Population & Related Problems in India

Two reasons behind population explosion in India are:

1. Lack of education — A large part of the population belongs to the rural community and is mostly illiterate. They do not know even the functioning of the reproductive system and cannot think about the consequences of having a large family.
2. Desire to have a male child — Most Indians believe that only a son can look after them in their old age and continue the lineage, so couples keep having children.

1. Tool-making revolution
2. Agricultural revolution
3. Scientific and industrial revolution

(i) The study of the vital statistics of populations and how they change over time is called demography.

(ii) Population density is the number of individuals per square kilometre at any given time.

(iii) Growth rate of population is the difference between the birth rate and death rate.

(iv) Unequal distribution of wealth is the economic inequality in the country in the fields of wealth, income and consumption.

(i) The technique shown is tubectomy.

(ii) It is a surgical method of permanent sterilisation in females. The fallopian tubes (oviducts) are cut and ligated so that the sperm and ovum cannot meet, thereby preventing fertilisation and pregnancy.

(iii) The organs numbered 1 to 3 are:

• 1 → Infundibulum (fimbriated end of the oviduct)
• 2 → Ampulla of the oviduct
• 3 → Cut/ligated part of the oviduct

(iv) A similar technique adopted in males is vasectomy.

carrying capacity

Reason — Carrying capacity is the maximum number of individuals an environment can support. This limit is set by the food supply or by some other critical resource in short supply and is represented by a constant K.

vasectomy

Reason — In vasectomy, a small cut is made in the scrotum, the vas deferens (sperm duct) is ligated and a small piece between the two ligatures is removed, preventing sperms from reaching the semen.

Amniocentesis

Reason — Amniocentesis is a technique used to detect genetic disorders and abnormalities in the foetus. It is not a method of birth control, whereas tubectomy, contraceptive pills and vasectomy are all methods used to prevent pregnancy.

Boys 21 years, Girls 18 years

Reason — By law in India, the minimum age of marriage for boys is 21 years and for girls is 18 years. This age of marriage should be followed strictly and child marriage should be discouraged.

Natality

Reason — Natality (birth rate) is the number of live births per 1000 individuals in the population per year.

Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)

Explanation

IUDs (like Copper-T or Loop) are placed in the uterus and prevent the implantation of the fertilised egg, so (A) is true. Condoms are barrier devices that prevent the sperms from reaching the cervix, so (R) is also true. However, both statements describe two different contraceptive methods, so (R) does not explain (A).

Oviducts

Reason — In tubectomy, the surgical method of sterilisation in females, the oviducts (fallopian tubes) are cut and tied (ligated) to close the passage of eggs so that the egg cannot reach the uterus.

Tubectomy

Reason — Since Geeta has already completed her family and wants to prevent future pregnancies permanently, tubectomy (a permanent surgical method of sterilisation in females) is the most suitable procedure for her. Oral pills and Femidom are temporary methods, while MTP is a method of terminating an existing pregnancy.

The number of persons added each year

Reason — The magnitude of population growth refers to the actual number of persons added to the population each year.

Demography

Reason — Demography is the statistical study of human population with reference to size, density, distribution and other vital statistics.

Decline of death rate

Reason — The main cause for the high growth of population is the decline in the death rate due to better health facilities and medical care, while the birth rate has remained high.

Population density

Reason — Population density is the number of individuals per unit area (per square kilometre) at any given time.

The size of its adolescent population

Reason — A significant feature of the Indian population is its large adolescent (young reproductive-age) population, which adds greatly to future population growth.

All of these

Reason — Increased food availability due to agricultural production (Green revolution), a high birth rate along with a declining death rate, and improvements in medical technology together have contributed to the increase in human population.

death rate

Reason — Growth rate of population is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate. If the birth rate exceeds the death rate, the population grows.

P - Study of vital statistics of populations, Q - Number of individuals per square kilometre at any given time.

Reason — Demography (P) is the study of the vital statistics of populations, while population density (Q) is the number of individuals per square kilometre at any given time.

(i) Birth rate (Natality)

(ii) Tubectomy

(iii) Demography

(iv) Vasectomy (in men) and Tubectomy (in women)

(v) Population density

(vi) Population density

(i) False
Corrected Statement — Overpopulation has an adverse effect on resources.

(ii) False
Corrected Statement — Tidal, wind and nuclear energy are the non-conventional forms of energy.

(iii) False
Corrected Statement — The cutting of fallopian tube in female is called tubectomy.

(iv) False
Corrected Statement — Mortality is the number of deaths per thousand of the population per year.

(v) False
Corrected Statement — Tubectomy is the surgical method of sterilisation in females.

Birth rate (natality) is the number of births per 1000 individuals in the population per year, or the average number of children per unit time.

Death rate (mortality) is the number of deaths per 1000 individuals in the population per year.

Demography is the study of the vital statistics of populations and how they change over time, especially with reference to size, density, distribution and other vital statistics.

Census is the physical counting of individuals present in a given area at a given time.

Population density is the number of individuals per square kilometre (km²) at any given time.

The two surgical methods of population control are:

1. Tubectomy (in females)
2. Vasectomy (in males)

Two factors responsible for population explosion in India are:

1. Desire for a male child.
2. Illiteracy and Lack of awareness about birth control measures.

Two resources which come under pressure due to rising population are:

1. Water
2. Forests

Three reasons why the growth of population has not been appreciably checked in India are:

1. Lack of education — The illiterate rural population is unaware of family planning methods.
2. Religious customs and old beliefs — Children are considered God-gifted, and family planning is thought to be against religious and social customs.
3. Desire to have a male child — People keep having children in the hope of getting a son.

Poverty and population are closely linked to each other. Poverty prevails mainly because of illiteracy and traditional beliefs among the economically weaker sections of society. Such people regard children as a gift of God and as helping hands to increase the family income, so they keep producing more children. This increases the population. A rising population puts great pressure on the limited natural resources, lowers the per capita income and reduces the quality of life, which in turn deepens poverty. Thus, poverty leads to a rise in population and a rising population leads to more poverty, forming a vicious cycle.

Advantages of having small families are:

1. Parents can provide better education to their children.
2. The family has better savings and economic security.
3. The health of the mother and children remains good with proper diet and nutrition.
4. The family enjoys a better standard of living.

Family welfare centres are the departments or institutions such as hospitals and dispensaries which are committed to providing advice and help about family planning and the total welfare of the family, including the care of the mother and the children.

With the increase in population, pressure mounts on natural resources leading to their scarcity:

1. Food — Population rises in geometrical progression while food production increases in arithmetic progression, so food falls short, leading to undernourishment, malnutrition and famines.
2. Forests — Forests are cleared to meet the demand for housing and agricultural land, leading to deforestation, droughts, floods and soil erosion.
3. Water — Pollution of rivers, ponds and lakes increases, leading to scarcity of clean drinking water.
4. Minerals — Non-renewable resources like iron, copper and aluminium are being depleted due to mining.
5. Energy — Fossil fuels like coal and petroleum are depleting fast due to increasing demand for energy.

Population explosion is a rapid and excessive increase in population over a relatively short period of time.

It affects the condition of the people of a country in the following ways:

1. It leads to unemployment.
2. It causes over-exploitation of natural resources.
3. It results in low per capita income and price rise.
4. It causes pollution and environmental degradation.
5. It leads to shortage of food, space, clothing and drinking water.
6. It results in poor health, poverty and the growth of slums.

An educated person understands the need to limit the size of the family, to space the births of children properly and to be aware of the disadvantages of a large family. Such a person can therefore adopt suitable family planning methods to keep the family small and healthy, which ensures a better standard of living, better education and good health for all family members.

A surgical method suitable for a man is vasectomy. In this surgery, a small cut is made in the scrotum, the vas deferens (sperm duct) is ligated, and a small piece between the two ligatures is removed. This prevents the sperms from reaching the semen.

1. Overpopulation — A large population puts pressure on resources like food, water, and housing, leading to shortages and poor living conditions.
2. Economic Stability — Smaller families can provide better education, healthcare, and opportunities for each child, improving overall quality of life.

(i) The death rate has reduced due to better healthcare and new discoveries in medical sciences (such as large-scale immunisation against fatal diseases and fewer infant deaths).

(ii) Food is one resource that is under pressure due to population explosion.

(i) The parts marked A, B, C, D and E are:

• A → Seminal vesicle
• B → Vas deferens (sperm duct)
• C → Urethra
• D → Testis
• E → Scrotum

(ii) The surgical method represented in the diagram is vasectomy.

(iii) The vas deferens (sperm duct) is ligated or cut.

(iv) The corresponding surgical method conducted on females is tubectomy.

(i) The technique is tubectomy.

(ii) Tubectomy is a surgical method of permanent sterilisation in females. The fallopian tubes (oviducts) are cut and ligated so that the sperm and ovum cannot meet, thereby preventing fertilisation and pregnancy.

(iii) The similar technique adopted in men is vasectomy.

(iv) The organs numbered 1 to 5 are:

• 1 → Cut/ligated part of the oviduct
• 2 → Uterus
• 3 → Fallopian tube (Oviduct)
• 4 → Infundibulum with fimbriae
• 5 → Ovary

(v) The fallopian tube (oviduct) is cut and ligated in females so that the sperm and ovum cannot meet in the oviduct. Thus, fertilisation is prevented.