Population Notes for OPSC/UPSC: Census, Density, Sex Ratio, Literacy and Languages (Part II)

These population notes for OPSC/UPSC (Part II) cover the history of the census, population size and growth, density, sex ratio, literacy, age structure and demographic dividend, urbanisation, migration, and the languages of India, with Odisha data throughout. Prelims asks mostly state-wise rankings from Census 2011 and definitions, while mains uses the same material for demographic dividend, gender and urbanisation answers. Racial elements and tribes are in Part I.

Population Notes for OPSC/UPSC: Census of India and Basic Concepts

History of the census

• The first census (not synchronous) was held in 1872 under Lord Mayo. The first synchronous and regular census was in 1881 under Lord Ripon, and the decennial series has been unbroken since. MPPSC 2017
• Census 2011 was the 15th census since 1872 and the seventh since Independence. The Census Act, 1948 governs it, and the Registrar General and Census Commissioner works under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
• 1921 is called the Year of the Great Divide, because it is the only census year when population fell compared with the previous decade (the 1918 influenza), after which growth has been continuous. UPPSC 2009
• The census of 2021 was postponed because of the pandemic, so Census 2011 remains the latest complete census for the data in these notes.

Demographic concepts

India’s Population Size and Growth (Census 2011)

• India’s population was 121.09 crore, about 17.5% of the world’s population. India is second in population but seventh in area. WBCS 2017
• The decadal growth rate was 17.7% in 2001-2011, down from 21.5% in the previous decade. India’s growth rate has fallen in every decade since 1971-81.
• Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state, with about 20 crore, and Sikkim the least, with about 6 lakh. Among the options in one PYQ, Meghalaya had the largest population of the small states. CDS 2019 Lakshadweep is the least populated UT. CDS 2011
• Highest decadal growth during 2001-11 was in Meghalaya (about 28%) and Arunachal Pradesh (about 26%), followed by Bihar. Nagaland was the only state to record a fall. UPPSC 2017
• The growth rate fell in nearly all states over the previous decade, except Tamil Nadu in one PYQ. CDS 2018

Population Density of India

• The descending order of density is Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh. CAPF 2018 The ascending order is Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh. CDS 2018
• Among Nagaland, Manipur, Sikkim and Mizoram, Mizoram has the lowest density. NDA 2017
• Density depends on relief, water, soil fertility, climate, the history of settlement and industry. Fertile plains and deltas are dense, while mountains, deserts and forests are sparse.

Sex Ratio in India

• India’s sex ratio was 943 in 2011, the highest since 1971, but the child sex ratio (0-6 years) fell to 919, the lowest since Independence.
• Highest: Kerala (1,084) among states and Puducherry (1,037) among UTs. Lowest: Haryana (879) among states and Daman and Diu (618) among UTs.
• The sharpest fall in any decade was in 1961-71 (941 to 930), while 2001-11 saw an increase. CGPSC 2020
• Haryana has the lowest child sex ratio (about 834). UPPSC 2018
• Descending order of four states: Uttarakhand (963), West Bengal (950), Madhya Pradesh (931), Jammu and Kashmir (889). CAPF 2017
• Among territories: Haryana (879), Delhi (868), Chandigarh (818), Dadra and Nagar Haveli (774) and Daman and Diu (618) in descending order.

Policy response: the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 bans sex determination, and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao (2015, launched from Panipat) targets child sex ratio.

Literacy in India: Census 2011 Data

• Literacy rate (effective, age 7 and above) was 74.04%: male 82.14% and female 65.46%. It rose from 64.83% in 2001.
• Kerala is highest (about 94%) and Bihar lowest (about 64%) among the states. Lakshadweep had the highest female literacy among the UTs. NDA 2018
• Among religious groups Jains have the highest literacy (about 95%).
• Female literacy is lowest in Rajasthan (about 53%). Odisha’s literacy is about 73%, with female literacy about 64%.

Age structure and the demographic dividend

India has a large working-age population (15-64 years), and about 65% of people are under 35. WBCS 2017 This gives a demographic dividend, a window for faster growth if jobs, skills and health are available. Social capital is different: it is the level of trust and harmony in society, not literacy or the stock of buildings. UPSC 2019

Urbanisation and Migration in India

Urban population

• Urban population was about 31.2% of the total in 2011, up from 27.8% in 2001. Goa is the most urbanised state (about 62%), and the ascending order of four states is Maharashtra, Kerala, Mizoram, Goa. CDS 2018
• Statutory towns have a municipality, corporation, cantonment board or notified area committee. Census towns need at least 5,000 people, density of 400 per sq km and 75% of male workers in non-agricultural work.
• The largest urban agglomerations in descending order are Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai. CDS 2019

Migration

• About 37% of Indians were internal migrants by place of last residence in Census 2011. CDS 2020
• Marriage is the biggest reason for female migration, while employment is the main reason for male migration. CDS 2020
• Other cohorts: the Scheduled Caste share is highest in Punjab (about 32%), and Uttar Pradesh has the most Scheduled Caste people. CDS 2018

Languages of India: Families, Eighth Schedule and Classical Languages

• Four language families cover the speakers of major Indian languages. NDA 2020 After Hindi, Bengali has the most speakers. Khasi and Garo are spoken in Meghalaya. UPPSC Mains 2002 Monpa is a language of Arunachal Pradesh, not Jammu and Kashmir. CDS 2020
• The Eighth Schedule lists 22 languages. The 92nd Amendment (2003) added Bodo, Dogri, Maithili and Santali.
• Classical languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Telugu and Kannada (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014) and later additions.
• Odisha became a separate province on 1 April 1936, the first linguistic province, celebrated as Utkal Divas. Andhra was the first linguistic state after Independence (1953).

Mains Analysis: Population, Gender and Demographic Dividend

• Demographic dividend: a young population helps only with investment in health, education and jobs. Low female labour force participation and skill gaps limit the dividend.
• Fertility transition: the south has below-replacement fertility while Bihar and Uttar Pradesh are still higher, a regional divergence with implications for ageing and for seat delimitation.
• Gender: child sex ratio and son preference, gender gap in literacy, the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao.
• Urbanisation: rapid growth of small towns, census towns and slums, strain on housing, water and transport, and Smart Cities and AMRUT as responses.
• Migration: circular labour migration, the problems exposed in the 2020 lockdown, and marriage migration of women as a distinct pattern.
• Language policy: three-language formula, status of Eighth Schedule languages, and protection of endangered tribal languages.
• Ageing: India’s old-age share is rising, so pensions and elderly care will become more important.

Population of Odisha: Census 2011 Data

• Odisha’s sex ratio of 979 is well above the national average, while its density, urbanisation and literacy are below it.
• The most populous district is Ganjam, and the densest is Khordha, where Bhubaneswar is located. Malkangiri and Nabarangpur are low-literacy tribal districts, while Jagatsinghpur is among the most literate.
• Odisha has about 62 tribes, so tribal population questions are part of the state’s demography. See Part I for details.
• Odia is the official language and a classical language. Santali, Kui and Gondi are spoken by tribal populations.

Population Practice Questions and PYQs