Question 1

Q1: 1. Explain the basic argument of the theory of demographic transition. Why is the transition period associated with a 'population explosion'?

Accepted Answer

The theory of demographic transition suggests that population growth is linked to the overall economic development of a society. Every society follows a typical pattern of development-related population growth which involves three basic stages.    Stage 1 (Underdeveloped Society): This stage is char...

Question 2

Q2: 2. Why did Malthus believe that catastrophic events like famines and epidemics that cause mass deaths were inevitable?

Accepted Answer

Thomas Robert Malthus, in his 'Essay on Population' (1798), put forth a pessimistic theory about population growth. He believed that catastrophic events like famines and epidemics were inevitable due to the imbalance between the rates of growth of population and food production. His core arguments w...

Question 3

Q3: 3. What is meant by 'birth rate' and 'death rate'? Explain why the birth rate is relatively slow to fall while the death rate declines much faster.

Accepted Answer

Birth Rate: The birth rate is the total number of live births in a particular area (like a country or state) during a specified period (usually a year), divided by the total population of that area in thousands. It is expressed as the number of live births per 1000 population. Death Rate: The death...

Question 4

Q4: 4. Which states in India have reached or are very near the 'replacement levels' of population growth? Which ones still have very high rates of populat...

Accepted Answer

Based on the information in the chapter, there are significant regional variations in population growth rates across India. States near or at 'Replacement Levels': The 'replacement level' refers to the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) at which the population exactly replaces itself from one generation to...

Question 5

Q5: 5. What is meant by the 'age structure' of the population? Why is it relevant for economic development and growth?

Accepted Answer

Age Structure: The age structure of the population refers to the proportion of persons in different age groups relative to the total population. It is typically broken down into three main groups:    Children (usually 0-14 years)    Working-age population (usually 15-59 or 15-64 years)    Elderly po...

Question 6

Q6: 6. What is meant by the 'sex ratio'? What are some of the implications of a declining sex ratio? Do you feel that parents still prefer to have sons ra...

Accepted Answer

Sex Ratio: The sex ratio refers to the number of females per 1000 males in a given area at a specified time period. It is an important indicator of the gender balance in a population. Implications of a Declining Sex Ratio: A declining sex ratio, especially a declining child sex ratio (in the 0-6 yea...

NCERT Solutions