UGC-NET (NTA) POPULATION STUDIES, JANUARY-2025

In the Census of India 2011, several categories and definitions were used to classify urban areas. The officially recognized terms include:
A. Statutory Towns: Areas with a municipality, corporation, cantonment board, or notified town area committee.
C. Census Towns: Areas meeting specific criteria - minimum population of 5,000, at least 75% of male workers in non-agricultural occupations, and a population density of 400 persons per sq. km.
D. Urban Agglomeration: A continuous urban spread comprising a town and its adjoining outgrowths or two or more physically contiguous towns.
The terms "Rural-urban continuum" and "Regenerated urban area" are not recognized in Census 2011 terminology.
Hence, the correct combination is: A, C, and D only.

According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), 2019-21, compared with NFHS-4 (2015-16):
A. Female sterilization has increased - from 36.0% in NFHS-4 to 37.9% in NFHS-5.
B. Male sterilization has not increased, and remains very low (around 0.3%-0.4%), showing no significant change.
Therefore, statement A is correct, and statement D ("Male sterilization has not changed") is also correct.
Thus, the correct answer is: A and D only.

In data analysis, the levels of measurement (or scales of measurement) determine the nature of data and what statistical operations can be applied. The recognized levels are:
A. Nominal: Categorizes data without any order (e.g., gender, religion).
B. Ordinal: Data with a rank or order but no equal intervals (e.g., education level).
C. Intervał: Ordered data with equal intervals but no true zero (e.g., temperature in °C).
D. Ratio: Ordered data with equal intervals and a true zero (e.g., age, income).
The term "Variable (E)" is not a level of measurement; rather, it is a general term for what is being measured.
Therefore, the correct answer includes Nominal, Ordinal, Interval, and Ratio.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has developed several indices to measure human development from multiple dimensions. These include:
A. Human Development Index (HDI): Measures health, education, and income dimensions.
B. Human Poverty Index-1 (HPI-1): Measures multidimensional poverty (used before being replaced by MPI).
C. Gender Development Index (GDI): Compares HDI values for men and women.
D. Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM): Evaluates women's participation in political and economic life.
The option E. Human Resource Development not an official UNDP index. is
Thus, the correct combination includes A, B, C, and D.

Global Moran's I is a statistical measure used to evaluate spatial autocorrelation, i.e., the degree to which similar or dissimilar values are spatially clustered.
It helps determine whether spatial data exhibit a pattern of being clustered, dispersed, or random:
• Clustered: Similar values occur close together (positive autocorrelation).
• Dispersed: Dissimilar values are spatially separated (negative autocorrelation).
• Random: No apparent spatial pattern (no autocorrelation).
Therefore, it measures these three key spatial arrangements-clustered, dispersed, and random.

The sudden increase in the labour force for a limited period due to high fertility in the past is a result of demographic changes that lead to a larger working-age population. This phenomenon is described by the following terms:
A. Demographic Dividend: Refers to the potential economic growth resulting from a favorable age structure, when the working-age population is larger relative to dependents.
B. Demographic Window: Denotes the specific period during which demographic conditions are optimal to achieve the dividend.
D. Demographic Bonus: A synonym for demographic dividend, emphasizing the economic advantage gained from this temporary population structure.
C. Baby Boom: Refers to the initial fertility surge that created this age structure but not the resulting economic opportunity.
Since A, B, and D directly describe or relate to the economic implications of this shift - not the fertility phase itself - they together represent the concept described in the question.

Clean fuels are energy sources that produce minimal pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, helping to reduce environmental degradation.
A. Solar energy: Clean and renewable; harnesses sunlight without emitting pollutants.
B. Thermal energy: Generally derived from burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, gas) - not clean due to high emissions.
C. Tidal energy: Clean and renewable; uses ocean tides to generate electricity with no direct pollution.
D. Wind energy: Clean and renewable; uses wind turbines to generate power without emitting greenhouse gases.
Hence, the energy sources considered clean fuels are Solar (A), Tidal (C), and Wind (D).

The Age-Specific Fertility Rate (ASFR) represents the number of live births per 1,000 women in a specific age group (usually five-year intervals, e.g., 15-19, 20-24, etc.). Key facts include:
A. The curve of ASFR has two dimensions: Yes - the x-axis represents age groups, and the y-axis represents fertility rates.
B. The area under the ASFR curve represents the Total Fertility Rate (TFR): Correct - summing ASFRs (adjusted for age width) gives TFR.
C. The shape of the curve indicates the age pattern of fertility: Correct - it shows at which ages fertility is highest (typically 20-24).
D. The shape of the curve does not represent the "trend" of fertility over time, but rather the distribution of fertility by age.
Thus, A, B, and C are true.

The Census of India defines "urban” areas based on two main categories - Statutory Towns and Census Towns.
For Census Towns, specific demographic criteria must be met:
B. Minimum population size of 5,000
C. Minimum population density of 400 persons per square kilometer
D. At least 75% of male main working population engaged in non-agricultural activities
A. ("It should have a municipality") - This is a criterion for a Statutory Town, not a demographic criterion for defining an urban area demographically.
Thus, only B, C, and D are the correct demographic criteria for defining an urban area.

In the Indian Census, migration status is determined by comparing a person's current residence with their place of birth and place of last residence. The relevant questions asked to identify a migrant are:
A. Place of last residence: To determine where the person lived before coming to the current place.
B. Place of birth: To identify whether the person was born in the same district/state.
C. Duration of residence: To know how long the person has lived in the current place and to distinguish recent migrants.
D. Place of first residence is not a question in the census.
Therefore, the correct combination is A, B, and C.