Read the following passage and answer the question :
After the establishment of People's Republic of China, all critical sectors of the economy were brought under Government control. The campaign initiated in 1958 aimed at industrialising the country on a massive scale by allowing people to set up industries in their backyards. In rural areas, people collectively cultivated lands. In 1965, Mao introduced a system under which students and professionals were sent to work and learn from the country side. Compared to its neighbours like India and Pakistan, China has low population growth but there will be more elderly people in proportion to young people after a few decades.
In order to counter the problem of more elderly people in proportion to young people after a few decades, what measure has China adopted ?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Allowing people to have two children
To have more young people in the years ahead, China allowed couples to have two children.
The one-child norm slowed the growth of China’s population. But fewer children were born, so after a few decades there will be more elderly people in proportion to young people. More births now mean more young people later. The one-child policy itself is the cause of this problem, so adopting it cannot be the remedy.
Note: The passage of this question is taken from the chapter ‘Comparative Development Experiences of India and its Neighbours’ of the NCERT book. It comes from the account of China’s development and population, with the names of the campaigns left out. Read the story of each neighbour in that chapter closely. Every name and year asked in this set is there.
NCERT (2026-27): “China: After the establishment of People’s Republic of China under one-party rule, all critical sectors of the economy, enterprises and lands owned and operated by individuals were brought under government control. The Great Leap Forward (GLF) campaign initiated in 1958 aimed at industrialising the country on a massive scale. People were encouraged to set up industries in their backyards. In rural areas, communes were started. Under the Commune system, people collectively cultivated lands.… In 1965, Mao introduced the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (1966–76) under which students and professionals were sent to work and learn from the countryside.… 8.3 Demographic Indicators … Scholars point out the one-child norm introduced in China in the late 1970s as the major reason for low population growth. They also state that this measure led to a decline in the sex ratio, the proportion of females per 1000 males.… One-child norm and the resultant arrest in the growth of population also have other implications. For instance, after a few decades, in China, there will be more elderly people in proportion to young people. This led China to allow couples to have two children. The fertility rate is also low in China and very high in Pakistan.…” |