Explain the features of India’s population

1. Large Size and Fast Growth:

The first major characteristic of the Indian population is its large size and rapid growth. As of the 2001 census, the
population of India is 102.87 crore. In terms of size, it is the second-largest population in the world, after only
China, whose population was 127 crore in 2001. India's population was 23.6 crore in 1901 and grew to 102, 7
crores in 2001.
Besides its size, the rate of population growth has been alarming since 1951. Currently, India's population is
growing at the rate of 1.9% per year; 21 million people are added each year, more than the population of
Australia. This situation is called the population explosion and is the result of a high birth rate and a falling death
rate.

2. Second Stage of Demographic Transition:

According to the theory of demographic transition, a country's population growth passes through three different
stages as it develops. The first phase is characterized by a high birth rate and a high death rate. So, at this point,
the net population growth is zero. Until 1921, India was in the first phase of the demographic transition. The
second phase is characterized by a high birth rate and a falling death rate leading to rapid population growth.
India entered the second phase of the demographic transition after 1921. In 1921-30 India entered the second
phase, the birth rate was 464 per thousand and the death rate was 363 per thousand.

3.  Rapidly Rising Density:

Another feature of the Indian population is its rapidly increasing density. By density of population, we mean
the average number of people living per square kilometer. The population density in India was 117 per km². in
1951, which rose to 324 in 2001. This makes India one of the most densely populated countries in the world. This
negatively affects the ratio of inhabitants.
India occupies 2.4% of the total land area of the world but supports 16.7% of the total world population. In
addition, there is no causal relationship between a country's density of population and economic development.
For example, Japan and England which have a higher density may be rich and Afghanistan and Myanmar which
have a lower density may be poor. However, in an underdeveloped country like India, with its weak capital and
technology, the rapid growth in density is too heavy a burden for the country to bear.

4.  Sex Ratio Composition Unfavourable to Female:

The sex ratio refers to the number of women per thousand men. India's position is very different from other
countries. For example, the number of women per thousand men was 1170 in Russia, 1060 in the United
Kingdom, 1050 in the United States. While it is 927 in India according to the 1991 census. The sex ratio in India
was 972 per thousand in 1901, it fell to 953 in 1921 and to 950 in 1931. Again, in 1951 , the sex ratio fell further
to 946. In 1981, the sex ratio fell to 934 from 930 per thousand in 1971. In 1991, the sex ratio was recorded at
927 per thousand.
The sex ratio was 933 per thousand in 2001. Kerala has more women than men. There are 1040 women for
every thousand men. The lowest female ratio was recorded in Sikkim being 832. Among the Union territories,
the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have the lowest sex ratio, at 760. We can therefore conclude that the
composition of the ratio between the sexes is totally unfavorable to the female.

5. Predominance of Rural Population:

Another characteristic of the Indian population is the predominance of the rural population. In 1951, the rural
population was 82.7% and the urban population 17.3%. In 1991, the rural population was 74.3% and the urban
population was 257. In 2001, the rural population was 72.2% and the urban population was 27.8. The ratio of a
country's rural to urban population is an index of that country's level of industrialization. Thus, the process of
urbanization slows down and India continues to be a land of villages.

6. Low Quality Population:

The quality of the population can be judged by the life expectancy, the level of literacy, and the level of training
of the population. With these parameters in mind, the quality of the population in India is low.

(a) Low Literacy Level:

 The literacy level in India is low. The literacy level in 1991 was 52.2 percent while the literacy rate for
men was 64.1 and 39.3 percent. In 2001, the literacy rate improved to 65.4 percent, of which 75.8
percent for men and 52.1 percent for women. there are 35 crores of people in our country who are
still illiterate.

(b)  Low level of Education and Training:

The level of education and training is very low in India. The quality of the population is therefore
mediocre. The number of doctors and engineers per million inhabitants is 13 and 16 respectively. It is
much lower than that of advanced countries.

(c)  Low Life Expectancy:

By life expectancy we mean the average number of years a person is expected to live. Life
expectancy in India was 33 years. It was increased to 59 in 1991 and 2001, life expectancy increased to
63.9. Lower death rate, lower infant mortality rate and general improvement of medical facilities, etc.
they have improved life expectancy. However, life expectancy is lower in India than life expectancy in
developed countries. Life expectancy is 80 years in Japan and 78 years in Norway.

7. Low Work Participation Rate

The low proportion of the labour force population in the total population is a striking feature of the Indian
population. In India, the labor force refers to the part of the population belonging to the 15-59 age group. In
other words, the ratio of the labor force to the total population is called the labor participation rate.
This rate is very low in India compared to the developed countries of the world. The total labor force was 43%
in 1961, up from 37.6% in 1991. This position improved slightly to reach 39.2% in 2001. The low employment
rate of women and the age structure well-off are mainly responsible for the low labor market participation in
India.

8.  Symptoms of Over-population

When the size of the country's population exceeds the ideal size, it is called overpopulation. According to
T.R. Malthus, the father of demography, when the population of a country exceeds the available means of
substance, the country faces the problem of overpopulation.
Undoubtedly, food production has increased significantly to reach 212 million tons, but problems such as
poverty, hunger, malnutrition are still acute. Agriculture is overcrowded in rural areas of the country,
characterized by diminishing returns. This fact leads to the conclusion that India exhibits symptoms of
overpopulation. India's low per capital income, low standard of living, widespread unemployment and
underemployment, etc. indicate that our population size has exceeded the optimal limit.