Chapter 2: The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society – NCERT Solutions

Q1 Explain the basic argument of the theory of demographic transition. Why is the transition period associated with a ‘population explosion’?

The Demographic Transition Theory suggests that population growth is linked to overall levels of economic development and that every society follows a typical pattern of development-related population growth.

There are three stages:

Stage 1 (Underdeveloped): High birth rate + High death rate = Low/Stable population growth.
Stage 2 (Transition/Developing): High birth rate + Low death rate = Population Explosion.
Stage 3 (Developed): Low birth rate + Low death rate = Low/Stable population growth.

                Why ‘Population Explosion’?

                The transition period (Stage 2) sees a “population explosion” because death rates drop sharply due to medical and technological advancements (disease control, better sanitation), but birth rates remain high because they are rooted in social and cultural beliefs, which take much longer to change. The gap between the high birth rate and the rapidly falling death rate results in massive population growth.

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

Thomas Robert Malthus, in his Essay on Population (1798), argued that human populations grow much faster than the ability to produce food.

Geometric vs. Arithmetic Growth: He believed population grows in a geometric progression (2, 4, 8, 16…), while agricultural production only grows in an arithmetic progression (2, 4, 6, 8…).
Imbalance: This naturally leads to a situation where the number of people exceeds the food supply.
Positive Checks: To restore the balance between population and food, nature imposes “positive checks” such as famines, epidemics, and wars. Malthus viewed these mass deaths as inevitable and necessary mechanisms of nature to control the population.

Q3 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.

Birth Rate: The total number of live births per 1,000 population in a given area during a particular year.
Death Rate: The total number of deaths per 1,000 population in a given area during a particular year.

Why death rates fall faster:

The death rate is primarily controlled by technology and healthcare (cures for diseases, better sanitation, nutrition). These can be implemented relatively quickly by government policy.

Why birth rates fall slowly:

The birth rate is a socio-cultural phenomenon. It depends on religious beliefs, the status of women, preference for male children, and family traditions. Changing these deep-rooted social mindsets takes generations, making the fall in birth rate much slower.

Q4 Which states in India have reached or are very near the ‘replacement levels’ of population growth? Which ones still have very high rates of population growth? Reasons for regional differences?

Replacement Level States:

Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Goa, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, and West Bengal have total fertility rates (TFR) below or near the replacement level (2.1).

High Growth States:

Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan continue to have very high growth rates.

                Reasons for Regional Differences:
                Literacy Levels: States like Kerala have high female literacy, leading to greater awareness and lower fertility.
Healthcare Infrastructure: Better infant mortality rates in southern states reduce the need for more children as “insurance.”
Socio-Economic Development: Higher economic development and women’s empowerment in states like Tamil Nadu correlate with smaller families.

            

Q5 What is meant by the ‘age structure’ of the population? Why is it relevant for economic development and growth?

The age structure refers to the proportion of persons in different age groups relative to the total population. It is usually visualized using a population pyramid.

[Image of age structure diagram]

Relevance for Economic Development:

Dependency Ratio: It determines the ratio of the “dependent” population (children below 15 and elderly above 64) to the “working-age” population (15-64).
Demographic Dividend: If a country has a large proportion of working-age people and a low dependency ratio, it can experience rapid economic growth (Demographic Dividend) because there are more people producing and saving than consuming.
Policy Planning: An aging population requires more healthcare and pension funds, while a young population requires investment in schools and job creation.

Q6 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 rather than daughters? Reasons?

Sex Ratio: The number of females per 1,000 males in a given population.

Implications of Declining Sex Ratio:

Severe gender imbalance leading to social instability.
Increase in violence against women and human trafficking (e.g., “bride buying” in some regions).
Reinforcement of patriarchal dominance.

Son Preference: Yes, a strong preference for sons still exists in many parts of Indian society.

                Reasons for Son Preference:
                Economic Security: Sons are seen as providers and security for old age, while daughters are viewed as “guests” who will leave after marriage.
Dowry System: Raising a daughter is often associated with the heavy economic burden of dowry.
Religious/Cultural Roles: In Hindu tradition, only the son can perform certain last rites and carry forward the family lineage (Vansh).

            

The Demographic Structure of Indian Society