RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 13 India: Population Distribution, Density and Growth

Rajasthan Board RBSE Class 12 Geography Notes Chapter 13 India: Population Distribution, Density and Growth

Introduction :

The development of any nation depends on its natural and human resources.
Area of India is almost 2.4% of the world, while about 17.5% population of the world resides here.
India is at the second place in the world after China in terms of population.
According to the relative status of resources and population, status of economic development is determined.

Population Distribution :

Main feature of Indian population is its uneven distribution.
About 50% population of India resides in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh.
Population distribution depends on geographical factors.
In terms of population distribution in India, the plain regions hold the first position, the plateau areas hold the second position, and the coastal areas, eastern mountainous states and western part of Rajasthan hold the third position.

Factors Affecting Population Distribution and Density :

Population distribution is controlled by natural, social, economic, demographic, political and historical factors.
Climate, surface structure, water availability, transport facility, distribution of minerals, political conditions and social-psychological factors are determining factors for population distribution.

Population Density :

Population density refers to a certain proportion of population and inhabited surface. It is expressed as the number of people living per unit area.
The ratio of total population and total geographical area is called the arithmetical density of population.
Population density also increases relatively along with the population growth. According to 2011 census, average population density of India is 382 people per square kilometre.
In 2011, Bihar was the state with the highest population density (1102 people per sq. 1cm) and Arunachal Pradesh was the state with the lowest population density (17 people per sq. km).
In union territories, the highest population density was in Delhi (11297 people per sq. km) and the lowest population density was in Andaman-Nicobar Islands (46 people per sq. km).
In terms of population density, India is divided into areas of high density, moderate density and low density.

Population Growth :

First census of India was conducted in 1872, but the complete census of entire India was done in 1881.
The change in population during a certain time period is called population growth.
The period of Indian population growth has been divided into four categories – period of slow growth, period of steady growth, period of rapid growth and period of declining growth.
The year 1921 is called the Great Demographic Separator in population development of India.
The year 1951 is called Second Demographic Separator because after this period, the population started growing rapidly.

Spatial Pattern of Population Growth :

In almost all the states of India, population growth declined more in 2001-2011, in comparison to 1991-2001.
Meghalaya is the state with the highest population growth rate, while the maximum reduction in population growth rate is in Nagaland (-65.00 per cent).
In terms of population growth, India has been divided into 3 regions – regions with rapid population growth, regions with moderate population growth and regions with less population growth. Effects of Population Growth
Failure of planned economic growth, lower educational level, rise of religious conservatism, lack of respect for women, lack of comfort and facilities, etc. are included in the effects of population growth.
The problems like lack of houses, lack of food and water supply, environmental problems, exploitation of natural resources, low status of health, decrease in bio-diversity, lack of water, climate changes, destruction of forests, ecological imbalance have emerged as the socio-economic effects of population-growth. Solution for Control of Population Growth
Population growth can be controlled by increasing the age of marriage, increasing the production, expansion of family welfare programes and spread of education.

Glossary :

Population : Number of people residing in a state is called its population. This term is also used for the number of plants or animals.
Population Density : The average number of people residing in a definite unit of an area (like one sq. km.).
Population Growth : Changes in the number of people living in a particular area between two certain period of time is called Population Growth.
Resource : Every substance found on the earth or on other planets and satellites which is useful for human beings is called Resource.
Plateau : Extensive high area with flat or almost flat land, whose height is generally more than 300 metre above the sea-level.
Desert : The isolated area where vegetation is not developed due to lack of moisture, although short grass and shrubs are found here and there.
Agriculture : The practice through which the crops are produced from the soil.
Climate : It represents average weather conditions and the variations found in those conditions, prevailing in an extensive area over a long period of time.
Transport : The process of carrying goods and persons from one place to another place by any mode.
Mineral : Natural substance with certain chemical composition found on the earth’s surface, which has certain physical and chemical properties.
Urbanisation : The word urbanisation is used differently in reference with different meanings and contexts.
Arithmetical Density : The number of people per square kilometre is called arithmetical density.
Irrigation : Artificial arrangement of supplying water to the farms for growing crops and their production in dry season.
Plantation Agriculture : Agriculture done in the form of large plantations, in which trees are planted once, and after some time, they give production for many years.
Delta : A delta is an area of low, flat land shaped like a triangle, where a river splits and spreads out into several branches before entering the sea.
Intensive Farming : An agricultural system, under which, generally in more populated states, to get more production from the land, the best quality of seeds, fertilizers, advanced agricultural equipment and suitable means of irrigation are used.
Industry : Any work done for economic production. Under this, mainly manufacturing industries and secondary industries are included.
Birth-rate : The ratio of total live births per 1000 population in a specific area over a particular period of time.
Death-rate : The ratio of total deaths per 1000 population in a specific area over a particular period of time.
Literacy : Literacy is defined as being able to read and write, or having knowledge about a specific subject.
Family Planning : The process of limiting the family using different types of advanced and modern methods.
Economy : Economy or economic system is that structure of institutions by which social control is exercised on the means of production and the use of the goods and services produced by it.
Environment: The surroundings or conditions in which a person, animal or plant lives or operates is called the environment. Environment affects the living beings and the living beings affect the environment.
Tour : A journey made with the objectives of pleasure, income, business, education, health – benefit, survey, etc., in which the tourists return to their original place at the end of their journey.
Green House Effect : It is a process in which the temperature of the earth increases, the heat of the Sun can reach the surface of the earth and the atmosphere but cannot be expelled out of the atmosphere in the same amount.
Flood : An overflow of a large amount of water beyond its normal limits, especially over a normally dry land, due to which an extensive land area is submerged in water.
Drought : A prolonged period of normally low rainfall, leading to shortage of water, whereby the vegetation starts drying.
Pollution : The undesirable changes in the physical, chemical and biological properties of air, water and soil, which cause harm to humans and other living organisms.
Unemployment : Despite the ability and willingness to do any economic work, a person remaining without a job.