- India is the second most populous country after China, with 1.21 billion people (2011 Census).
- From 1901–1951, population growth was low, below 1.33% annually.
- Between 1911–1921, India recorded negative growth due to the 1918–19 influenza epidemic.
- After Independence, growth rose sharply, reaching about 2.2% during 1961–1981.
- Post-1921, death rates declined rapidly due to control of famines and epidemics, while birth rates declined slowly.
- Better medical care, sanitation, vaccination, and nutrition reduced mortality.
- Birth rates remain relatively high due to social and cultural factors, though education and development have gradually reduced them.
Topics
Structural Change
- Introduction to Structural Change
- Understanding Colonialism
- Urbanisation and Industrialisation
- Overview of Structural Change
Introducing Indian Society
Indian Society
Cultural Change
- Effects of Colonialisation in India
- Social Reform Movements in the 19th and Early 20th Century
- How Do We Approach the Study of Sanskritisation, Modernisation, Secularisation and Westernisation
- Different Kinds of Social Change
- Overview of Cultural Change
Social Change and Development in India
Demographic Structure and Indian Society
- Introduction to the Demographic Structure of the Indian Society
- Some Theories and Concepts in Demography
- Size and Growth of India’s Population
- Age Structure of the Indian Population
- The Declining Sex-ratio in India
- Literacy
- Rural-urban Differences
- Population Policy in India
- Overview of Demographic Structure and Indian Society
The Story of Indian Democracy
- Introduction to the Story of Indian Democracy
- The Indian Constitution
- The Panchayati Raj and the Challenges of Rural Social Transformation
- Political Parties, Pressure Groups and Democratic Politics
Social Institutions - Continuity and Change
- Introduction to Social Institutions - Continuity and Change
- Caste and the Caste System
- The Tribal Community in India
- Family and Kinship
- Overview of Social Institutions - Continuity and Change
Change and Development in Rural Society
- Agrarian Structure: Caste and Class in Rural India
- The Impact of Land Reforms
- The Green Revolution and Its Social Consequences
- Rural Development in India (Sociological Perspective)
- Circulation of Labour
- Globalisation, Liberalisation, and Rural Society
- Overview of Change and Development in Rural Society
Market as a Social Institution
- Introduction to the Market as a Social Institution
- Sociological Perspectives on Markets and the Economy
- Understanding Capitalism as a Social System
- Globalisation – Interlinking of Local, Regional, National and International Markets
- Overview of Market as a Social Institution
Change and Development in Industrial Society
- Introduction to Change and Development in Industrial Society
- Images of Industrial Society
- Industrialisation in India
- How People Find Jobs
- How is Work Carried Out?
- Working Conditions
- Home-based Work
- Strikes and Unions
- Overview of Change and Development in Industrial Society
Pattern of Social Inequality and Exclusion
- Introduction to Pattern of Social Inquality and Exclusion
- What is Social About Social Inequality and Exclusion?
- Caste and Tribe – Systems Justifying and Perpetuating Inequality
- Struggle for Women’s Equality and Rights
- The Struggles of the Disabled
- Overview of Pattern of Social Inequality and Exclusion
The Challenges of Cultural Diversity
- Introduction to the Challenges of Cultural Diversity
- Cultural Communities and the Nation-state
- Regionalism in the Indian Context
- The Nation-state and Religion-related Issues and Identities
- State and Civil Society
- Overview of The Challenges of Cultural Diversity
Globalisation and Social Change
- Introduction to Globalisation and Social Change
- Are Global Interconnections New to World and to India
- Overview of Globalisation and Social Change
Suggestions for Project Work
- Variety of Methods
- Possible Themes and Subjects for Small Research Projects
Mass Media and Communication Process
- Introduction to Mass Media and Communication Process
- The Beginnings of Modern Mass Media
- Mass Media in Independent India
- Globalisation and the Media
- Overview of Mass Media and Communication Process
Social Movements
- Introduction to Social Movements
- Features of a Social Movement
- Sociology and Social Movements
- Types of Social Movements
- Ecological Movements
- Class Based Movements
- Caste Based Movements
- The Tribal Movements
- Womens’ Movement in India
- Overview of Social Movements
Estimated time: 41 minutes
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society
- Demography: Scientific study of population—its size, structure, distribution, and changes over time.
- Origin: Derived from Greek words demos (people) and graphein (to describe).
- Scope: Studies births, deaths, migration, and population composition by age and sex.
- Types: Formal demography uses statistical methods; social demography focuses on social, economic, and political factors.
- Methods: Based on census and survey data within a defined territory.
- Importance: Helps in policy planning, economic development, and understanding social change.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: The Malthusian Theory of Population Growth
- Basic Idea: Malthus stated that population grows faster than food production, leading to poverty and scarcity.
- Growth Pattern: Population increases in geometric progression (2, 4, 8, 16), while food production grows in arithmetic progression (2, 4, 6, 8).
- Checks on Population: Population growth is controlled by preventive checks (late marriage, abstinence) and positive checks (famine, disease, war).
- Criticism: Later studies showed Malthus was incorrect as food production and living standards increased; poverty was linked more to unequal resource distribution than population growth.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Age Structure of the Indian Population
- India has a young population, with a large proportion of people in the lower age groups.
- The share of the 0–14 age group declined from about 42% in 1971 to 29% in 2011, and is projected to fall further.
- The working-age group (15–59 years) has increased steadily, from about 53% in 1961 to around 63–64% by 2011–2026.
- The proportion of the elderly population (60+ years) is small but rising, from about 5–6% in 1961 to around 12% by 2026.
- India’s age structure is expected to change significantly, with fewer children and more elderly people in the coming decades.
- Regional variations exist: Kerala shows an ageing population pattern, while Uttar Pradesh has a much younger age structure.
- The growing working-age population offers a potential demographic dividend, which can benefit India only if supported by education, skills, and employment.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: The Theory of Demographic Transition
- The Theory of Demographic Transition explains the link between population growth and economic development.
- It suggests that all societies pass through stages of population growth as they develop.
- The first stage has high birth rates and high death rates, resulting in low population growth.
- The transitional stage shows falling death rates while birth rates remain high, causing rapid population growth.
- The final stage is marked by low birth rates and low death rates, leading to low and stable population growth.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Common Concepts and Indicators of Demography
- Most demographic concepts are expressed as rates or ratios, involving two numbers for comparison.
- The birth rate is the number of live births per 1,000 population in a given area during a year.
- The death rate is the number of deaths per 1,000 population in a given area during a year.
- The rate of natural increase is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate.
- The fertility rate refers to the number of live births per 1,000 women in the reproductive age group (15–49 years).
- Infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate indicate the level of development, health facilities, and education in a society.
- Other important indicators include life expectancy, sex ratio, age structure, and dependency ratio, which reflect population composition and economic burden.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Size and Growth of India’s Population
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: The Declining Sex-ratio in India
- The sex ratio is an important indicator of gender balance, defined as the number of females per 1,000 males.
- Historically, India’s sex ratio was above 1,000, but it has been declining for over a century.
- The overall sex ratio fell from 972 in 1901 to 933 in 2001, and then improved slightly to 943 in 2011.
- The child sex ratio (0–6 years) has declined much more sharply than the overall sex ratio.
- Between 1991 and 2001, the child sex ratio dropped drastically from 945 to 927, and further declined to 919 in 2011.
- The main reasons for the declining child sex ratio include son preference, female foeticide, sex-selective abortions, and neglect of girl children.
- Laws like the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act and programmes such as Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao aim to address this serious social problem.
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Literacy
- Literacy is an instrument of empowerment and improves career awareness, health awareness, and participation in economic and cultural life.
- India’s literacy level has improved significantly after Independence, with nearly two-thirds of the population being literate.
- Female literacy has increased faster than male literacy, especially between 2001 and 2011, though it still remains lower than male literacy.
- Literacy rates show wide inequalities across gender, regions, and social groups, with SCs, STs, and some states lagging behind.
- Low literacy reproduces inequality, as illiterate parents face difficulties in ensuring good education for their children.
CBSE: Class 12
Difference Between Urban and Rural Areas
|
Basis |
Rural Areas |
Urban Areas |
|
Population share |
Majority of population lives here |
Smaller but growing population |
|
Main occupation |
Agriculture and allied activities |
Industry, services, and non-farm work |
|
Employment |
Limited job opportunities |
More and diverse job opportunities |
|
Lifestyle |
Traditional way of life |
Modern way of life |
|
Migration |
Source of out-migration |
Destination of migrants |
CBSE: Class 12
Key Points: Population Policy in India
- Population policy supports national development, health, and well-being, especially in developing countries like India.
- India announced its first official population policy in 1952 through the National Family Planning Programme.
- Early goals focused on reducing growth, promoting birth control, and improving public health.
- During the Emergency (1975–76), coercive sterilisation led to public backlash.
- Later renamed the National Family Welfare Programme, abandoning coercive measures.
- The National Population Policy 2000 and National Health Policy 2017 adopted a broader approach linking population with health, education, and development.
