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Revision: Indian Society >> Demographic Structure and Indian Society Sociology Commerce (English Medium) Class 12 CBSE

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Key Points: Size and Growth of India’s Population

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.

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.

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.

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

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.