ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:
Answer the following questions :
1. What do you mean by population ?
Ans: Population is an aggregate of individuals, with reference to a geographical area .
2. “People make and use resources”. Explain ?
Ans: Coal is just a piece of rock, unless human beings invent a technique to unearth it, then coal becomes a resource .
3. When do natural events like famine, floods etc become a disaster ?
Ans: Natural events like famine, flood , earthquake and tsunami becomes a disaster only when these affect the people in a given area .
4. What provides the basis to understand and appreciate all aspects of the environment ?
Ans: The number of people, their distribution, growth and characteristics provide the basis to understand and appreciate all aspects of environment .
5. According to Prof. Harrison what is population ?
Ans: According to Prof. Harrison “Population – Human resource constitute the ultimate basis for the wealth of nations” .
6. Briefly describe the size and distribution of India’s population .
Ans: India’s population, according to the census of 2011, was 1210.19 million. This is the second largest populous country in the world .
-Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state of India; and Sikkim is the least populous state in India. About half of the population of India lives in five most populous state, viz. Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh .
-The states with deserts, forest, rugged terrain and unfavourable climatic conditions have sparse population ; whereas the states with favourable geographical conditions have thick density of population .
7. What do you mean by density of population? Write a few sentences regarding India
Ans: India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The density of India’s population as per 2011 census, was 382 persons per sq km. Density of population is calculated on the basis of number of person per sq km .
8. State and briefly describe all the factors responsible for population growth .
Ans:
i) Birth Rate :
The term ‘Birth rate’ refers to the number of persons born per 1000 per year .
a) Early Marriage
-The marriageable age in India is early as compared to the developed countries .
b) Illiteracy
-Even today about 25% population of India is illiterate. The percentage of illiteracy is higher among the women .
c) Poverty
-The poor regard every child as a potential source of earning. As a result, the poor have larger families .
ii) Death rate :
The term ‘Death rate’ refers to the number of deaths per 1000 per year .
a) Control over natural calamities :
-The natural calamities like famines, floods, earthquakes and epidemics were devastating. However, these have been brought under control with advances in medical science, rescue operations etc .
b) Improvement in medical facilities :
-There has been considerable improvement, in universalisation of medical services in India through the network of primary health centres, cottage and civil hospitals. As a result, the death rate has declined .
9. What is age composition structure? Explain .
Ans: The age composition of population indicates the number of people in the various age groups in the country. By this criteria, the population is divided into children, adults and the aged who are no longer working. The adult age group constitutes the productive population; whereas the children and the aged are regarded as economically unproductive population .
10. What is sex ratio .
Ans: The sex ratio is the proportion of female to male population. It is measured per 1000. It is an important social indicator to measure gender equality in the society at a given time .
11. In India the sex ratio has always remained unfavourable to women. Why do we say so ?
Ans: This is due to the patriarchal nature of Indian society; wherein the preference was always for the male-child and even today in some traditional communities, female infanticide is practiced .
12. Who is “literate’ ?
Ans: A person whose age is 7 years and above and who can understand, read and write in any language is considered literate .
13. What is ‘literacy’ regarded as .
Ans: Literacy is regarded as one of the major qualitative criteria of human development. Low level of literacy is considered as an impediment in the economic development of a country .
14. To overcome this what measures has the government taken ?
Ans: In order to overcome this impediment, the Right to Education (RTE) has been recognized as a Fundamental Right in 2009. The Government of India has launched ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ (SSA) to achieve universal literacy .
15. What is occupational structure ?
Ans: The distribution of population on the basis of occupations is regarded as occupational structure .
16. What are the three sectors of the occupational sector ?
Ans: The three sectors are :
i) Primary Sector : Agriculture and allied activities, animal husbandry, forestry, fishery, mining and quarrying .
ii) Secondary Sector : Manufacturing (industries) and construction activities .
iii) Tertiary Sector : Transport, communication, trade and commerce, administration and other services .
17. There is a shift in occupational structure towards secondary and tertiary sector activities. Why ?
Ans: There is a shift in occupational structure towards secondary and tertiary sector activities due to the spread of industrialization and urbanization .
18. Explain about the criteria ‘health’ of the Human Development Index .
Ans: Health is one of the criteria of the Human Development Index. It is a qualitative criteria that is needed for the process of development. In the post independence period the death rate has rapidly declined and the expectancy of life has increased. There is universalisation of health services and primary health centres have been set up even in the remote tribal areas .
-In spite of considerable progress, the health services is a matter of major concern. The infant mortality rate of India is the highest in the world. The per capita consumption of food is far too below the required level, resulting in malnutrition and starvation. Safe drinking water and sanitation facilities are still to reach a large number of villages .
19. Who are adolescents? Why should we pay special attention to them ?
Ans: Adolescents are the persons who are in the age group of 10 to 19 years. About 20% of India’s total population is in the adolescent age group. The individuals in this age group are the potential human resource of the country. Therefore attention needs to be paid to their nutritional requirements for their proper physical and mental development .
20. How does the National Policy of 2000 protect the adolescents ?
Ans: The national population policy of 2000 lays special emphasis on their nutritional requirements; protecting them from sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted pregnancies. It suggests measures to curb child marriage and encourages delayed marriage and child-bearing. It emphasises the need for educating them about the high risks involved in unprotected sex and providing contraceptive services at an affordable price. It regards the people in the adolescent age group as the most valuable resource as a well–educated healthy population provides potential resource to the country .
21. Write short note on population of Goa .
Ans: The state of Goa has a population of 14.59 lakhs, as per the 2011 census when compared to the total 3,702 sq. km area of the state Goa has a medium density of population. It is the smallest state in India in terms of area .
-Tourism has contributed to urbanization and therefore we find 60% of population in the urban areas. In rural areas, the population growth rate is negative, which means the population is greatly decreasing .
Fill in the blanks :
1. Population is also regarded as human resource of work force .
2. India’s population according to the census of 2011 was 1210.10 million .
3. India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world .
4. The absolute number indicates the magnitude of increase in population .
5. The common natural calamities are famines, floods, earthquakes, and epidemics .
6. Full form of PDS and FSA = Public Distribution System , Food Security Act .
7. The Sex ratio is the proportion of female to male population .
8. The full form of SSA is Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan .
9. The distribution of population on the basis of occupations is called Occupational structure .
10. Health is one of the criteria of Human development Index .
11. The family planning programme was renamed as the Family Welfare Programme in 1977 .
12. Adolescent is the stage of life when a person is in the age group of 10 to 19 years .
13. The state of Goa has a population of 14.59 lakhs as per the 2011 census .
14. Tourism has contributed to urbanisation and therefore we find 60 percent of the population in urban areas .
15. Literacy rate in Goa was 88.70% as per 2011 census population .