Q.Describe the main demographic features of India as revealed by Census 2011.

Census 2011 recorded India's population, its growth rate, density, sex ratio and literacy rate — the core numbers every BIEAP Economics student should be able to quote. …

According to Census 2011 — the last complete Census conducted in India (the 2021 Census was not held) — the country's demographic profile can be summarised through the following key indicators:

• Total population: 1,210.9 million (about 121 crore), making India the second most populous country in the world at that time.
• Decadal growth rate (2001-2011): 17.7%, continuing a steady decline from 23.9% in 1981-91 and 21.5% in 1991-2001.
• Density of population: 382 persons per square kilometre, with sharp regional variation — much higher in states such as West Bengal and Bihar, and far lower in states such as Arunachal Pradesh.
• Sex ratio: 943 females per 1,000 males, an improvement over the 2001 figure of 933, though still below parity.
• Literacy rate: 74.04% overall, with a persistent gender gap — 82.14% among males against 65.46% among females.
• Age structure: a relatively young population, with a large working-age and youth share, which underlies the concept of the demographic dividend discussed later in this chapter.
• Urbanisation: roughly 31% of the population living in urban areas, with urbanisation continuing to rise since 2011. …

Students sometimes quote 2001 Census figures (population ~1,028 million, growth rate 21.5%, sex ratio 933) while labelling them as 2011 — always double-c …