Population in India

Importance of Population

• Population plays a crucial role in the development of the economy and society.
• People are both creators and users of resources.
• Population provides context and meaning to resources, natural events, and disasters.
• The census provides essential data on population numbers, distribution, growth, and characteristics.

Population Size and Distribution

India's Population as of 2011

• Total population: 1.21 billion, 17% of the world's population.
• Uneven distribution across 3.28 million km² (2.4% of the world's area).
• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state (199 million), while Sikkim (0.6 million) and Lakshadweep (64,429) have much smaller populations.
• Five states (Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh) contain almost half of India's population.
• Rajasthan, though the largest by area, has only 5.5% of the population.

Census

• Official population enumeration conducted every ten years (first in 1872, complete in 1881).
• Provides comprehensive demographic, social, and economic data.

Population Distribution by Density

Density Insights

• Population density: number of people per unit area.
• India: one of the most densely populated countries.
• In 2011, population density was 382 persons per sq km.
• High density in Bihar (1,102 persons/sq km), low in Arunachal Pradesh (17 persons/sq km).
• Only Bangladesh and Japan have higher average population densities.

Population Growth and Processes of Population Change

Growth Trends

• Population growth: change in number over time, expressed as absolute numbers or percentage per year.
• Growth rate declining since 1981 due to falling birth rates.
• Despite lower growth rates, absolute increases remain large due to India's massive population base.

Components of Population Change

• Birth rate: live births per thousand persons annually.
• Death rate: deaths per thousand persons annually.
• Migration: movement of people, affecting distribution and composition but not size.

Adolescent Population

• Adolescents (age 10-19) form one-fifth of the population.
• Critical resource for the future; face nutritional challenges.

National Population Policy

• Family Planning Programme initiated in 1952.
• National Population Policy 2000 aims to improve health and welfare through education, immunisation, lowering infant mortality, and promoting delayed marriage.

Migration and Urbanization

• Migration largely rural-to-urban due to rural poverty and urban opportunities.
• Significant increase in cities and towns' population percentage.

Key Terms

• Adolescence: Age 10-19, transitional age group.
• Birth/Death Rate: Number of births/deaths per 1000 people annually.
• Density of Population: People per unit area.
• Migration: Movement of people resulting in population distribution changes.
• National Population Policy: Framework for enhancing health and welfare through family planning and education.

Activities and Exercises

• Tracing family migration patterns.
• Analyzing factors influencing population density.
• Understanding the impact of migration on urban and rural areas.

These notes capture the main ideas from the lecture on India's population, offering a comprehensive overview of population dynamics, policies, and related socio-economic factors.