Among the population of India, the working - age people are relatively larger in number. What is the reason for this?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → Demographic Dividend
Note: The given answer is as per the official NTA Answer Key. However, strictly, the demographic dividend is the benefit that flows from a large working-age population, not the reason it is large; of the options, only Option (3) names this situation, as explained below.
Option (1) Sex ratio — Incorrect. The sex ratio is the number of females per 1000 males. It tells us about the balance between women and men, not about how many people are of working age.
Option (2) Number of people in the infant group — Incorrect. Infants are dependents, too young to work. A large infant group would raise the share of non-workers, the opposite of the situation in the question.
Option (3) Demographic Dividend — Correct. When the working-age group (15 to 64 years) grows larger than the dependents, the dependency ratio falls. A falling dependency ratio can be a source of economic growth and prosperity because there are more workers relative to non-workers; this is called the demographic dividend, the benefit flowing from the changing age structure. The benefit is temporary, as the large pool of workers will in time become non-working old people.
Option (4) Low number of people who are unemployed — Incorrect. Unemployment concerns whether people of working age find work; it does not change how many people are of working age.
NCERT (2025-26): “2.1 Some Theories and Concepts in Demography … 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.” |