TOPIC INFO (UGC NET)
TOPIC INFO – UGC NET (Geography)
SUB-TOPIC INFO – Geography of India (UNIT 10)
CONTENT TYPE – Detailed Notes
What’s Inside the Chapter? (After Subscription)
Note: The First Topic of Unit 1 is Free.
Access This Topic With Any Subscription Below:
- UGC NET Geography
- UGC NET Geography + Book Notes
Population Characteristics of India
UGC NET GEOGRAPHY
Geography of India (UNIT 10)
LANGUAGE
Table of Contents
- By demographic features we mean the characteristics of population like, size, composition, diversity, growth and quality of population etc.
- To have basic understanding of the population problem of a specific country, one should have a complete knowledge regarding the basic features of population of that country.
The following are features of India’s population:
Large Size and Fast Growth
- The first main feature of Indian population is its large size and rapid growth. According to 2001 census, the population of India is 102.87 crore. In terms of size, it is the second largest population in the world, next only to China whose population was 127 crore in 2001. India’s population was 23.6 crore in 1901 and it increased to 102.7 crore in 2001.
- In addition to its size, the rate of growth of population has been alarming since 1951. At present, India’s population is growing at a rate of 1.9 percent per annum; 21 million people are added every year which is more than the population of Australia. This situation is called population explosion and this is the result of high birth rate and declining death rate.
Second Stage of Demographic Transition
- According to the theory of demographic transition, the population growth of a country passes through three different stages as development proceeds. The first stage is characterised by high birth rate and high death rate. So in this stage the net growth of population is zero. Till 1921, India was in the 1st stage of demographic transition.
- The second stage is featured by high birth rate and declining death rate leading to the rapid growth of population. India entered the second stage of demographic transition after 1921. In 1921-30 India entered the 2nd stage, the birth rate was 464 per thousand and death rate was 363 per thousand.
- In 2000-01, birth rate was 25.8 and death rate declined to 85. This led to rapid growth of population. India is now passing through the second stage of demographic transition. While developed countries are in 3rd stage.