SHRI BALAJI PUBLIC SCHOOL, KHANDWA

NOTES (2023-24)
Grade: 9 Sub: Social Science (087) Chapter: POPULATION

Topics in the Chapter

• Introduction
• Size and Distribution
→ India’s Population Distribution by Density
• Population Growth
→ Processes of Population Growth
• Age Composition
• Sex Ratio
• Literacy rates
• Occupational Structure
• Health
• Adolescent Population
• NPP 2000
• Relation between NPP 2000 and Adolescent Population
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Introduction
• People make and use resources. They are also considered as resources having different
quality.
• Population (total number of persons inhabiting a particular place like city, state, country etc.)
is the central element in social studies. It is the point of reference from which all other
elements are observed.
• Human beings are producers as well as consumers of the resources so information about
population of a country such as their size, distribution are important.
• A census is an official enumeration of population done periodically. In India the first census
was held in the year 1872.
• The census of India provides us with information regarding the population of our country. The
data provided by the census cover below three major questions about the population:
→ Population size and distribution
→ Population growth and processes of population change
→ Characteristics or qualities of the population

In this chapter, you will find the answers of mainly 3 questions:

• Population size and distribution: How many people are there and where are they located?
 • Population growth and processes of population change: How has the population grown and
changed through time?
• Characteristics or qualities of the population: What are their age, sex composition, literacy
levels, occupational structure and health conditions?
Population Size and Distribution
India’s Population Size and Distribution by Numbers
• As of March 2011, India’s population was 1,210.6 million, which accounts for 17.5% of the
world’s population.
• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state of India, as it counts about 16% of the country’s
population.
• Almost half of India’s population lives in just five states which are Uttar Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
India’s Population Distribution by Density
Population Density is calculated as the number of persons per unit area. The population density of
India in the year 2011 was 382 persons per sq km. That’s why India is considered one of the most
densely populated countries in the world.
Population Growth and Processes of Population Change
The numbers, distribution and composition of the population are constantly changing. This is the
influence of the interaction of the three processes:
1. Birth
2. Death
3. Migration
Population Growth
Growth of population refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a country/territory during
a specific period of time. This change can be expressed in 2 ways:
• In terms of absolute numbers: The absolute numbers are obtained by subtracting the earlier
population (e.g. that of 2001) from the later population (e.g. that of 2011).
• In terms of percentage change per year: It is studied in percent per annum, e.g. a rate of
increase of 2 per cent per annum means that in a given year, there was an increase of two
persons for every 100 persons in the base population. This is referred to as the annual growth
rate.
Processes of Population Change/Growth
Three main processes of change of population are:
• Birth rates: The birth rate is the number of live births per thousand persons in a year. In
India, birth rates have always been higher than death rates.
• Death rates: The death rate is the number of deaths per thousand persons in a year.
• Migration: Migration is the movement of people across regions and territories. Migration can
be internal (within the country) or international (between the countries). It influences the
distribution of the population within the nation. In India, rural-urban migration has resulted
in a steady increase in the percentage of the population in cities and towns.
Age Composition
The age composition of a population refers to the number of people in different age groups in a
country. The population of a nation is grouped into 3 broad categories:
• Children (generally below 15 years): They are economically unproductive and need to be
provided with food, clothing, education and medical care.
• Working Age (15–59 years): They are economically productive and biologically reproductive.
They comprise the working population.
• Aged (Above 59 years): They may be working voluntarily, but they are not available for
employment through recruitment.
Sex Ratio
It is defined as the number of females per 1000 males in the population. Sex Ratio is an important
social indicator to measure the extent of equality between males and females in a society at a given
time.
Literacy Rates
According to the Census 2011, a person aged 7 years and above, who can read and write with
understanding in any language, is treated as literate. India’s literacy rate is 73%, as per the census
of 2011.
Occupational Structure
The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the
occupational structure. Occupations are classified as:
• Primary: Primary activities include agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishing, mining
and quarrying, etc
• Secondary: Secondary activities include the manufacturing industry, building and
construction work, etc.
• Tertiary: Tertiary activities include transport, communications, commerce, administration
and other services.
Health
Health is an important component of population composition, which affects the process of
development. The substantial improvement in Public Health in our country is the result of many
factors, such as:
• Prevention of infectious diseases
• Application of modern medical practices in the diagnosis and treatment of ailments
Adolescent Population
Adolescents are grouped in the age group of 10 to 19 years. They are the most important resource for
the future. It constitutes one-fifth of the total population of India. The nutrition requirements of
adolescents are higher than those of a normal child or adult.
National Population Policy
The National Population Policy (NPP) 2000 provides a policy framework for imparting free and
compulsory school education up to 14 years of age. It also helps in------
• Reducing infant mortality rate to below 30 per 1000 live births
• Achieving universal immunisation of children against all vaccine-preventable diseases
• Promoting delayed marriage for girls and making family welfare a people-centred programme
NPP 2000 also put emphasis on other important needs of adolescents, including protection from
unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). It aims to encourage:
• Delayed marriage and child-bearing
• Education of adolescents about the risks of unprotected sex
• Making contraceptive services accessible and affordable
• Providing food supplements
• Nutritional services
• Strengthening legal measures to prevent child marriage

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NOTE: PLEASE UPDATE THE DATA AS PER THE NEW ADDITION.

Prepared By: Prashant Merchant