Chapter 14. Population: Our Greatest Resource Textbook Solutions

NIOS Social Science Class 10 Chapter 14 Solutions

INTEXT QUESTIONS 14.1

1. What is meant by resource?

Ans: Something that can be used or reused by us.

2. Enumerate qualities that are essential for making human beings a resource.

Ans: Education, health and nutrition, specialized training.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 14.2

1. Which one of the following States has the highest density of population according to 2001?

A. West Bengal

B. Kerala

C. Tamil Nadu

D. Uttar Pradesh

Ans: A. West Bengal

2. The population of a district is 3, 00,000 and its area is1000 square km. What would be the density of population?

A. 150 persons/sq. km

B. 200 persons/sq. km

C. 250 persons/sq. km

D. 300 persons/sq. km

Ans: D. 300 persons/square km

3. Mention four important factors that are responsible for high density of population in big cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai.

Ans: Industrialization; (ii) Urbanization; (iii) Employment opportunities; (iv) Means of transport and communication.

4. Why is the population density of Uttarakhand low? Give two reasons.

Ans:

(i) Rugged topography
(ii) Harsh climatic conditions

INTEXT QUESTIONS 14.3

1. If in an area, birth rate is 45 per thousand and death rate is 25 per thousand, what would be the natural growth rate?

A. 15 per thousand

B. 18 per thousand

C. 20 per thousand

D. 25 per thousand

Ans: C. 20 per thousand

2. Which one of the following is the main reason for the rapid increase in population of India?

A. High birth rate and high death rate

B. Low birth rate and low death rate

C. High birth rate and low death rate

D. Low birth rate and high death rate

Ans: C. High birth rate and low death rate

3. Why is 1921 called the year of “The great demographic divide”?

Ans: The year 1921 shows a decline in population, but after that it has been increasing continuously.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 14.4

1. According to 2001 census, the sex ratio of India is:

A. 920

B. 927

C. 933

D. 943

Ans: C. 933

2. The percentage of urban population, according to 2001 census is:

A. 27.8

B. 26.7

C. 25.7

D. 24.0

Ans: A. 27.8

3. What would be the result if the dependency ratio is more?

Ans: The government has to invest more in the welfare of the dependent population, and hence less available funds for greater developmental works in the country.

4. State any two reasons responsible for unfavourable sex ratio in India.

Ans:

(i) Discrimination against females.
(ii) Female foeticide and infanticide.

INTEXT QUESTIONS 14.5

1. Suppose a particular district has an area of 200 square Km. The same district records the total number of persons as 17400, 26200, 36200, 47200, 59800, 75200 according to 1951, 1961, 1971, 1981, 1991 and 2001 census, respectively.

A. Calculate the density of population for all six censuses.

B. Find out the decadal change in density.

C. Can you find any trend from your calculation of population density?

Ans:

14.5

Year	A	B	C
	Density	Decade	change in density
1951	87	–	A continuously increasing trend in the density of the population
1961	131	44
1971	181	50
1981	236	55
1991	299	63
2001	376	77

TERMINAL EXERCISES

1. Define sex-ratio. Why is the sex-ratio in India unfavorable?

Ans: Sex ratio is defined as the number of females per 1000 males. In India, the sex ratio has always remained unfavourable to females, and the matter of concern is that it has been declining. In the year 1901, there were 972 females per 1000 males. In 2001, it came down to 933 only.

2. Define population growth rate and explain how it is arrived at.

Ans: Natural growth rate is the difference between birth rate and death rate.

Therefore, the natural growth rate = birth rate – death rate.

Suppose the birth rate of a particular year within an area is 32 and the death rate is 24.

Therefore, the natural growth rate is 32 – 24 = 8 per thousand of the population.

3. What inferences can we draw from the age composition data of India?

Ans: As per the age composition data of India, it is obvious that the child population is declining and the population of adults has been increasing. However, the population of the elderly is also increasing. In this way, the share of the dependent population is increasing. The population of the old and children put together constitutes the dependent population. When the number of dependent populations increases, the dependency ratio goes up. As a result, the country has to invest more in the growth and development of children and the welfare of the elderly; otherwise, the same resources can be used for other productive purposes.

4. How can we turn our huge population into a resource?

Ans: India is considered a leading nation in the world in terms of human power. One of the major contributory factors for this global standing has been the young, educated and productive people of our country. They are contributing to the development of not only our country, but also many of the foreign countries. In this context, population is an asset for the economy, the greatest resource of the country, rather than a liability.

5 Define the following terms

(i) Density of population

(ii) Birth rate, Death rate and Growth rate.

(iii) Literacy

Ans:

(i) Density of population: The density of population is the number of persons living per unit area. It is usually expressed as the number of people per square kilometre (sq.km).
(ii) Birth rate, Death rate and Growth rate:
- The number of births per thousand of population in a given year under a particular territory is called the Crude Birth Rate (popularly known as birth rate).
- The number of deaths per thousand of population in a given year under a particular territory is called the Crude Death Rate (popularly known as the death rate).
- Natural growth rate is the difference between the birth rate and the death rate.
(iii) Literacy: As defined in the Census Report, ‘a person aged seven and above, who can both read and write with understanding in any language is treated as literate’.

6. Explain the National Population Policy?

Ans: The National Population Policy 2000 has made a qualitative departure in its approach to population issues. It does not directly emphasize population control.

It states that the objective of economic and social development is to improve the quality of lives that people lead, to enhance their well-being, and to provide the opportunities and choices to become productive assets (resources) in society.
The immediate objective of the NPP 2000 is to address the unmet needs for contraception, health care infrastructure, and health personnel, and to provide integrated service delivery for basic reproductive and child health care.
The medium-term objective is to bring the total fertility rate (TFR) to replacement levels by 2010 through vigorous implementation of inter-sectoral operational strategies.
The long-term objective is to achieve a stable population by 2045 with sustainable economic growth, social development, and environmental protection.

7. What is meant by women empowerment? How does women empowerment empower the whole society/community?

Ans: The empowerment of women is very crucial for improving the quality of the population as a human resource. Women in India, although making up almost 50% of the total population, have been looked down upon and subjected to discrimination. By simple logic, this has deprived the nation of the contribution of half of its population as human resources. The role of women in our country has been limited to looking after their families, also being mute spectators to all kinds of discrimination, ill-treatments and crimes against them. The ultimate objective is to facilitate the advancement, development and empowerment of women and to eliminate all forms of discrimination. These steps will also ensure their active participation in all spheres of life and activities.