Assertion (A): In India, a sharp decrease in death rates, maternal mortality rates (MMR), and infant mortality rates (IMR) has resulted in a significant increase in population.
Reason (R): In India, an alarming population growth rate could lead to an absolute scarcity of even the basic requirements, i.e., food, shelter and clothing.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.
Assertion (A): In India, a sharp decrease in death rates, maternal mortality rates (MMR), and infant mortality rates (IMR) has resulted in a significant increase in population. — True. A is about the cause of India’s population growth. India’s population, about 350 million at Independence, crossed 1.2 billion in May 2011. A rapid fall in the death rate, the maternal mortality rate (MMR) and the infant mortality rate (IMR), along with more people in the reproducible age, are the probable reasons.
Reason (R): In India, an alarming population growth rate could lead to an absolute scarcity of even the basic requirements, i.e., food, shelter and clothing. — True. R is about a possible result of this growth. At such a fast rate the population could outrun even the basic needs of food, shelter and clothing, which is why the government had to take serious steps to check it.
Why R does not explain A? A tells us why the population grew: fewer deaths among mothers, infants and others. R looks ahead to what this growth could lead to. A possible consequence of the growth cannot be its cause. So both statements are correct, but R is not the explanation of A.
NCERT Extract:
Population Stabilisation and Birth Control – “… Our population which was approximately 350 million at the time of our independence reached close to the billion mark by 2000 and crossed 1.2 billion in May 2011. A rapid decline in death rate, maternal mortality rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR) as well as an increase in number of people in reproducible age are probable reasons for this. Through our Reproductive Child Health (RCH) programme, though we could bring down the population growth rate, it was only marginal. According to the 2011 census report, the population growth rate was less than 2 per cent, i.e., 20/1000/year, a rate at which our population could increase rapidly. Such an alarming growth rate could lead to an absolute scarcity of even the basic requirements, i.e., food, shelter and clothing, in spite of significant progress made in those areas.”