Demography & Census — Indian Economy

Q.1

WBCS Prelims 2002

The average annual growth rate of India’s population for 1990-99 was

A. 2.5000000000000001E-2

B. 2.1999999999999999E-2

C. 0.02

D. 1.7999999999999999E-2

Explanation

Core Formula/Logic: Population growth rate = [(Ending population ÷ Starting population)^(1/number of years) - 1] × 100, where 1990-99 covers 9 years.
Step-by-Step Solution: 1. India's population in 1990: 846.4 million (Census 1991 provisional).
2. India's population in 1999: 1,000 million (1 billion estimate).
3. Growth factor = 1,000 ÷ 846.4 = 1.1815.
4. Annual growth factor = 1.1815^(1/9) = 1.0187.
5. Annual growth rate = (1.0187 - 1) × 100 = 1.87% ≈ 1.8%.
Common Pitfall: Using 10 years instead of 9 (1990-99 inclusive) gives 1.81%, still closest to 1.8%. Misreading 1990-99 as 1990-2000 yields 2.0%.
Shortcut/Takeaway: For decade growth approximations, 1.8% annual growth doubles population in 39 years (Rule of 70: 70 ÷ 1.8 ≈ 39). India's growth rate declined from 2.2% (1980s) to 1.8% (1990s).

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Q.2

WBCS Prelims 2004

The policy of family planning was adopted by the Government of India in

A. 1950

B. 1951

C. 1956

D. 1962

Explanation

Why Correct: India launched the world's first national family planning program in 1951 as part of the First Five-Year Plan (1951-1956).
Distractor Analysis: 1950 marks the adoption of the Indian Constitution. 1956 saw the States Reorganization Act creating linguistic states. 1962 was the year of the Sino-Indian War.
Takeaway: The National Population Policy was formally announced in 1976 during the Emergency, and the current National Population Policy 2000 aims to achieve population stabilization by 2045.

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Q.3

WBCS prelims 2024

Dependency Ratio of a country is

A. Ratio of Imports to Gross Domestic Product.

B. Ratio of Foreign Direct Investment to Total Investment.

C. Ratio of Non-working Age Population to Working Age Population.

D. Ratio of Government Expenditure to National Income.

Explanation

Why Correct: The dependency ratio is a demographic measure that compares the number of people typically not in the labour force (those aged 0–14 and 65 and above) to the number of people of working age (usually 15–64). It is expressed as a percentage and indicates the economic burden carried by the working-age population in supporting the dependent population.
Distractor Analysis: The ratio of imports to GDP is a measure of trade openness, not dependency. The ratio of FDI to total investment reflects the share of foreign investment in a country's total investment, unrelated to age structure. The ratio of government expenditure to national income is a fiscal indicator, not a demographic one.
Takeaway: A high dependency ratio implies a greater burden on the working-age population, which can affect savings, investment, and economic growth. India's dependency ratio has been declining due to falling fertility rates, contributing to the demographic dividend, but it is projected to rise again after 2041 as the population ages.

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