Population Explosion and Control Measures

• The 20th century saw unprecedented improvements in healthcare, sanitation, and nutrition. While these advances greatly improved the quality of life, they also led to an explosive rise in the global population. 
• The world population, which was around 2 billion in 1900, rocketed to about 6 billion by 2000 and 7.2 billion in 2011.
• India followed a similar trend. The population at the time of Independence (1947) was approximately 350 million, which crossed the billion mark by 2000 and reached 1.2 billion in May 2011.
• According to the 2011 Census, India's population growth rate was less than 2% (20/1000/year) - a rate that, though seemingly small, leads to millions of additional people every year.

• A rapid decline in the death rate due to better medical care
• Decline in Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR)
• Decline in Infant Mortality Rate (IMR)
• An increased number of people in the reproductive age group
• Elimination of natural checks, such as famines and epidemics, through modern science
• Improvements in living conditions and sanitation

Unchecked population growth places immense pressure on a nation's resources and infrastructure. Despite significant progress in agriculture and industry, rapid population growth can negate developmental gains.

• Absolute scarcity of basic necessities - food, shelter, and clothing
• Increased unemployment and poverty
• Strain on healthcare and education systems
• Environmental degradation - deforestation, pollution, resource depletion
• Bottleneck in national economic progress
• Risk of starvation and malnutrition in vulnerable populations

India was among the first countries in the world to initiate a national family planning programme in 1951. Since then, a range of social, legislative, and medical measures have been implemented.

1. "Hum Do Hamare Do" campaign - promoting the ideal of a family with two children through mass media, posters, and advertisements.
2. One Child Norm - voluntarily adopted by many urban, working-class couples.
3. Statutory Marriageable Age - minimum age of marriage raised to 18 years for females and 21 years for males to reduce early pregnancies.
4. Incentives for couples with small families to encourage family planning.
5. Use of Contraceptives - the most important and widely promoted measure.
6. Mass media campaigns - TV, radio, and print media are used to spread awareness about family planning and contraception.

• Rapid population growth is due to improved health facilities, reduced death rate, MMR, IMR, and increased life expectancy.
• Population explosion leads to a scarcity of basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, and affects national development.
• Birth control is essential to maintain a balance between the birth and death rates and to ensure the sustainable use of resources.
• Government measures include family planning programmes (RCH), promotion of the small-family norm, raising the marriageable age, and incentives for small families.
• Contraceptive methods and awareness through mass media help prevent unwanted pregnancies and control population growth.