India’s Population Distribution by Density

  • Population Density: It is the number of people living per unit area.
    • Formula: Population Density = Total Population ÷ Area.
    • India is among the most densely populated countries in the world.
    • Interesting Fact: Only Bangladesh and Japan have higher average population densities than India. Look up their densities for comparison.
  • 2011 Census Data:
    • India’s population density: 382 persons/sq km.
    • State Variations:
      • Highest: Bihar (1,102 persons/sq km).
      • Lowest: Arunachal Pradesh (17 persons/sq km).
    • Factors influencing population density include terrain, climate, soil fertility, and rainfall:
      • Low Density: Rugged terrain and harsh climate (e.g., Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim).
      • Moderate Density: Rocky terrain, less fertile soil (e.g., Peninsular India).
      • High Density: Fertile plains and good rainfall (e.g., Northern Plains, Kerala).

Population Growth in India

  • Population Growth Definition: The change in the number of inhabitants over time.
    • Expressed in:
      1. Absolute Increase: Difference in population between two years.
      2. Growth Rate: Percentage increase per year.
  • Trends from 1951-2011:
    • Population grew from 361 million (1951) to 1,210 million (2011).
    • Growth rate peaked during 1951-1981, then gradually declined due to lower birth rates.
    • Even with declining growth rates, the absolute increase remains significant (e.g., 182 million added in the 1990s).
  • Why the Decline?
    • Birth rates reduced due to family planning and education.
    • Death rates fell due to better healthcare and living conditions.

Processes of Population Change

  1. Birth Rates: Number of live births per 1,000 people per year.
    • Key driver of population growth.
  2. Death Rates: Number of deaths per 1,000 people per year.
    • Decline in death rates contributed to population growth before 1981.
  3. Migration: Movement of people across regions.
    • Internal Migration: Within a country (e.g., rural to urban).
    • International Migration: Between countries.
    • Effects:
      • Redistribution of population.
      • Growth in urban populations due to job opportunities and better living conditions.

Adolescent Population

  • Significance:
    • Accounts for 1/5th of India’s population (age group 10-19 years).
    • Considered a resource for the future.
  • Challenges:
    • Poor nutrition leads to health issues like anemia, especially among girls.
    • Importance of spreading education and health awareness.

National Population Policy (NPP) 2000

  • Objective: To stabilize the population and improve quality of life.
  • Goals:
    • Free education for children up to 14 years.
    • Reduce infant mortality rate below 30 per 1,000 live births.
    • Promote immunization and delayed marriage for girls.
    • Encourage family welfare programs.

Key Insights for Competitive Exams

  1. Population Density Factors: Understand physical (terrain, climate) and human (economic activities) determinants.
  2. Trends and Data: Memorize significant numbers like population growth rates and densities for key states.
  3. Processes of Change:
    • Natural increase (births – deaths) is crucial for analyzing growth patterns.
    • Migration impacts urbanization and demographic composition.
  4. Adolescents and NPP: Emphasize how social policies address challenges like health, education, and gender issues.
  5. Interpreting Maps: Practice comparing population distribution maps with those of climate, soil, or vegetation to find correlations.

THESE ALL ARE THE NOTES OF CHAPTER 6 GEOGRAPHY. AND AFTER SOME TIME YOU GET IMPORTANT QUESTIONS HERE. *#THANKS FOR VISITING, VISIT AGAIN#* 😊