Arrange the following phases of India's population growth chronologically (old to new).
(A) The period of population explosion in India
(B) The period of steady population growth
(C) The period of high but gradually slowing down growth rate.
(D) The period of stagnant growth.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (D), (B), (A), (C)
(D) The period of stagnant growth. — first, Phase I (1901-1921). Both birth and death rates were high, so growth was very low.
(B) The period of steady population growth — second, Phase II (1921-1951). Better health and sanitation brought the death rate down.
(A) The period of population explosion in India — third, Phase III (1951-1981). The death rate fell fast while the birth rate stayed high.
(C) The period of high but gradually slowing down growth rate. — last, Phase IV (after 1981). The birth rate began to fall.
Note: A similar question was also asked in CUET (UG) 2026 on 24-05-2026 (Slot 1) and 13-05-2026 (Slot 2), in CUET (UG) 2025 on 14-05-2025 (Slot 2), and in CUET (UG) 2023 on 21-06-2023 (Slot 3), 13-06-2023 (Slot 1), 10-06-2023 (Slot 1), 02-06-2023 (Slot 2), 23-05-2023 (Slot 1) and 22-05-2023 (Slot 2).
NCERT (2026-27): “Phase I : The period from 1901-1921 is referred to as a period of stagnant or stationary phase of growth of India’s population, since in this period growth rate was very low, even recording a negative growth rate during 1911-1921.” “Phase II : The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of steady population growth.” “Phase III : The decades 1951-1981 are referred to as the period of population explosion in India, which was caused by a rapid fall in the mortality rate but a high fertility rate of population in the country.” “Phase IV : In the post 1981 till present, the growth rate of country’s population though remained high, has started slowing down gradually (Table 1.1).” |