Chapter 1
Population distribution ,Growth and composition
Q) Very hot and dry and very cold and wet regions of India have low density of population. In this
light, explain the role of climate on the distribution of population.
Ans:The two elements of climate rainfall and temperature play the most important role in determining the
population of an area.
People prefer the areas to settle which have some diversity like they want rainfall for agriculture. and many people
prefer moderate temp. for living because extreme temp is not favorable for many economic activity and work.
Example: The density of population is low such as too cold climate of Himalayas, and the too hot and dry climate of
the Thar Desert.
Q) Which states have large rural population in India? Give one reason for such large rural population.
Ans:States of Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, U.P., Bihar and Sikkim have very high percentage of rural population. The
reason for high rural population is that these areas are the ones with low level of economic, social development and
hence low level of infrastructural development, which tend to inhibit the process of urbanization.
Q) Why do some states of India have higher rates of work participation than others?
Ans:Work participation rate is the number of people engaged in economic activities. Some states of India like
Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh etc. tend to have higher work participation rate. The work
participation rate tends to be higher in the areas of lower levels of economic development since number of manual
workers are needed to perform the subsistence or near subsistence economic activities in the absence of other
opportunities.
Q) The agricultural sector has the largest share of Indian workers.’ – Explain.
Ans In India about 58.2 per cent of total working population are cultivators and agricultural labourers, whereas only
4.2% of workers are engaged in household industries and 37.6 % are other workers including non-household
industries, trade, commerce, construction and repair and other services. India is an agricultural country with
maximum population engaged in it as job opportunities in the other sectors are limited due to low rate of
infrastructural development
Q) Discuss the spatial pattern of density of population in India.
Ans: India has a highly uneven pattern of population distribution. U.P., Maharashtra, Bihar, together account much
of the total population of the country. On the other hand, share of population is very small in the states like Jammu
& Kashmir (0.98%) and Uttaranchal (0.83%) inspite of these states having fairly large geographical area. The
density of population in India (2011) is 382 persons per sq km
Such an uneven spatial distribution of population in India suggests a close relationship between population and
physical, socio-economic and historical factors. As far as the physical factors are concerned, it is clear that climate
along with terrain and availability of water largely determines the pattern of the population distribution.
Consequently, we observe that the North Indian Plains, deltas and Coastal Plains have higher proportion of
population than the interior districts of southern and central Indian States, Himalayas, some of the north eastern and
the western states
Among the socio-economic and historical factors of distribution of population, important ones are evolution of
settled agriculture and agricultural development; pattern of human settlement; development of transport network,
industrialisation and urbanisation. It is observed that the regions falling in the river plains and coastal areas of India
have remained the regions of larger population concentration.
Q) Give an account of the occupational structure of India’s population.
Ans:The population of India according to their economic status is divided into three groups, namely; main
workers, marginal workers and non-workers. It is observed that in India, the proportion of workers (both
main and marginal) is only 39 per cent (2001) leaving a vast majority of 61 per cent as non-workers.
(i) Most of the India.s population is engaged in primary sector rather than secondary and tertiary sectors.
(ii) About 58.2 per cent of total working population are cultivator and agricultural labourers, where as
only 4.2% of workers are engaged in household industries and 37.6 per cent are other workers engaged in
non-household industries, trade, commerce construction and repair and other services.
(iii) As fas as the occupation of country.s male and female population concerned, male workers are more
out of number female workers in all the three sectors.
(iv) The number of female workers is relatively high in primary sector.
(v) The proportion of workers in agricultural sector has shown a decline over the last few decades.
1. The period from 1901 to 1921 is referred to as period of:
a) steady population growth.
b) Population explosion in India
c) None of the above
d) stagnant or stationary phase of growth of India’s population
2. Which of the following is not a push factor:
a) Unemployment
b) Water shortage
c) Epidemics
d) Medical/Educational Facilities
3. Where does India rank in the world as regards area?
a) Seventh
b) Sixth
c) Eighth
d) Fifth
4. What was the annual growth rate of population in India as per 2011 census?
a) 2%
b) 1.64%
c) 1.16%
d) 2.50%
5. Which state has the lowest density of population?
a) Rajasthan
b) Haryana
c) Arunachal
d) Mizoram
6. Which one of the following is the largest group of India?
a) Austric
b) Sino-Tibetan
c) Indo-Aryan
d) Dravidian
7. The average density of population of IndIa (2011) is per km
a) 221
b) 216
c) 324
d) 382
8. Which state has the lowest population?
a) Punjab
b) Sikkim
c) Assam
d) Rajasthan
9. Which is the most populated country?
a) India
b) Germany
c) Russia
d) China
10. Development of transport network has lead to the high concentration of population in-
a) Peninsular states
b) Himalayan states
c) Western Ghats
d) Northern States
11. Name the state of India having the lowest share of population as per 2011 Census
a) Arunachal Pradesh
b) Tripura
c) Goa
d) Sikkim
12. How much percent of World’s population is in India?
a) 18.70%
b) 12.70%
c) 10.70%
d) 16.70%
13. Which of the following is the largest religious minority in India?
a) Buddhist
b) Muslim
c) Christian
d) Sikh
14. The growth of population rate per decade is.
a) 15.30%
b) 17.30%
c) 17.60%
d) 21.30%
15. What is the average sex ratio In India (2011)?
a) 910
b) 940
c) 923
d) 953
16. Availability of mineral & energy resources has led to increase in population in
a) Jharkhand
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Uttar Pradesh
d) Punjab
17. Where does India rank as a world population?
a) Seventh
b) Second
c) First
d) Fifth
18. Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of the urban population in India according to the 2011 Census?
a) Tamil Nadu
b) Maharashtra
c) Goa
d) Kerala
19. The literacy rate in India is:
a) 55%
b) 67%
c) 60%
d) 74%
20. When was the first census held in India?
a) 1891
b) 1861
c) 1872
d) 1881
21. Which phase is referred to as population explosion in India?
a) Phase IV
b) Phase I
c) Phase II
d) Phase III
