POPULATION EXPLOSION

INTRODUCTION

Population explosion refers to the rapid and exponential growth of the human population over
a very short period, often resulting in significant social, economic, and environmental
challenges. In other words, it refers to a situation where the economy cannot provide proper
basic amenities and facilities to its people. Population explosion is characterised by increase
in birth rate, declining death rate and a dramatic increase in the population on the earth. The
countries that contribute the most to population explosion are the poorer nations that are
termed as developing countries. With decrease in development of a particular place,
population explosion increases. Hence, they have an inverse relationship. For example, in
India Uttar Pradesh is the most populated while Lakshadweep has the least population.
Increase in population leads to trapping people in the web of illiteracy and poverty that can
further increase this problem.

Concept of Population Explosion

Population explosion refers to the sudden and rapid rise in the size of the population,
especially human population. It is an unchecked growth of human population caused as a
result of: increased birth rate, decreased mortality rate and improved life expectancy.
Population explosion, population bomb, was first used in the pamphlet published in 1968,
authored by Paul Ehrlich. According to Karl Marx, population growth is a symptom rather
than the cause of poverty, overcrowding, unemployment, environmental degradation that in
turn, causes overpopulation.

The concept of population explosion refers to the rapid and dramatic increase in the human
population within a short period, often resulting from a high birth rate coupled with a
significant decline in mortality rates. This phenomenon is commonly observed in developing
countries due to improved healthcare, sanitation, and living standards, which lead to lower
death rates, while cultural and social factors such as early marriages and lack of access to
family planning contribute to high fertility rates. Population explosion creates a strain on
natural resources, leading to environmental degradation, food insecurity, and economic
challenges such as unemployment and poverty. Additionally, it causes urban overcrowding,
inadequate housing, and pressure on public services.

Between 1959 and 2000, the world’s population increased from 2.5 billion to 6.1 billion
people. According to United National Projections, the world population will be between 7.9
billion and 10.9 billion by 2050. Most of the growth is currently taking place in the
developing world, where rates of natural increase are much higher than in industrialised
countries.

Evidently, the largest contributing countries to population explosion are the poorer nations
and are termed as developing countries. In India, the state of Uttar Pradesh is the most
populated state and Lakshadweep is the least populated. Hence, we can say that population
explosion is inversely related to the development of that area. Population Explosion is a
major concern in our country because too much population is trapping people in a web of
poverty and illiteracy that further escalates the problem. Addressing population explosion
requires a comprehensive approach, including promoting education, especially for women,
improving access to contraceptives, and implementing sustainable development policies.

Causes of Population Explosion –

1. Widening gap between birth and death rates-

The average annual birth rate in India, which was 42 per thousand population in

1951-61, came down to 24.8 per thousand in 2011. The death rate also came down

from over 27 per thousand population in 1951-61 to just 8 in 2011 (Census of India,

2011). Thus, since birth rate has shown a moderate decline and the death rate has gone

down rather sharply, the widening gap has increased our population rapidly.

2. Fertility rates-

The total fertility rate came down from about six in the 1950s to three in 2011. Yet,

for the past ten years, the median household size in India has stayed out at less than

four children in cities and between 4-5 children in villages. Population growth is

highly dependent on trends in fertility rates.

3. Low age at marriage-

Child marriages have been very common in our country. Though the age of marriage

has been continuously increasing, yet a large number of girls even today marry at an

age at which they are not ready for marriage either socially and emotionally, or

physiologically and chronologically.

4. High illiteracy-

Family planning has a direct link with female education, and female education is

directly associated with age at marriage, general status of women, their fertility and

infant mortality rate. According to the provincial report of 2011 Census, the overall

literacy percentage in India is 74.04 as compared to 64.83 ten years ago. Kerala which

has the overall literacy rate of 94% and female literacy rate of 92.07% (in 2011) has

the lowest birth rate (14.3 per thousand) while Bihar’s low literacy rate of 61.80% (in

2011) gives rise to the highest birth rate in the country.

5. Religious attitude towards family planning-

The religiously orthodox and conservative people are against the use of family

planning measures. There are women who disfavour family planning on the plea that

they cannot go against the wishes of God. There are some women who argue that the

purpose of a woman's life is to bear children.

6. International migration-

In some countries and areas the impact of migration on population size is significant,

namely in countries that send or receive large numbers of economic migrants and

those affected by refugee flows. If the rates of emigration from a certain nation do not

match the rates of immigration to that country, overpopulation makes its way.

7. Other causes-
 Some of the other causes responsible for the increase in population are joint family

system and lack of responsible young couples in these families, lack of recreational

facilities and lack of information or wrong information about the adverse effects of

vasectomy, tubectomy, etc. many poor parents produce children not because they are

ignorant but because they need them. This is evident from the fact that there are some

13 million child workers in our country.

Effects of population explosion.

The growth of population has a direct effect on the living standard of the people. This is why

despite our spectacular progress in the agricultural and industrial spheres since independence

our per capita income has not risen appreciably. It is estimated that about 2 million people are

homeless, 163 million people have no access to safe drinking water ,281 million people are

illiterate, 43 percent of children below five years are underweight and the country as a whole

has 134th position in the world human development index out of 193 countries.

The over population has its effect on different sectors such as listed below:

Environmental causes

●​ Resource depletion: rapid growth of population resulted towards increased demand

for food, water and energy and over consumption of these resources leading towards

resource depletion

●​ Deforestation and habitat loss: expansion of urban areas and cutting down of trees

leading towards loss of biodiversity.

●​ pollution: overuse of resources and dumping of wastes in open areas has given birth

to air, water and soil pollution.

●​ Climate change: Emission of harmful gases such as Green House gas and others from

industrial and domestic activities affects the climate and often results in its sudden

change.

Economic causes:
●​ Unemployment: limited job opportunity due to population growth.

●​ Strain on public services: If the population is growing rapidly there is an increased

demand for education, healthcare and infrastructure which has its direct impact on the

economy of the country.

●​ Increased poverty : Greater competition for limited resources leading to higher

poverty rates and disparity between rich and poor grows as resources become scarce.

Social causes:

●​ overcrowding: Inadequate living conditions and infrastructure in urban areas is one

of the main causes of overcrowding and also the increasing number of slums.

●​ Health issues: Spread of diseases in slums areas and other places due to

overcrowding and lack of sanitation is quite evident nowadays .

●​ Gender Imbalance: Not everywhere but in certain cultures discrimination is

practised towards female children if they are more in number.

●​ Migration and conflict: This factor alone doesn't create an issue but a society

which is already overcrowded, unemployment and poverty are some of the major

problems , here migration brings social and political turmoil.

Political causes:

●​ Government strain : In an overpopulation country or state even the

government fails to provide all the basic amenities to the citizens and it's

very difficult to maintain law and policy under such circumstances.

●​ Policy challenges: Government often face difficulty in implementing effective

family planning or population control policies.

●​ Global tensions: An overpopulated country might face international conflict

with their neighbouring country over resources like water and energy.
Population explosion and its impact on education system :

India's population growth trajectory since independence has been nothing short of

remarkable. Data from the United Nations (2021) reveals that India's population has surged

from around 360 million in 1950 to over 1.3 billion by 2021. This demographic shift has

presented unique challenges and opportunities, particularly concerning educational access.

The challenge lies not only in expanding educational access but also in ensuring the quality

of education. Overcrowded classrooms, a lack of infrastructure, and a shortage of trained

teachers have hindered the educational experience for many students, especially in rural

areas. The Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) highlights the need to improve

learning outcomes alongside enrolment rates. The digital divide, characterized by unequal

access to technology and the internet, has further exacerbated educational inequalities during

the COVID-19 pandemic. While online education became a lifeline for some, many students,

particularly in rural areas, lacked the resources to engage effectively in remote learning.

Immigration of knowledge resources: In India, higher educated young people are more

likely to be unemployed than those without any schooling, according to the International

Labour Organization. “Unemployment in India was predominantly a problem among youths,

especially youths with a secondary level of education or higher, and it intensified over time,”

the ILO said. The jobless rate for graduates was 29.1 per cent, almost nine times higher than

the 3.4 per cent for those who can’t read or write, a new ILO report on India’s labour market

showed. The unemployment rate for young people with secondary or higher education was

six times higher at 18.4 per cent.

Increase in drop-outs and child labour : With 1.2 billion children out of school in 2022-23,

overcrowding in classrooms might be held as the major cause behind this. Consequently, the

drop-out children often due to family circumstances or other reasons are compelled to enter

the informal sector of the economy to ensure survival.

Huge disparity in teacher-student ratio: In India, for example, more than 60 per cent of

teachers report teaching about 50 students on average. Some 34 per cent teach between 51
and 100, and 5 per cent teach more than 100 students. In many countries, the problem of large

class sizes is compounded by the instances of classrooms in which the teacher must instruct

students of different ages and levels.

Health services: In 2021-22, India’s public expenditure on healthcare was nearly 2.1 percent

of GDP, as compared to 1.8 percent in 2020-21 and 1.3 percent in 2019-20. There is an urgent

need to enhance healthcare services, including primary healthcare, maternal and child

healthcare, and infrastructure for specialised treatments.

Change in attitude : Overcrowding leads to change in attitude. This attitude can shift if the

high population of the school becomes distracted by other more negative attitudes and ideas.

These negative attitudes can include drug usage, gang mentalities and a lack of education

idealism. A lack of control can appear in schools with too many students and not enough

teachers.

Negative attitudes about schooling can carry on through a student's life, resulting in a lower

chance for that student to attend college or other extended education. This lowers the earning

potential of the student, resulting in a possible poverty situation.

Funding issues : Schools need funds from the community to exist. Those communities that

have experienced a population growth without economic growth may find resistance in the

funding of the school. This can lead to a lack of funding and insufficient funds to provide

enrichment activities to the students. This can result in the school becoming boring for

students and a lack of sports or other activities. Schools may also find a lack of supplies to

cover the students in need.

The “trinity of deprivation” that accounts for the poverty afflicting many education systems

comprises rapid population growth, under-developed economies and high dependency ratios.

Thus, even though most developing countries devote a higher percentage of their gross

national product and national budgets to education than do the developed countries, their

allocations are woefully insufficient to provide quality education for all. Education systems in
developing countries are reeling under the pressure of numbers: too many students and

would-be students, too few trained teachers and too little money to provide even the most

essential requirements and tools of learning.

Measures to control population explosion

SOCIAL MEASURES:

Population explosion is a social problem and it is deeply rooted in society. So efforts must be
made to remove the social pressures in the country.

1. Spreading quality education for all: Ensuring every child receives a quality education is
one of the most effective levers for sustainable development. Many children in developing
countries are out of school, with girls affected more than boys due to gender inequality.
Access to education opens doors and provides disadvantaged children and young people to
improve standard of living. Education is birth right of all children (6-14 years) irrespective of
gender, caste, creed, religion. There is a direct correlation between the number of years a
woman spends in education and how many children she ends up having. By educating girls,
also promotes “Women Empowerment” and “Reduce Gender Discrimination”.

2. Social security: More and more people should be covered under-social security schemes.
So that they do not depend upon others in the event of old age, sickness, unemployment
etc., with these facilities they will have lesser desire for more children.

3. Focus on family planning measures: Family planning can be another method that
implies family by choice and not by chance. Work with women and men to change
attitudes towards contraception and family size has formed a key part of successful family
planning programmes. This method is being used extensively; success of this method
depends on the availability of cheap contraceptive devices for birth control and
contraceptive medicines should be made affordable for the poor section of the society too.

4. Women Empowerment: Women Empowerment plays an important role in controlling

population explosion, So women should be given opportunities to develop socially and
economically, creating their own identity, contributing to the growth of the nation.
Women Empowerment means freedom to pursue education and a career, economic
independence, easy access to sexual and reproductive health services, to end gender
 discrimination and male dominance, access to natural and human resources for the
betterment of the nation, and ending horrific injustices like child marriage.

5. Minimum age of marriage: The problem of child marriage is highly prominent in certain
countries with high population like India, Pakistan or Bangladesh. Fertility depends on
the age of marriage. The minimum age of marriage should be strictly enforced. In India
the minimum age for marriage is 21 years for men and 18 years for women have been
fixed by law. This law should be firmly implemented and people should also be made
aware of this through publicity. A marriage at a tender age leads to a long span for giving
birth. Also young age marriage devoid people of the education and awareness required to
be sensitive towards and understand the consequences of raising too many children.

ECONOMIC MEASURES:

Economic measures are important to control population explosion which improves standard
of living, sustainable use of resources, promotes women empowerment, improves standard of
living.

1.​ More employment opportunities: The first and foremost measure is to raise
employment avenues in rural as well as urban areas. Generally in rural areas there
is disguised unemployment. So efforts should be made to migrate unemployed
persons from the rural side to the urban side. Another method to check the
population is to provide employment to women. Women should be given incentive
to give services in different fields. Women are taking an active part in competitive
examinations. As a result their number in teaching, medical and banking etc. is
increasing rapidly.
2.​ Urbanisation: It is on record that people in urban areas have a lower birth rate
than those living in rural areas. Urbanisation should therefore be encouraged.
3.​ Providing incentives: Incentives have proved to be an efficient policy measure in
combating most development issues including population. Providing a health,
educational or even financial incentive can be a highly effective population
measure. There are certain incentive policies like paying certain money to people
with not more than two kids or free or discounted education for single children etc.
which are in place in most developing countries facing population related
challenges and has also proved to be a useful measure.
 4.​ Development of Agriculture and Industry: If industry, agriculture and service
sectors are properly developed with the help of advanced technology, a large number
of people will get employment with establishment of more IT companies,
development of Special Economic Zone (SEZ). When their income is increased, they
would improve their standard of living and adopt small family norms.

OTHER MEASURES:

1. Awareness through social media, journals, articles (publicity): People need to be told
and made to understand the consequences of having too many children. Government and
non-government institutions can carry awareness campaigns informing people how they will
be unable to provide good nutrition, education or medical facilities to their children if they
have too many. Population is also a reason for illiteracy and diseases and malnutrition and the
negative effects of it are required to be communicated to the general public to expand their
reasoning and understanding. The communication media like T.V., radio and newspaper are
good means to propagate the benefits of the planned family to the uneducated and illiterate
people, especially in the rural and backward areas of the country.

2. Medical Facilities: Because of the high rural-urban divide in developing countries,

availability of good hospitals and doctors is limited to urban centers thus resulting in high
infant mortality rate in rural areas. Rural people, in order to ensure that at least some of their
kids survive, give birth to more and more kids thus contributing to the population growth. If
provided with optimum medical facilities, the population rate will almost certainly decline.

3. Legislative Actions: Not much result can be achieved from these if family planning
and use of contraception remains optional instead of mandatory. Strict legal steps are
required for child marriage, education, abolition of child labor and beggary and family
planning to reap significant benefits from it. Proper enforcement of laws related to child
labour, slavery and beggary will ensure that parents don’t sell their children or send them
out to work thus forcing them to raise lesser number of kids.

GOVERNMENT POLICIES TO CONTROL POPULATION EXPLOSION:

 Discussions on population growth and the need to adopt a population policy had begun in

India even before Independence. A Sub-Committee on population was set up by the National

Planning Committee appointed in 1938 by the Interim Government. This Committee, in its

resolution in 1940 said, “in the interest of social economy, family happiness and national

planning, family planning and a limitation of children are essential”.

India’s population control measures since Independence

First Five-year plan In 1951, India became the first among the developing countries

to come up with a state-sponsored family planning program.

It emphasized the use of natural devices for family planning.

Second Five-Year Plan The number of family planning clinics was increased

significantly. But since these clinics were largely set up in urban

areas, they did not provide adequate results.

Third Five-Year Plan The technique of copper- T was adopted. An independent

department called the Family Planning Department was set up.

Fourth Five-Year Plan All kinds of birth control methods (conventional and modern)

were encouraged.
Fifth Five-Year Plan National Population Policy was announced in 1976. Some

important measures under this policy were,

●​ Increasing the minimum legal age of marriage for girls

and boys to 18 and 21 respectively.

●​ Improving the literacy levels of females

●​ Popularise family welfare programmes by using all forms

of media

●​ Forced sterilization was permitted, which was later on

given up.

Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth Efforts were made to control the population by determining

Plans long-term demographic aims

Ninth Five-Year Plan In 1993, the government had established an expert group

under the chairmanship of M.S. Swaminathan for

formulating national population policy.

In 1997, the family planning programme was renamed the

‘family welfare programme’.

The National Health Policy introduced in 1983 emphasized the importance of achieving the

“small family norm” through voluntary efforts and aimed at population stabilization.
Subsequently, there was an acknowledgment in Parliament regarding the necessity for a

distinct National Population Policy.

Following this, the National Population Policy of 2000 was formulated, bringing forth a

fresh set of guidelines and objectives.

National Population Policy 2000

The National Population Policy 2000 has made a qualitative departure in its approach
to population issues. It states that the objective of economic and social development is
to improve the quality of lives that people lead, to enhance their well- being, and to
provide the opportunities and choices to become productive assets (resources) in the
society. Stabilizing population is an essential requirement for promoting sustainable
development. The immediate objective of the NPP 2000 is to address the unmet
needs for contraception, health care infrastructure, and health personnel, and to
provide integrated service delivery for basic reproductive and child health care. The
medium term objective was to bring the total fertility rate (TFR) to replacement
levels by 2010 through vigorous implementation of inter-sectoral operational
strategies. The long term objective was to achieve a stable population by 2045 with
sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

Important features of National Population Policy

■​ The NPP reinforces the vision of the government to encourage voluntary and
informed choices and citizens’ agreeability in order to achieve maximum benefits
from reproductive health services.
■​ Making school education free and compulsory up to the age of 14 years and also
reducing the dropout rates of both boys and girls.
■​ Decreasing the Infant Mortality Rate (IMR) to under 30 per 1000 live births in the
country (to be achieved by 2010 as prescribed when the NPP was brought out).
■​ Attaining 100% registration of pregnancies, births, deaths and marriages.
 ■​ Making available universal access to information/counseling, and services for fertility
regulation and contraception with a huge range of choices.
■​ Containing the spread of AIDS, boosting better coordination between the
management of reproductive tract infections (RTI) and sexually transmitted infections
(STI) and the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).
■​ Preventing and controlling communicable diseases.
■​ Integrating Indian medicine systems (AYUSH) in reproductive and child health
services.

New Interventions under Family Planning Programme

■​ Scheme for Home delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs at doorstep of beneficiaries:

The govt. has launched a scheme to utilize the services of ASHA to deliver
contraceptives at the doorstep of beneficiaries.
■​ Scheme for ASHAs to ensure spacing in births: Under this scheme, services of
ASHAs to be utilised for counselling newly married couples to ensure delay of 2
years in birth after marriage and couples with 1 child to have spacing of 3 years after
the birth of 1st child.
■​ Boost to spacing methods by introduction of new method PPIUCD (Post-Partum Intra
Uterine Contraceptive Device.

Stabilization Fund has adopted the following strategies as a population control measure:-

■​ Prerna Strategy: The Prerna strategy for population control was launched in India in
1996 by the Uttar Pradesh government. Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh (JSK) had launched
this strategy for helping to push up the age of marriage of girls and delay in first child
and spacing in second child the birth of children in the interest of health of young
mothers and infants. The couple who adopt this strategy are awarded suitably. This
helps to change the mindsets of the community.
■​ Santushti Strategy: The Santushti strategy for population control was launched in
2003.Under this strategy, Jansankhya Sthirata Kosh, invites private sector
 gynaecologists and vasectomy surgeons to conduct sterilization operations in Public
Private Partnership mode. The private hospitals/nursing homes who achieved a target
to 10 or more are suitably awarded as per strategy.
■​ National Helpline: JSK also runs call centres for providing free advice on
reproductive health, family planning, maternal health and child health etc.
■​ Advocacy & IEC activities: JSK as a part of its awareness and advocacy efforts on
population stabilization, has established networks and partnerships with other
ministries, development partners, private sectors, corporate and professional bodies
for spreading its activities through electronic media, print media, workshop,
walkathon, and other multi-level activities etc. at the national, state, district and block
level.

The Government also implemented various initiatives, few of which are mentioned below:

i. Mission Parivar Vikas (MPV) was launched in 2016 by the Government of India. It is
implemented in 13 states for substantially increasing access to contraceptives and family
planning services. These states are seven high focus states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya
Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Assam) and six North-Eastern states
(Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Tripura, Nagaland and Mizoram).

ii. Expanded Contraceptive Choices: The current contraceptive basket comprising

Condoms, combined oral contraceptive pills, Emergency contraceptive pills, Intrauterine
contraceptive device (IUCD) and Sterilization is expanded with inclusion of new
contraceptives namely Injectable Contraceptive (Antara Programme) and Centchroman
(Chhaya).

iii. Compensation scheme for sterilization acceptors which provides compensation for loss
of wages to the beneficiary and also to the service provider team for conducting sterilization.
8 iv. Post-partum Intra-uterine contraceptive device (PPIUCD) services are provided
post-delivery. v. Scheme for Home Delivery of contraceptives by ASHAs at the doorstep of
beneficiaries.

vi. Family Planning Logistics Management Information System (FP-LMIS): A

dedicated software to ensure smooth forecasting, procurement and distribution of family
planning commodities across all the levels of health facilities. Programs launched by the

Government in the country, including rural areas, to create awareness about Family
Planning are as follows:

i. Family Planning Media Campaign: A holistic media campaign is in place to generate

contraceptive demand.

ii. World Population Day & Fortnight and Vasectomy Fortnight are observed every year
to boost awareness across all States/ UTs.

iii. Under Mission Parivar Vikas Scheme, promotional activities like Mobile publicity
vans, Advocacy meetings, Saas bahu sammelans, and Nayi Pehal Kits are distributed to
increase awareness in MPV districts.

CASE STUDIES

1. Uttar Pradesh-

With a population of over 220 million people as of the 2021 census, Uttar Pradesh (UP) is
the most populous state in India, accounting for approximately 17% of the country's total
population. The proportion of the population has stayed higher than the national average.

Factors Contributing to Population Explosion in Uttar Pradesh: -

a) ​ High fertility rates- Uttar Pradesh has high levels of fertility rates mainly in
areas with low female literacy that is much higher than the national average.
 According to the 2021 census, the state's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) was about
2.7 children per woman, which is above the replacement level of 2.1.

b) ​ Cultural and Social Norms- Socio cultural norms favour large families,
particularly in rural areas.

c) ​Early marriages- despite legal restrictions, child marriage remains prevalent

especially in rural areas which in turn contributes to increase fertility rates.

d) ​ Limited Access to Family Planning- There is limited access to and

awareness of family planning services, particularly in rural areas.

e) ​ Poverty and economic factor- Families in rural UP rely on child labour for
farming and household work. This economic dependence contributes to larger
family sizes.

f) ​Migration from rural to urban areas- Uttar Pradesh sees substantial

migration, with people moving to urban centres in search of better
employment opportunities. This contributes to higher overall population
numbers, though it does not significantly reduce the pressure on rural areas.

Impact of Population Explosion in Uttar Pradesh: -

a) ​ Economic Pressure-

· Poverty and Unemployment

· Agricultural Strain/ strain on resources

b) ​ Strain on Infrastructure-

· Overburdened Healthcare and Education Systems

· Poor Urbanization and Housing facilities

c) Environmental Challenges-

· Depletion of Natural Resources

· Poor sanitation

· Pollution and water scarcity

· Deforestation and land degradation due to overpopulation

d) Health challenges- hospitals are overwhelmed with doctor-to-patient ratios far below
national standards.

e) Social and Political Consequences-

· Social Inequality

· Political instability

· Increased conflicts

2. Kerala-

Kerala has a high population density with 860 people per square kilometre,
which is three times denser than the rest of India. As per 2011 census,
Kerala has a population of over 33 million inhabitants which is 2.76% of
India’s population. Kerala has taken a very different approach in managing
population growth and has successfully achieved low population growth
rates. Its government implemented family planning and socio-economic
developmental policies in the 1970s that mitigated the effects of
population explosion in Kerala. Between 1981-1991 Kerala’s population
growth rate was 19.24% which declined to 4.91% by 2011.

Initiatives taken to control population growth in Kerala are as

follows-

a) ​Female literacy- In Kerala over 90% of women are literate.

Empowering women through education led to better family planning
and reduced fertility rates.

b) Adult Education- Kerala has a literacy rate of 93.91% as per 2021

census. With improved education comes an understanding of the
benefits of smaller families.

c) Robust healthcare system- improving child health through

vaccination programmes has reduced infant and child mortality rates so
people no longer need to have as many children.

d) Higher age of marriage- The mean age of marriage in Kerala is 21.9

years compared to 18.3 years nationally.
 e) Family planning- the government promoted contraceptive use and
awareness programs.

f) Land reforms- redistribution of land improved economic equity,

reduced rural poverty and restricted family sizes.

Outcomes of population control strategies-

a) Decline in fertility rates

b) Population stabilization

c) Improved quality of life

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the population explosion in India represents one of the most pressing
challenges the country faces today. With a population exceeding 1.4 billion people, India is
poised to become the most populous nation in the world, surpassing China. This rapid
population growth puts immense pressure on the nation’s resources, infrastructure, and social
systems. The demand for essential services, such as healthcare, education, housing, and
transportation, continues to outpace supply, leading to overcrowded cities, inadequate
healthcare services, and a growing divide between urban and rural areas. The agricultural
sector is increasingly struggling to meet the rising food demands, while water scarcity,
deforestation, and pollution are becoming more pronounced as a result of the growing
population’s needs.Moreover, poverty, unemployment, and inequality remain significant
challenges, with millions of people still living in conditions of severe deprivation. Despite
India’s robust economic growth in recent decades, these disparities continue to impede the
overall progress of the nation. With a large portion of the population dependent on agriculture
and informal sectors, the country faces vulnerability to economic shocks and environmental
changes.

To effectively tackle the issue of population explosion, India must focus on several key
strategies. On the environmental front, India needs to adopt sustainable development
practices to meet the needs of its growing population without further depleting its natural
resources. Investing in renewable energy, efficient agriculture practices, and urban planning
that promotes green spaces and reduces environmental impact will be essential for the
long-term well-being of the country.

Lastly, government policies should address the economic implications of rapid population
growth by fostering job creation, enhancing infrastructure, and ensuring access to basic
services for all citizens. With the right mix of education, healthcare, family planning, and
environmental sustainability initiatives, India can manage its population growth while
ensuring a better quality of life for its people. The challenge of population explosion, though
daunting, can be turned into an opportunity for innovation and growth, provided that strategic
and inclusive policies are put into action. By doing so, India can move toward a more
equitable and sustainable future for its vast and diverse population.

REFERENCES-

1. NCTE Annual Report(1996-97)

2. https://ncte.gov.in/website/annualreports.aspx
3. Social problems in India by Ram Ahuja
4. https://www.un.org/en/global-issues/population
5. https://edukemy.com/blog/population-policies-in-india-upsc-indian-society-notes/
6. https://forumias.com/blog/population-control-measures-in-india/
7.https://loksabhadocs.nic.in/Refinput/New_Reference_Notes/English/15072022_141200_10
21205175.pdf
8.Kerala Population 2025 | Sex Ratio & Literacy rate 2024
9.https://www.internetgeography.net/topics/case-study-india/
10.(PDF) Demographic Changes and Growth of Population in Uttar Pradesh: Trends and
Status
11. population explosion - a threat in relation to unemployment in uttar pradesh, india
12.https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.h
industantimes.com/lucknow/up-population-far-from-exploding-but-still-soaring/story-7LCpy
IRiqewRGv5Pr8ta4K.html&ved=2ahUKEwihueDLksaKAxXIdfUHHYBbKvEQFnoECB0Q
AQ&usg=AOvVaw3UxCwnpVVMURHkT8pGfM8F
13. Bongaarts, J. (2019). India’s population challenge: The demographic transition and its
implications. Population and Development Review, 45(1), 1-29.
https://doi.org/10.1111/padr.12188
14. National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5). (2021). National Family Health Survey
(NFHS-5), 2019-21: India report. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of
India. https://rchiips.org/nfhs