Population : Distribution, Density, Growth and CompositionClass 12 India - People And Economy NCERT Solutions
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Q1EXERCISES
Choose the right answers of the followings from the given options.
(i)
India's population as per 2011 census is :
(a)
1028 million
(b)
3182 million
(c)
3287 million
(d)
1210 million
(ii)
Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in India?
(a)
West Bengal
(b)
Kerala
(c)
Uttar Pradesh
(d)
Bihar
(iii)
Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of urban population in India according to 2011 Census?
(a)
Tamil Nadu
(b)
Maharashtra
(c)
Kerala
(d)
Goa
(iv)
Which one of the following is the largest linguistic group of India?
(a)
Sino - Tibetan
(b)
Indo - Aryan
(c)
Austric
(d)
Dravidian
Solution
(i) (d) 1210 million
As per the 2011 Census data mentioned in the chapter, India's total population was 1,210 million.
(ii) (d) Bihar
According to the chapter, among the northern Indian States, Bihar has the highest population density with 1102 persons per sq km, which is higher than West Bengal (1029) and Uttar Pradesh (828).
(iii) (d) Goa
The chapter states that Goa and Mizoram have a little over half of their total population residing in villages, which implies a high proportion of urban population. Among the given options, Goa has the highest percentage of urban population as per the 2011 Census.
(iv) (b) Indo - Aryan
As shown in Table 1.2: Classification of Modern Indian Languages, the Indo-European (Aryan) family is the largest linguistic group, with its speakers constituting 73% of the population.
Q2EXERCISES
Answer the following questions in about 30 words.
(i)
Very hot and dry and very cold and wet regions of India have low density of population. In this light, explain the role of climate on the distribution of population.
(ii)
Which states have large rural population in India? Give one reason for such large rural population.
(iii)
Why do some states of India have higher rates of work participation than others?
(iv)
'The agricultural sector has the largest share of Indian workers.' - Explain.
Solution
(i) Role of climate on population distribution:
Climate is a primary physical factor that determines population distribution. Regions with extreme climatic conditions, such as the very hot and dry Thar desert or the very cold and wet Himalayan region, are unfavorable for human settlement and agriculture. This leads to sparse population and low density. Conversely, areas with moderate and favorable climates, like the North Indian Plains and coastal regions, support a higher concentration of population.
(ii) States with large rural population:
States like Bihar and Himachal Pradesh have a very high percentage of rural population. A major reason for this is the predominance of an agrarian economy. In these states, a large proportion of the population is engaged in agriculture and allied activities, which are primarily based in rural areas. The low level of industrialization and urbanization also contributes to a larger rural population.
(iii) Reasons for higher work participation rates:
Some states have higher work participation rates due to their economic structure. The chapter explains that in areas with lower levels of economic development, the work participation rate tends to be higher because a larger number of manual workers are needed for subsistence or near-subsistence economic activities, such as agriculture. States like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have large shares of cultivators, leading to higher participation rates.
(iv) Dominance of the agricultural sector in employment:
The agricultural sector has the largest share of Indian workers because India's economy is predominantly agrarian, with a large rural population dependent on farming. According to the 2011 data in the chapter, about 54.6% of the total working population are cultivators and agricultural laborers. This indicates that despite a gradual shift to other sectors, agriculture remains the primary source of livelihood for the majority of the workforce.
Q3EXERCISES
Answer the following questions in about 150 words.
(i)
Discuss the spatial pattern of density of population in India.
(ii)
Give an account of the occupational structure of India's population.
Solution
(i) Spatial pattern of density of population in India:
India exhibits a highly uneven spatial pattern of population density, which is influenced by physical, socio-economic, and historical factors. The average density of population in India is 382 persons per sq km (2011), but this varies widely from 17 persons per sq km in Arunachal Pradesh to 11,297 in Delhi.
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High-Density Regions: The North Indian Plains (Bihar - 1102, West Bengal - 1029, Uttar Pradesh - 828), deltas, and Coastal Plains (Kerala - 859, Tamil Nadu - 555) have a high concentration of population. This is due to favorable factors like fertile alluvial soils, level terrain, availability of water for agriculture, and a long history of human settlement.
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Moderate-Density Regions: States in the peninsular plateau like Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Odisha have moderate densities. The development of irrigation, availability of mineral and energy resources, and improved transport networks have led to a moderate concentration of population in these areas.
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Low-Density Regions: The hill states of the Himalayas (e.g., Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand), some northeastern states, and arid western states like Rajasthan have low population densities. This is attributed to challenging physical conditions such as rugged terrain, harsh climate, dense forests, and limited availability of water and arable land.
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Very High-Density Regions: Union Territories like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Puducherry have very high densities due to rapid urbanization, industrialization, and migration from rural areas for employment and better amenities.
(ii) Occupational structure of India's population:
The occupational structure refers to the distribution of a country's working population across various economic activities. Based on the 2011 Census, India's working population is divided into four main categories: cultivators, agricultural laborers, household industrial workers, and other workers. The structure is heavily dominated by the primary sector.
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Primary Sector: This sector employs the largest portion of the workforce. About 54.6% of the total working population are cultivators and agricultural laborers. This highlights the agrarian nature of the Indian economy. However, the proportion of workers in this sector has shown a decline from 58.2% in 2001, indicating a slow sectoral shift.
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Secondary Sector: This sector has a relatively small share. Only 3.8% of workers are engaged in household industries. The 'other workers' category, which includes non-household industries and construction, makes up a part of the remaining workforce.
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Tertiary Sector: A significant portion of the workforce, 41.6%, is classified as 'other workers', which includes trade, commerce, transport, and other services. This indicates the growing importance of the service sector in the Indian economy.
There is also a notable gender gap, with male workers outnumbering female workers in all three sectors. The number of female workers is comparatively high in the primary sector. The spatial variation is also significant; states like Himachal Pradesh have more cultivators, while Bihar has a higher proportion of agricultural laborers, and urban areas like Delhi have a large number of workers in the tertiary sector.