Find the missing step in this chain about China:
One-child norm introduced in the late 1970s → arrest in the growth of population → [ ? ] → China allows couples to have two children
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → More elderly people in proportion to young people
With only one child per couple, fewer young people are born each year. After a few decades, the old form a larger share of the population. To correct this, China allowed couples to have two children.
Option (1) A rise in the sex ratio — Incorrect. The one-child norm led to a decline in the sex ratio, not a rise.
Option (3) A very high fertility rate — Incorrect. The fertility rate is low in China; it is very high in Pakistan.
Option (4) A fall in the level of urbanisation — Incorrect. Urbanisation is high in China, but it has nothing to do with the move to two children.
NCERT (2026-27): “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. However, from the table, you will notice that the sex ratio is low and biased against females in all three countries. Scholars cite son preference prevailing in all these countries as the reason. In recent times, all three countries are adopting various measures to improve the situation. 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.” |