Geography · Ch 9 — Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition
Regional Variation in Population Growth
Regional Variation in Population Growth
The growth of India’s population is not uniform across the country. Different states and union territories show very different rates of population increase, and this pattern has been consistent over recent decades.
The Broad Pattern: Low Growth in the South, High Growth in a Northern Belt
During the decade 1991–2001, a clear geographical divide emerged. The southern states and a few others — Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Puducherry, and Goa — recorded a low decadal growth rate, not exceeding 20 per cent. Among these, Kerala stood out with the lowest growth rate in the entire country, at just 9.4 per cent.
In contrast, a continuous belt of states stretching from west to east across the north-west, north, and north-central parts of the country showed relatively high growth rates. This belt includes Gujarat, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand. In these states, the average decadal growth rate remained between 20 and 25 per cent.
The Recent Trend: A Widespread Decline
The pattern for the next decade, 2001–2011, shows a significant shift. Almost all states and union territories registered a lower growth rate compared to 1991–2001. This decline was particularly notable in the six most populous states:
| State | Change in Decadal Growth Rate (2001–2011 compared to 1991–2001) |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Fell by 3.5 percentage points (the smallest fall) |
| Maharashtra | Fell by 6.7 percentage points (the largest fall) |
However, two areas bucked this trend. Tamil Nadu and Puducherry actually registered an increase in their decadal growth rate during 2001–2011 compared to the previous decade — by 3.9 and 7.1 percentage points, respectively.
The Adolescent Population: A Special Focus
An important aspect of population growth is the size and condition of the adolescent population. As of 2011, adolescents — defined as persons in the age group of 10–19 years — made up about 20.9 per cent of India’s total population. Of these, male adolescents constituted 52.7 per cent and female adolescents 47.3 per cent.
This group is regarded as the youthful population with high potential, but it is also highly vulnerable if not properly guided. The textbook lists several serious challenges facing adolescents in India:
- Lower age at marriage
- Illiteracy, especially among females
- High school dropout rates
- Low intake of nutrients
- High maternal mortality among adolescent mothers
- High rates of HIV and AIDS infections
- Physical and mental disability or retardedness
- Drug abuse and alcoholism
- Juvenile delinquency and crime
Government Policies for Youth and Adolescents
Recognising these challenges, the Government of India has launched specific policies to channelise the talents of young people and ensure their overall development.
The National Youth Policy (NYP–2014), launched in February 2014, proposes a holistic vision: “To empower the youth of the country to achieve their full potential, and through them enable India to find its rightful place in the community of nations.” This policy defines ‘youth’ as persons in the age group of 15–29 years. …