Read the following characteristics about the second phase of population growth in India carefully.
(A) The second phase of population growth corresponds to 1921 - 1951
(B) In this period population growth is steady
(C) It is associated with high birth and high death rate
(D) An overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country brought down the mortality rate
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → (A), (B), (D) Only
The growth of India’s population since 1901 is studied in four phases. In the first phase (1901-1921), both the birth rate and the death rate were high, so the population hardly grew. In the second phase (1921-1951), the death rate fell while the birth rate stayed high, so the population grew at a steady rate.
(A) The second phase of population growth corresponds to 1921 - 1951 — Correct. The decades 1921-1951 make up the second phase. It comes after the stagnant phase of 1901-1921.
(B) In this period population growth is steady — Correct. This phase is called the period of steady population growth. The growth rate was higher than in the first phase.
(C) It is associated with high birth and high death rate — Incorrect. High birth and high death rates belong to the first phase (1901-1921). In the second phase the death rate came down; only the birth rate stayed high.
(D) An overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country brought down the mortality rate — Correct. Better health and sanitation cut the number of deaths. With fewer deaths and high births, the population grew faster than before.
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. Both the birth rate and death rate were high keeping the rate of increase low (Appendix–iii).” “Phase II : The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of steady population growth. An overall improvement in health and sanitation throughout the country brought down the mortality rate. At the same time better transport and communication system improved distribution system. The crude birth rate remained high in this period leading to higher growth rate than the previous phase.” |