Read the passage carefully and answer the following questions:

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. Poor health and medical services, illiteracy of people at large and inefficient distribution system of food and other basic necessities were largely responsible for high birth and death rates in this period.

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 ensuring the improvement of living condition of people at large. Consequently, there was a high natural increase and higher growth rate distribution system. The crude birth rate remained high in this period leading to higher growth rate than the previous phase. This is impressive at the backdrop of Great Economic Depression, 1920s and World War II.

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. The average annual growth rate was as high as 2.2 percent. It is in this period, after the Independence, that developmental activities were introduced through a centralised planning process and economy started showing up.

The phase 1921-1951 experienced the slow population growth because of:-

Low mortality rate, high birth rate

The correct answer is Option (1) → Low mortality rate, high birth rate

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 ensuring the improvement of living condition of people at large. Consequently, there was a high natural increase and higher growth rate distribution system. The crude birth rate remained high in this period leading to higher growth rate than the previous phase.