CLASS – IX – GEOGRAPHY

LESSON – 6 POPULATION

2. Answer the following questions briefly.

1. Why is the rate of population growth in India declining since 1981?

Answer - Since 1981, the rate of population growth in India, started
declining gradually because during this period birth rates declined
rapidly.

2. Discuss major components of population growth.

Answer - Major components of population growth is -
1. Birth rates - Birth rate is the number of live births per 1000
persons in a year. It is a major component of growth because in
India, birth rates have always been higher than death rates.
2. Death rates - Death rates are the number of deaths per 1000
persons in a year. The main cause of the rate of growth of the Indian
population has been the rapid decline in death rates.
3. Migration - Migration is the movement of people across regions
and territories. It can be internal or international. Internal migration
does not change the size of the population but influences the
distribution of population within the nation.

3. Define age structure, death rate and birth rate.

Answer –
1. Age structure - Age structure refers to the number of people in
different age groups in a country. It is grouped in three broad
categories -
(1) Children (below 15 years) - They are economically unproductive
and need to be provided with food, clothing, education and medical
care.
(2) Working age (15 - 59 years) - They are economically productive
and biologically reproductive. They comprise the working population.
(3) Aged (above 59 years) - They can be economically productive
though they may have retired. They may be working voluntarily but
they are not available for employment through recruitment.

Note: Birth rate and Death rate from Answer number 2 - point
number 1 and 2.

4. How is migration a determinant factor of population change?

Answer - 1. Migration means movement of people across the regions
and territories. Migration can be internal or international. When
internal migration takes place, it does not change the size of the
population but influences the distribution of population within the
nation.
2. This phenomenon of migration has resulted in the steady growth
of population in towns and cities. In India people have migrated to
the cities because of increased employment opportunities and better
living conditions.
3. In international migration people go to different countries because
of higher education or employment opportunities. If this takes place
in large numbers it can affect the size of the population.
3. Distinguish between population growth and population change.
Answer –
Population growth Population change

1. It refers to the change in the 1. It refers to change in the

number of inhabitants of a population composition.
country or territory during a
specific period of time.

2. It can be expressed in two 2. It can be affected by three

ways: in terms of absolute factors: Birth rate, death rate
numbers and in terms of and migration.
percentage change per year.

3. In this process, change in 3. In this process change in

population size takes place. population distribution and
occupational structure takes
place.

4. What is the relation between occupational structure and

development?
Answer - 1. Occupational structure refers to distribution of
population according to different types of occupation.
2. An economically active percentage of the population is an
important index of development.
3. Occupations are generally classified as Primary, secondary and
tertiary.
4. In a developed nation a high proportion of the population is
engaged in secondary and tertiary activities, i.e., manufacturing
industry, building and construction work, transport, communications,
commerce, administration and other services.
5. On the other hand in developing countries like India a major
portion of the population is engaged in primary activities like
agriculture.
6. Thus, there is a close relationship between occupational structure
and development.

5. What are the advantages of having a healthy population?

Answer - Advantages of having a healthy population are -
1. A healthy population can earn more and thus contribute more to
the national income of the country.
2. If an individual is healthy, he will definitely like to live happy and
keep others happy.
3. It improves the quality of production.
4. There is a rapid increase in economic and social development due
to a healthy population.
5. A healthy population is itself an important resource for any
country.

6. What are the significant features of National Population Policy

2000?
Answer - Significant features of National Population Policy (NPP)
2000 are -
1. Imparting free and compulsory School education up to 14 years of
age.
2. Reducing infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live births.
3. Achieving universal immunisation of children against all vaccine
preventable diseases.
4. Promoting delayed marriage for girls.
5. Making family welfare a people centered programme.

Map Question:

Locate and label on the political map of India -

1. The state having highest and lowest density of population.
2. The state having highest and lowest sex ratio.
3. Largest and smallest state according to area.
4. Most and least populous state.

Answer - (According to 2011)

1. The state has the highest density of population – Bihar.
2. The state has the lowest density of population - Arunachal
Pradesh.
3. The state has the highest sex ratio - Kerala.
4. The state has the lowest sex ratio - Haryana.
5. The largest state according to area - Rajasthan.
6. The smallest state according to area - Goa.
7. The most populous state - Uttar Pradesh.
8. The least populous state – Sikkim.
Extra Questions
1. What is a census? When was the first census held in India? Which
type of information can we get through the census? What is the
importance of the study of population?
Answer - 1. A census is an official enumeration of the population
done periodically.
2. In India the first census was held in 1872.
3. First complete census, however was taken in the year 1881.
4. Since then the census has been held regularly every 10th year.
5. The Indian census is the most comprehensive source of
demographic, social and economic data.
6. Census of India provides us the information regarding the
population of our country.
7. The importance of studying population is mainly in estimating the
total manpower available for production and total amount of goods
and services required for their consumption.

2. Describe the distribution of population in India.

Answer - 1. The population of India, as of March 2011, stood at
1,210.6 million. These 1.21 billion people are unevenly distributed
over 3.28 million square kilometres.
2. The population is divided into -
(A) Very densely populated States - Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh.
(B) Very sparsely populated States - Sikkim, Lakshadweep,
Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh.
(C) Moderately populated states - Assam and Peninsular States.
3. The dense population is due to fertile, flat land and favourable
climate. On the other hand, hilly areas or regions with low rainfall do
not allow people to settle there.

3. What were the causes of uneven population in India?

Answer - The population of India is unevenly distributed in India
because of the following reasons:
1. Relief of the land - Where there are mountains and rugged relief
the population is sparse. Flat and fertile land favours the population
density.
2. Climate - Less people live in cold climates, in very hot climates and
where it is dry. More people live in areas where the climate is
favourable.
3. In regions where the industrial development is more the
population is dense as occupations are more. Moreover, the
transport facilities also favour the growth of population.

4. How does migration play an important role in population growth?

Explain the 'pull' and 'push' factors of migration.
Answer - 1. Migration leads to a steady increase in the percentage of
population especially in the cities and towns. It not only changes the
population size but also the population composition.
2. The 'pull' factor of the city is the movement or migration of people
to the cities due to increased employment opportunities, education
and better living conditions.
3. The 'push' factor is associated with the migration from rural to
urban areas due to unfavourable conditions like unemployment and
poverty in the villages.
5. What has been the impact of urbanisation in India? Mention three
features.
Answer - The impact of urbanisation in India:
1. Rapid urbanisation has led to lack of facilities like housing,
sanitation, water, power and education, etc. Slums and other social
tensions are created. The crime rate has increased.
2. It has put heavy pressure on transport. Heavy rush on roads
creates transport problems like traffic jams, accidents, etc. High
urbanisation has created congestion and pollution.
3. Rural areas are being neglected.

6. Why is too much attention and care required for the adolescent
population?
Answer - Too much attention and care are required for the
adolescent population for the following reasons:
1. The Adolescent population constitutes 1/5th of the total
population of India.
2. Adolescents are generally grouped in the age group of 10 - 19
years.
3. They are the most important resources of the future.
4. Nutrition requirements of adolescents are higher than those of a
normal child or adult.
5. Poor nutrition can lead to deficiency and stunted growth but in
India, the diet available to adolescents is inadequate in all nutrients.
6. A large number of adolescent girls suffer from anaemia.
7. Their problems have so far not received adequate attention in the
process of development.
7. Explain how the quality of people is more important than the
quantity of people.
Answer - 1. The quantity of people refers to education, knowledge
and skills of the people.
2. The people are healthy and lead an active life.
3. They put in more working hours and contribute more to the
national income of the country.
4. The quantity of people refers to the total population of the
country.
5. Many do not get adequate health facilities, per capita calorie
consumption is much below the recommended level, safe drinking
water and sanitation may not be available to them.
6. Many may not get education and mostly are manual workers.
7. Therefore a small mentally-developed population with a healthy
body is more important than a large population.

8. Why is the population very important in a country?

Answer - 1. People are important to develop the economy and
society.
2. People make and use the resources and are themselves resources
with varying quality.
3. It is the point of reference from which all other elements are
observed and from which they derive significance and meaning.
'Resources', 'calamities' and 'disasters' are all meaningful only in
relation to human beings.
4. Their numbers, distributions, growth and characteristics or
qualities provide the basic background for understanding and
appreciating all aspects of the environment.
5. Human beings are producers and consumers of earth's resources.
Therefore, it is very important to know how many people are there
in a country, where do they live, how and why their numbers are
increasing and what are their characteristics.

9. Define the following terms -

Answer -
1. Census - It is an official enumeration of the population done
periodically.
2. Birth rate - It is the number of live births per 1000 persons in a
year.
3. Death rate - It is the number of deaths per 1000 persons in a year.
4. Density of population - It is the number of persons per square
kilometre.
5. Migration - It is the movement of people across regions and
territories.
6. Population growth - It refers to the change in the number of
inhabitants of a country or territory during a specific period of time
(last 10 years).
7. Population - It is the total number of people living in a country at a
given point of time.
8. Million plus cities / Mega cities - Cities with a population of 1
million and above. There are 53 million plus cities in India. For
example - Delhi, Chennai, Mumbai, Bengaluru.

10. What is meant by the annual growth rate of the population? Why
is even a low annual growth rate of population considered not good
for India?
Answer - 1. It is the percentage increase in the growth of the
population per year.
2. The rate or pace of population increase is studied in percentage
per year.
3. The rate of increase of 2% per annum means that in a given year,
there was an increase of two persons for every 100 persons in the
base population.
4. This is referred to as the annual growth rate.
5. India's population has been steadily increasing from 361 million in
1951 to 1210 million in 2011.
5. It is essential to realise that India has a very large population.
6. When a low annual rate is applied to a large population, it
becomes a very high absolute number.
7. When more than a billion people increase even at a lower rate, the
total numbers being added becomes very large.