Q.China was able to control its rapid population growth rate owing to __________. (Choose the correct alternative to fill in the blank) (A) Economic reforms (B) One-Child Policy (C) Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution (D) Special Economic Zones

China, historically the world's most populous nation, faced significant challenges in the mid-20th century due to its rapidly expanding population. High birth rates, coupled with declining mortality rates, led to concerns about resource scarcity, economic development, and social stability. To address this, the government sought direct and effective measures to curb population growth.

The most prominent and impactful policy implemented for this purpose was the One-Child Policy. Introduced in 1979 and officially enforced from 1980, this policy mandated that most families in China could only have one child. It was a comprehensive and often stringent measure, enforced through a combination of incentives (like better access to education and healthcare for single-child families) and disincentives (such as fines, social pressure, and, in some cases, coercive measures for those who violated the policy).

The One-Child Policy significantly reduced China's fertility rate and slowed its population growth over several decades. It is widely credited with preventing hundreds of millions of births, thereby alleviating pressure on resources and contributing to China's economic development by shifting demographic structures.

Let's briefly consider why the other options are not the primary answer: …

The One-Child Policy, implemented in China from 1979 to 2015, was a drastic measure aimed at curbing the nation's rapidly growing population. The economic intuition behind such a policy was to alleviate pressure on resources, promote economic development by reducing dependency ratios, and improve living standards for a smaller population. However, such a stringent policy, especially in a society with existing cultural preferences, often leads to unintended and severe social consequences.

Let us examine each statement:

Statement 1: 'One-child policy' was very effectively used in controlling the population by the Chinese authorities.

This statement is true. The One-Child Policy is widely acknowledged by demographers and economists as having significantly reduced China's birth rate and overall population growth. Through a combination of incentives, disincentives, and strict enforcement, the policy successfully prevented hundreds of millions of births over its duration. While the long-term economic and social costs of the policy are debated, its effectiveness in achieving its primary goal of population control is well-documented.

Statement 2: One-child policy, according to scholars, led to a decline in gender ratio (the proportion of females per 1000 males). …