Practice Questions

Define the following demographic indicators: birth rate and death rate.

Apply the concept of 'replacement level' fertility to explain population stabilization.

Evaluate the long-term economic risk associated with a rising dependency ratio in a country.

Define the term 'demography' based on its Greek origin.

Demonstrate how the 'dependency ratio' is calculated and what a rising ratio implies for a country.

Name the two types of 'checks' on population growth that Malthus identified.

Propose two strategies to specifically address the gender gap in literacy rates that persists in many parts of India.

Justify why Marxist scholars criticized Malthus's theory of population.

Compare the key features of 'formal demography' and 'social demography'.

Identify the demographic indicator that refers to the number of deaths of babies before the age of one year per 1000 live births.

Critique the theory of demographic transition by explaining why India's experience does not perfectly align with the model observed in Western European countries.

Describe the third stage of the theory of demographic transition.

Explain the difference between formal demography and social demography.

Recall what is meant by the 'replacement level' of population.

List the principal reasons for the decline in India's death rate after 1921.

Explain what the 'dependency ratio' measures in a population.

Examine the reasons why literacy is considered an instrument of empowerment.

Demonstrate how aggregate statistics like the death rate can be considered a social phenomenon.

Recall the name of the government of India's population policy that was first explicitly announced in 1952.

Summarize the key trends in rural-urban population distribution in India since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Analyze the relationship between the formation of nation-states and the emergence of demography as a scientific discipline.

Compare and contrast the Malthusian theory of population growth with the theory of demographic transition.

Examine the primary reasons for the sharp decline in India's death rate after 1921, while the birth rate remained high for a longer period.

Demonstrate your understanding of the 'demographic dividend' by applying it to the Indian context.

Examine the impact of rural-to-urban migration on both rural and urban areas in India.

Analyze the shift in India's population policy from the coercive methods during the National Emergency to the broader objectives of the National Family Welfare Programme.

Compare the decadal growth rate of India's population between 1911-1921 and 1961-1971 and analyze the reasons for the stark difference.

Critique Thomas Malthus's theory of population growth by evaluating its relevance in the context of modern India's economic development and food production capabilities.

Evaluate the effectiveness of legal measures like the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act in addressing the declining child sex ratio in India.

Justify the shift in India's population policy from a narrow focus on birth control to a broader 'Family Welfare' approach after the National Emergency.

Create a public awareness campaign proposal for a state like Bihar with a high Total Fertility Rate (TFR). The proposal should outline the target audience, key messages, and communication channels.

Critique the coercive sterilization program of the National Emergency (1975-76) from a human rights perspective.

Formulate an argument explaining why demography is of special importance to the discipline of sociology, using Emile Durkheim's study of suicide as an example.

Design a community-level intervention program aimed at changing social norms that lead to 'son preference' and the neglect of girl children.

Evaluate the argument that rural-to-urban migration is primarily a consequence of 'failure of entitlements' in rural areas.

Evaluate the feasibility of the National Health Policy 2017's goal to reduce the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) to 2.1 by 2025, considering the regional demographic disparities in India.

Analyze the argument that famines are caused by a 'failure of entitlements' rather than just a fall in food production.

Propose a three-point policy framework that the Indian government could implement to effectively capitalize on its 'demographic dividend' and mitigate the risks of unemployment among its large youth population.

Formulate a sustainable urban development plan for a rapidly growing Indian metropolis, addressing the key challenges posed by rural-to-urban migration.

Describe the main factors believed to be responsible for the decline in the child sex ratio in India.

Analyze the paradox of the declining child sex ratio in some of India's most economically prosperous states.

Explain the concept of 'demographic dividend' and why it is considered an advantage.

Identify the period when India experienced a negative rate of population growth and state the primary reason for it.

Contrast the population pyramids of Kerala and Uttar Pradesh for the year 2026 and analyze what they indicate about the states' demographic transitions.

Summarize the core argument of the Malthusian theory of population growth.