age in India is just 28 years.

23. The demographic dividend is: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

(a) Working population of 14 to 50 years
(b) Working population of 15 to 59 years
(c) Working population of above 60 years
(d) 0-6 years population

Correct Answer: (b) Working population of 15 to 59 years

Solution:India is regarded as a country with 'Demographic Dividend", as it has a higher percentage of working population i.e. 15-64 years of age. In India, the retirement age is generally considered as 60 years. Hence, option

As per the 2011 census, India had around 48% of its population in the working-age group of 15-59 years, while 31% were under 14 years old.
The over-60 elderly population was around 9%. The dependency ratio, which is the proportion of the non-working-age population to the working-age population, declined from 64% in 2001 to 55% in 2011.
This lowering of the age-dependent population signals the emergence of a demographic dividend for the country.
According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, India's demographic dividend will peak around 2041, when the share of working-age,i.e. 20-59 years, the population is expected to hit 59%.
India's population pyramid reveals that over two-thirds of the population is of working age, with the elderly comprising less than 7 percent.
This makes India one of the youngest countries in the world. The median age in India is just 28 years.

24. When population experts refers to the possible 'Demographic Bonus' that may accrue to India around 2016, they are referring to the Phenomenon of: [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2009]

(a) A surge in the population in the productive age group
(b) A sharp drop in the total population
(c) A decline in birth and death rates
(d) A well balanced sex ratio

Correct Answer: (a) A surge in the population in the productive age group

Solution:'Demographic bonus' refers to increase in productive (working) age group in population. Demographic dividend, as de- fined by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), is "the economic growth potential that can result from shifts in a population's age structure, mainly when the share of working age population (15 to 64) is larger than the non-working age share of the population (14 and younger, 65 and older). This indicates that more people have the potential to be productive and contribute to growth of the economy.

25. Which group refers to dependent population in the population pyramid? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) 15-60 years group
(b) Above 60 years group
(c) Above 50 years group
(d) 0-14 years group

Correct Answer: (d) 0-14 years group

Solution:In the pyramid of the population, the 0-14 years age group is commonly referred to as the 'dependent' population. Apart from this, persons aged 65 years and above are also considered as dependent population, while the age group of 15-64 years is considered as working population.

As per the 2011 census, India had around 48% of its population in the working-age group of 15-59 years, while 31% were under 14 years old.
The over-60 elderly population was around 9%. The dependency ratio, which is the proportion of the non-working-age population to the working-age population, declined from 64% in 2001 to 55% in 2011.
This lowering of the age-dependent population signals the emergence of a demographic dividend for the country.
According to the Economic Survey 2018-19, India's demographic dividend will peak around 2041, when the share of working-age,i.e. 20-59 years, the population is expected to hit 59%.
India's population pyramid reveals that over two-thirds of the population is of working age, with the elderly comprising less than 7 percent.
This makes India one of the youngest countries in the world. The median age in India is just 28 years.

26. The Dependency Ratio in India is declining because: [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2019]

(a) Population of 0-14 years is relatively high
(b) Population of 60 years and above is relatively high
(c) Population of 15-59 years is relatively high
(d) Population of 0-14 years and 60 years and above together are relatively high

Correct Answer: (c) Population of 15-59 years is relatively high

Solution:Age dependency ratio is the ratio of dependents (people younger than 15 years or older than 64 years) to the work- ing-age population (those ages 15-64 years). Age depen- dency ratio in India was declined from 79% in 1975 to 58% in 2008 and further to about 48% in 2021, according to the World Bank data, compiled from officially recognized sources. Increase in the proportion of the population of working age/ relatively high population of working-age people (15-64 years age) is the reason of this decline. Hence, option (c) is the right answer.

27. To obtain full benefits of demographic dividend, what should India do? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2013]

(a) Promoting skill development
(b) Introducing more social security schemes
(c) Reducing infant mortality rate
(d) Privatization of higher education

Correct Answer: (a) Promoting skill development

Solution:Demographic dividend is meant to meet the need of the skilled manpower in all sectors and this is possible only when skill development is promoted by bridging the existing gap between demand and supply of skills.

Importance of the Demographic Dividend
The demographic dividend carries tremendous potential to energize the economy and realise sustained rapid growth due to its impacts on various facets:

Lower Dependency Burden: A smaller non-working population translates into reduced pressures on expenditure on health, education etc. This creates fiscal space to invest in economic infrastructure.
Increased Savings: A decline in dependent population raises domestic savings as fewer household resources go towards child-rearing. The gross domestic savings rate has improved from 23.5% in 1991 to 30.2% in 2023. Higher savings enable increased capital formation and investment required for growth.
Capital formation: As the number of dependents decreases, individuals save more. This increase in national savings rates increases the capital stock in the country and provides an opportunity to create the country's capital through investment.
Economic growth: Itis driven by rising domestic demand from increasing GDP per capita and lower dependency ratios. This demand-driven growth has strongly contributed to overall economic progress in advanced countries. For example, China's demographic dividend, comprising a growing middle class and associated domestic demand, catalysed its domestic-led economic ascent.
Boost to Innovation and entrepreneurial spirit: A large youth population can also be a source of entrepreneurship and innovation, as the young are less risk-averse and more likely to break new ground. India has the third largest startup ecosystem after the USA and China.

28. Which of the following is not an adverse effect of population growth in an economy? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2015]

(a) Increase in size of working population
(b) Decrease in size of holdings
(c) Increasing unemployment
(d) Reduction in per capita availability of food grains

Correct Answer: (a) Increase in size of working population

Solution:Increase in working population size is not an adverse effect of population growth, rather it is a favourable effect of population growth. Population growth is accompanied by a gradual increase in the size of the working population, while a decrease in the size of holdings, increasing unemployment and a decrease in per capita availability of grains are the adverse effects of population growth.

29. Role of Human Resources in Economic development, which of the following statement/s is/are correct? [U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 2023]

1. Effects of economic development on population growth.

2. Effects of population growth in economic development.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

Code:

(a) Only 1
(b) Neither 1 nor 2
(c) Only 2
(d) Both 1 and 2

Correct Answer: (d) Both 1 and 2

Solution:There is a close relation between economic development and population growth. Population size, as an important factor to economic growth, determines supply of human resources directly. Higher economic development tend to reduce population growth, while the quantity, quality, structure, distribution, and movement of a population can help or hinder the rate of economic development. A developed country with low population density and a low percentage of employable people needs an increase in population in order to keep up with economic development. On the other hand, for an underdeveloped country with high population density and a high percentage of employable people, any increase in population will be detrimetal to its economy.

30. According to recent data, in India, how many disabled people are self-dependent? [U.P. Lower Sub. (Pre) 2015]

(a) 2 percent
(b) 3 percent
(c) 5 percent
(d) 10 percent

Correct Answer: (a) 2 percent

Solution:According to the 2011 Census, 2.1 percent of India's total population was disabled. Of these, only about 2 percent was self-dependent disabled.

Constitutional provisions safeguarding interests of Persons with Disabilities
Preamble

It seeks to secure to all its citizens; justice, social, economic and political; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality of status and of opportunity.
Fundamental Rights
Article 14 upholds equal access to spaces, services, and information.
Article 19 guarantees the freedom to move and express oneself.
Article 21 ensures the right to live with dignity.
Directive Principles of State Policy
Article 41: It calls for public assistance in cases of unemployment, old age, sickness and disablement etc.
Responsibilities of Panchayats and Municipalities
XIth Schedule: Social welfare, including welfare of handicapped and mentally retarded (Entry 26 of Article 243-G)
XIIth Schedule: Safeguarding interests of weaker sections, including handicapped and mentally retarded (Entry 9 of Article 243-W)

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