HPAS/Allied Mains 2022 Answer Writing Challenge Day 173 : Model Answer

QUESTIION: Define population growth. Discuss the major components of population growth in India. (8 marks/120 words)

Answer:

According to the 2011 census, India has a 1.21 billion population. In terms of population, India is the second-largest country of the world and despite its growth rate declining, India continues to be a high-growth country.

The population growth or population change refers to the change in number of inhabitants of a territory during a specific period of time. This change may be positive as well as negative. It can be expressed either in terms of absolute numbers or in terms of percentage. Population change in an area is an important indicator of economic development, social upliftment and historical and cultural background of the region.

Natural Growth of Population: This is the population increased by difference between births and deaths in a particular region between two points of time. Natural Growth = Births – Deaths

Actual Growth of Population: This is Births – Deaths + In Migration – Out Migration.

There are three components of population change – births, deaths and migration.

1. The crude birth rate (CBR) is expressed as number of live births in a year per thousand of population. The Crude birth rate (CBR) for India as per census 2011 was 21.8.
2. Death rate plays an active role in population change. Population growth occurs not only by increasing births rate but also due to decreasing death rate. Crude Death Rate (CDR) is a simple method of measuring mortality of any area. CDR is expressed in terms of number of deaths in a particular year per thousand of population in a particular region.

By and large mortality rates are affected by the region’s demographic structure, social advancement and levels of its economic development.

3. Migration Apart from birth and death there is another way by which the population size changes. When people move from one place to another, the place they move from is called the Place of Origin and the place they move to is called the Place of Destination. The place of origin shows a decrease in population while the population increases in the place of destination. Migration may be interpreted as a spontaneous effort to achieve a better balance between population and resources. Migration may be permanent, temporary or seasonal. It may take place from rural-to-rural areas, rural to urban areas, urban to urban areas and urban to rural areas.

People migrate for a better economic and social life. There are two sets of factors that influence migration. The Push factors make the place of origin seem less attractive for reasons like unemployment, poor living conditions, political turmoil, unpleasant climate, natural disasters, epidemics and socio-economic backwardness. The Pull factors make the place of destination seem more attractive than the place of origin for reasons like better job opportunities and living conditions, peace and stability, security of life and property and pleasant climate.