Chapter 1 Population Distribution, Density, Growth And Composition

People are a country's most vital asset. India holds the position of the second most populous nation globally, following China, with a total population recorded at 1,210 million in the 2011 Census.

India's population surpasses the combined populations of North America, South America, and Australia.

It is often argued that this large population size places considerable strain on the country's finite resources and contributes to numerous socio-economic challenges.

Understanding India involves recognising it not merely as a geographical area, but as a synthesis of its people living under a system of governance.

This chapter delves into the spatial patterns of India's population regarding its distribution, density, growth over time, and various aspects of its composition.

Sources of Population Data:

In India, comprehensive population data is primarily collected through the Census operation, which is conducted once every ten years.

The very first population count (Census) in India occurred in 1872. However, the first complete and synchronous Census was carried out in 1881.

Distribution Of Population

Examining the distribution pattern (as seen in relevant maps) reveals that India's population is spread across the country in a highly uneven manner.

Certain states and Union Territories hold a much larger share of the total population than others. For example, Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state, followed by Maharashtra, Bihar, and West Bengal.

Collectively, states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh (undivided), Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat are home to approximately 76% of the country's total population.

In contrast, states with relatively large geographical areas such as Jammu & Kashmir, Arunachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand have a very small percentage of the total population (around 1% or less).

This uneven distribution is a result of the interplay of various factors:

• Physical Factors: Climate is a major determinant, along with terrain and the availability of water. Regions with favourable climates, fertile plains, deltas, and coastal areas tend to have higher population concentrations. The Himalayas, some northeastern states, and western desert regions generally have lower densities.
• Socio-economic and Historical Factors:
  • The evolution and development of settled agriculture.
  • Historical patterns of human settlement, with many populations concentrating in river plains and coastal areas over long periods.
  • Development of transport networks, which facilitates movement and economic activity.
  • Industrialization and Urbanization, leading to high population concentrations in major industrial and urban centres like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, drawing large numbers of migrants seeking employment.

Even in areas that were historically sparsely populated, factors like the development of irrigation (e.g., Rajasthan), the discovery and exploitation of mineral and energy resources (e.g., Jharkhand), and the expansion of transport infrastructure (e.g., Peninsular states) have led to moderate to high population concentrations.

Density Of Population

Density of population provides a more refined understanding of population distribution by measuring the number of people residing within a specific unit of area (usually per square kilometre).

It helps illustrate the relationship between the population size and the land available.

According to the 2011 Census, the population density of India was 382 persons per square kilometre.

India has witnessed a significant increase in population density over the past half-century, rising by over 200 persons per sq km from 117 persons/sq km in 1951 to 382 persons/sq km in 2011.

Population densities vary widely across India's states and Union Territories (UTs):

• The lowest density is found in Arunachal Pradesh (17 persons per sq km).
• The National Capital Territory of Delhi has the highest density (11,297 persons per sq km).
• Among northern Indian states, Bihar (1102), West Bengal (1029), and Uttar Pradesh (828) have high densities.
• Among peninsular states, Kerala (859) and Tamil Nadu (555) record higher densities.
• States like Assam, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Jharkhand, and Odisha have moderate densities.
• Himalayan states and most northeastern states (except Assam) have relatively low densities.
• Most Union Territories (except Andaman and Nicobar Islands) exhibit very high densities.

While standard population density is useful, it is a simple measure of human-land ratio. For a country like India with a large agricultural population, other measures offer better insight into the pressure on cultivated land:

• Physiological Density: Measures the total population relative to the amount of net cultivated area.

  $ \text{Physiological density} = \frac{\text{Total Population}}{\text{Net Cultivated Area}} $

• Agricultural Density: Measures the agricultural population relative to the net cultivable area. Agricultural population includes cultivators, agricultural labourers, and their family members.

  $ \text{Agricultural density} = \frac{\text{Total Agricultural Population}}{\text{Net Cultivable Area}} $

Growth Of Population

Population growth refers to the change in the number of individuals living in a specific area over a defined period. The speed of this change is typically expressed as a percentage rate.

Population growth has two main components:

• Natural Growth: Determined by the difference between the birth rate and the death rate.
• Induced Growth: Influenced by the movement of people into (in-migration) and out of (out-migration) a specific area.

For India, both the decadal and annual population growth rates have been historically high, although the rate has shown a gradual slowing trend recently.

India's annual growth rate was 1.64% in 2011.

Population Doubling Time: This is the duration it takes for a population to double in size if it continues to grow at its current annual rate.

India's population growth over the past century (1901-2011) can be divided into four distinct phases, reflecting the interplay of birth rates, death rates, and migration:

• Phase I (1901-1921): This was a period of stagnant or stationary growth. The growth rate was very low, even negative in 1911-1921. This was due to both high birth rates and high death rates, caused by poor health facilities, illiteracy, and inefficient distribution of necessities.
• Phase II (1921-1951): Characterized by steady population growth. Improvements in health and sanitation reduced mortality rates, while better transport improved distribution systems. Birth rates remained high, leading to a higher growth rate than the previous phase, despite economic depression and World War II.
• Phase III (1951-1981): This period is often termed the era of population explosion in India. It saw a rapid decline in the mortality rate (due to development activities and improved living conditions after Independence) coupled with persistently high fertility rates. The average annual growth rate peaked at around 2.2%. Increased international migration also contributed to this high growth.
• Phase IV (Post-1981 onwards): The growth rate has remained high but has started to gradually slow down. This deceleration is attributed to a falling crude birth rate. Factors influencing the lower birth rate include an increase in the average age of marriage and improvements in the quality of life, especially female education.

Despite the overall slowing trend, India's population growth rate is still considerable. Projections (like the World Development Report) suggest India's population will continue to grow significantly in the coming years.

Population growth rates also vary widely from region to region within India.

Regional Variation in Population Growth

Looking at the growth rates for 1991-2001 and 2001-2011 reveals spatial patterns:

• Low Growth States: Southern states like Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Goa, along with Puducherry, showed relatively low growth rates (below 20%) during 1991-2001. Kerala recorded the lowest growth rate (9.4%) nationwide.
• High Growth States: A large belt of states across the northwest, north, and north-central parts of the country (including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand) generally experienced higher growth rates (between 20% and 25%) on average during 1991-2001.

Between 2001 and 2011, almost all states and Union Territories registered lower growth rates compared to the preceding decade (1991-2001). For the six most populous states, the decline in decadal growth was significant, with Maharashtra showing the largest fall and Andhra Pradesh (undivided) the lowest. Notably, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry saw a slight increase in growth rate during 2001-2011 compared to the previous decade.

An important demographic group in India is the adolescent population (aged 10-19 years). As of 2011, they constituted about 20.9% of the total population, with males being slightly more numerous than females within this group.

Adolescents represent immense potential but are also vulnerable if not properly guided and supported. Challenges faced by this group, and consequently by society, include low marriage age, illiteracy (particularly among females), school dropouts, poor nutrition, high rates of maternal mortality among young mothers, susceptibility to HIV/AIDS, physical and mental health issues, substance abuse, and juvenile crime.

To address these challenges and effectively utilize the potential of the youth, the Government of India has implemented policies focused on their development. Examples include the National Youth Policy (NYP) 2014, aimed at empowering youth aged 15-29, and the National Policy for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship 2015, designed to streamline skilling initiatives and link them to industry demands.

Rural – Urban Composition

Population composition includes studying various characteristics, such as age, sex, ethnicity, language, religion, marital status, literacy, education, and occupational status.

The distribution of the population based on their place of residence (rural or urban) is a significant indicator of social and economic traits. This is especially relevant for India, where a substantial majority of the population (68.8% in 2011) lives in villages.

India has a large number of villages, totaling 640,867 in 2011, of which over 93% were inhabited.

The distribution of the rural population is not uniform across states. States like Bihar and Sikkim have a very high percentage of their population living in rural areas.

In contrast, states like Goa and Maharashtra have just over half of their population residing in villages.

Union Territories generally have a smaller proportion of rural population, with Dadra and Nagar Haveli being an exception with over 53% rural population.

Village size also varies greatly, from less than 200 persons in some hilly or arid regions to over 17,000 persons in states like Kerala and parts of Maharashtra.

The concentration of rural population, both within states and across states, is influenced by the degree of urbanization in adjacent areas and the extent of rural-to-urban migration.

The proportion of India's urban population was relatively low at 31.16% in 2011 compared to many developed countries.

However, India's urban population has been growing at a much faster rate over the decades, fueled by economic development and improvements in health and sanitation, as well as significant rural-urban migration.

The distribution of the urban population also shows wide regional variations.

Almost all states and UTs have seen a notable increase in their urban population proportion. This trend reflects both the development of urban areas and the impact of migration from rural areas.

Rural-urban migration is particularly pronounced towards urban centres located along major transport routes (roads, railways) in the North Indian Plains, as well as industrial clusters around cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Madurai, Coimbatore, Ahmedabad, Surat, Delhi, Kanpur, and Ludhiana.

Conversely, areas with limited urbanization include agriculturally stagnant parts of the Ganga Plains, Telengana, non-irrigated parts of Rajasthan, remote tribal regions in the northeast, and flood-prone areas in Peninsular India and eastern Madhya Pradesh.

Linguistic Composition

India is renowned for its extensive linguistic diversity.

Historical linguistic surveys identified a vast number of languages and dialects.

Modern India officially recognizes 22 scheduled languages, alongside numerous non-scheduled ones.

Among the scheduled languages, Hindi is spoken by the highest percentage of the population.

The smallest language groups are Sanskrit, Bodo, and Manipuri speakers (as per 2011 data).

Notably, linguistic boundaries in India are often not sharp and distinct; instead, they tend to merge and overlap gradually in border regions.

The major languages spoken in India belong to four principal language families, each with sub-families and branches:

Religious Composition

Religion significantly influences the cultural and political landscape of India, shaping many aspects of family and community life for a large part of the population.

Analyzing the spatial distribution of religious communities reveals distinct patterns across the country.

• Hindus: Constitute the major religious group, widely distributed across many states, often making up 70-90% or more of the population. Their presence is relatively lower in border areas (Indo-Bangladesh, Indo-Pakistan), Jammu & Kashmir, some Northeastern hill states, and certain scattered areas of the Deccan Plateau and Ganga Plain.
• Muslims: The largest religious minority. Significant concentrations are found in Jammu & Kashmir, specific districts of West Bengal and Kerala, several districts in Uttar Pradesh, in and around Delhi, and in Lakshadweep. They form a majority in Kashmir valley and Lakshadweep.
• Christians: Primarily reside in rural areas. Major concentrations are along the Western coast (Goa, Kerala) and in certain northeastern hill states (Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland), parts of the Chotanagpur plateau, and the hills of Manipur.
• Sikhs: Largely concentrated in a relatively small geographical area, mainly in the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi.
• Jains and Buddhists: These are the smallest religious groups, with concentrations in specific areas. Jains are mostly found in the urban areas of Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. Buddhists are significantly concentrated in Maharashtra, as well as in Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh (J&K), Tripura, and Lahul and Spiti (Himachal Pradesh).
• Other Religions: Include faiths like Zoroastrianism, various tribal religions, and indigenous beliefs. These groups typically reside in small, scattered pockets throughout the country.

Religion and Landscape:

Religious practices and beliefs leave tangible imprints on the landscape. This is visible in the presence of sacred structures (temples, mosques, churches, gurdwaras, monasteries), cemeteries, and the designation of certain plants, animals, or groves of trees for religious purposes. Religious buildings vary greatly in size, design, use of space, and density, adding a unique dimension to the character of the area.

Composition Of Working Population

The Indian population is categorized into three groups based on their economic activity status:

• Main Workers: Individuals who work for at least 183 days (or six months) in a year.
• Marginal Workers: Individuals who work for less than 183 days (or six months) in a year.
• Non-Workers: Those who do not work at all.

In India (2011), the proportion of workers (combining main and marginal workers) is about 39.8%. This means approximately 60% of the population are non-workers, representing a large dependent population and potentially indicating high levels of unemployment or underemployment.

The percentage of the working population varies moderately across states and UTs, ranging from around 39.6% in Goa to about 49.9% in Daman and Diu.

States like Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh (undivided), Karnataka, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, and Meghalaya have higher work participation rates. Among UTs, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu show higher rates.

It is observed that in the context of India, areas with lower levels of economic development often have higher work participation rates. This is because more manual labour is required for subsistence or near-subsistence economic activities in these regions.

Occupational Categories:

The 2011 Census divides the working population into four main occupational categories:

1. Cultivators
2. Agricultural Labourers
3. Household Industrial Workers
4. Other Workers (includes non-household industries, trade, commerce, construction, services, etc.)

India's occupational composition reveals a large proportion of the workforce engaged in the primary sector compared to secondary and tertiary sectors.

Approximately 54.6% of the total working population are cultivators and agricultural labourers (2011).

Only about 3.8% of workers are in household industries, while 41.6% are classified as 'other workers' (including non-household industries, trade, commerce, construction, and services).

Across all three major sectors (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary), male workers significantly outnumber female workers.

Although males dominate the workforce, the proportion of female workers is relatively higher in the primary sector. Recent years have seen some increase in women's participation in the secondary and tertiary sectors.

Over the past few decades, there has been a noticeable decline in the proportion of workers engaged in the agricultural sector (from 58.2% in 2001 to 54.6% in 2011).

Concurrently, the participation rate in the secondary and tertiary sectors has increased. This signifies a shift in the Indian economy, with workers moving from farm-based occupations towards non-farm activities.

The distribution of work participation rates within different sectors shows significant spatial variations across India.

States like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have a very large proportion of their workforce engaged as cultivators.

Conversely, states such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh (undivided), Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Madhya Pradesh show a higher percentage of agricultural labourers.

Highly urbanized regions like Delhi, Chandigarh, and Puducherry have a large share of workers in 'other services'. This pattern is linked to limited agricultural land availability in these urban centers and high levels of urbanization and industrialization that create demand for non-agricultural jobs.

Promoting Gender Sensitivity through ‘Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao’ Social Campaign:

While perceived as natural, the division of society into male, female, and transgender roles is significantly shaped by social constructs and institutional norms. These societal factors often reinforce biological differences as a basis for social disparities, discrimination, and exclusion.

Excluding over half of the population due to gender is a serious impediment to the development and civility of any society. The UNDP acknowledges this, stating, "If development is not engendered it is endangered."

Discrimination, particularly gender-based discrimination, is considered a violation of human rights. Efforts are crucial to address issues like limited access to education and employment for women, unequal political representation, wage gaps for similar work, and disregard for their right to live with dignity.

A society that fails to recognize and actively work to eliminate such discrimination cannot be considered truly civilized. The Government of India has acknowledged the negative consequences of gender discrimination and launched nationwide initiatives like the 'Beti Bachao – Beti Padhao' (Save the Daughter – Educate the Daughter) campaign to address issues such as the declining child sex ratio and improve the status and opportunities for girls.

Exercises

This section provides questions and activities designed for students to review and assess their understanding of the chapter's content, covering key aspects of population distribution, density, growth, and composition in India.

Choose The Right Answers Of The Followings From The Given Options

Multiple-choice questions testing factual recall and understanding of key data and concepts presented in the chapter.

Answer The Following Questions In About 30 Words

Short answer questions requiring concise explanations of specific concepts or factors discussed in the chapter.

Answer The Following Questions In About 150 Words

Longer answer questions prompting more detailed explanations and discussions on topics such as the spatial patterns of population density and the occupational structure of India's population.