Read the passage and answer the following question:
Overpopulation causes a number of family problems. Strategies like birth control methods help to control population explosion. Natural methods of birth control do not involve medications or devices to prevent pregnancy but rather rely on behavioural practices and/or making observations about menstrual cycle. Natural methods work on the principle of avoiding chances of ovum and sperms meeting.
Which of the following are measures taken in India to tackle the problem of rapid population growth?
A. Motivating smaller families by using various contraceptive methods
B. Statutory lowering of the marriageable age of the female and the male
C. Incentives given to couples with small families
D. Advertisements and posters with the slogan ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’ (we two, our two)
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → A, C and D only
To check the fast growth of population, India has motivated smaller families through contraceptive methods and slogans. It has also given incentives to couples with small families and raised the marriageable age by law.
A. Motivating smaller families by using various contraceptive methods — True. NCERT calls this the most important step.
B. Statutory lowering of the marriageable age of the female and the male — False. The marriageable age was raised by law, not lowered. Marrying later delays the first child.
C. Incentives given to couples with small families — True. This is one of the other measures named in NCERT.
D. Advertisements and posters with the slogan ‘Hum Do Hamare Do’ (we two, our two) — True. These show a happy couple with two children to promote small families.
So A, C and D are correct.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “The most important step to overcome this problem is to motivate smaller families by using various contraceptive methods. You might have seen advertisements in the media as well as posters/bills, etc., showing a happy couple with two children with a slogan Hum Do Hamare Do (we two, our two). Many couples, mostly the young, urban, working ones have even adopted an ‘one child norm’. Statutory raising of marriageable age of the female to 18 years and that of males to 21 years, and incentives given to couples with small families are two of the other measures taken to tackle this problem.”