Match the following concepts (List-I) with their appropriate definitions (List-II).
| List-I (Concept) | List-II (Definition) |
| (A) Age structure | (I) Larger proportion of workers relative to non-workers |
| (B) Demographic dividend | (II) Persons in different age groups relative to the total population |
| (C) Population momentum | (III) Where a large cohort of women of reproductive age will fuel population growth over the next generation, even if each woman has fewer children than previous generations did |
| (D) Dependency ratio | (IV) Measure of comparing the proportion of non-working age group to working age group |
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A)-(II), (B)-(I), (C)-(III), (D)-(IV)
(A) Age structure — this matches (II) Persons in different age groups relative to the total population. The age structure is the proportion of persons in different age groups relative to the total population; it changes as life expectancy improves.
(B) Demographic dividend — this matches (I) Larger proportion of workers relative to non-workers. A falling dependency ratio, with a larger proportion of workers relative to non-workers, can bring growth and prosperity; this benefit is the demographic dividend.
(C) Population momentum — this matches (III) Where a large cohort of women of reproductive age will fuel population growth over the next generation, even if each woman has fewer children than previous generations did. Because of it India’s population will keep rising for some decades even though fertility is falling.
(D) Dependency ratio — this matches (IV) Measure of comparing the proportion of non-working age group to working age group. It compares the dependents, children too young and elderly people too old to work, with the working-age group of 15 to 64 years.
NCERT (2025-26): “2.1 Some Theories and Concepts in Demography … The age structure of the population refers to the proportion of persons in different age groups relative to the total population.…” “…The dependency ratio is a measure comparing the portion of a population which is composed of dependents (i.e., elderly people who are too old to work, and children who are too young to work) with the portion that is in the working age group, generally defined as 15 to 64 years. The dependency ratio is equal to the population below 15 or above 64, divided by population in the 15-64 age group. This is usually expressed as a percentage. A rising dependency ratio is a cause for worry in countries that are facing an ageing population, since it becomes difficult for a relatively smaller proportion of working-age people to carry the burden of providing for a relatively larger proportion of dependents. On the other hand, a falling dependency ratio can be a source of economic growth and prosperity due to the larger proportion of workers relative to non-workers. This is sometimes refered to as the ‘demographic dividend’, or benefit flowing from the changing age structure. However, this benefit is temporary because the larger pool of working age people will eventually turn into non-working old people.” “India’s Demographic Transition … Even though the fertility and population growth rates are declining, India’s population is projected to increase from 1.2 billion today to an estimated 1.6 billion by 2050 due to population momentum. Population momentum refers to a situation, where a large cohort of women of reproductive age will fuel population growth over the next generation, even if each woman has fewer children than previous generations did.…” |