Which of the statements given below correctly describe the phases of growth of population in India.
(A) The period from 1901-1921 is referred to as a period of stagnant growth of population.
(B) The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of population explosion.
(C) The period 1981 to 2011 is referred to as negative growth phase.
(D) Post-1981 the population growth rate has declined gradually.
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 3
The correct answer is Option (3) → (A) and (D) only.
(A) The period from 1901-1921 is referred to as a period of stagnant growth of population. Correct. Poor health and medical services, illiteracy and an inefficient distribution of food kept both the birth rate and the death rate high. The many deaths cancelled out most of the births, so the population hardly grew in this stagnant or stationary phase, and in 1911-1921 it even fell.
(B) The decades 1921-1951 are referred to as the period of population explosion. Incorrect. These decades were the period of steady growth; the explosion came in 1951-1981.
(C) The period 1981 to 2011 is referred to as negative growth phase. Incorrect. After 1981 the growth rate only slowed down; it was negative only in 1911-1921.
(D) Post-1981 the population growth rate has declined gradually. Correct. From 1981 the growth rate, though still high, has started slowing down gradually. The cause is a falling crude birth rate: as the mean age at marriage rose and the quality of life improved, especially the education of females, fewer children were born, so fewer people were added each year.
NCERT (2025-26): “Growth of Population … 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).… Growth of Population … 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.… Growth of Population … 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.… Growth of Population … 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).…” |