Access the latest NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Geography Chapter-1: updated for 2024-2025. Solution is designed to help students tackle difficult questions with ease. The content is written in simple, easy-to-understand language.
Exercise
Choose the right answers of the following from the given options.
(i) India’s population as per 2011 census is :
(a) 1028 million (c) 3287 million
(b) 3182 million (d) 1210 million
Ans. (d) 1210 million
(ii) Which one of the following states has the highest density of population in
India?
(a) West Bengal (c) Uttar Pradesh
(b) Kerala (d) Bihar
Ans. (d) Bihar
(iii) Which one of the following states has the highest proportion of urban
population in India according to the 2011 Census?
(a) Tamil Nadu (c) Kerala
(b) Maharashtra (d) Goa
Ans. (d) Goa
(iv) Which one of the following is the largest linguistic group of India?
(a) Sino – Tibetan (c) Austric
(b) Indo – Aryan (d) Dravidian
Ans. (b) Indo-Aryan
Answer the following questions in about 30 words:
(i)Explain the role of climate on the distribution of population in India.
Ans. Very hot and dry areas (like deserts) and very cold and wet regions (like high mountains) have low population density due to the harsh living conditions, lack of water, and limited economic opportunities.
(ii)Which states have a large rural population in India? Give one reason.
Ans. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal have large rural populations due to the prevalence of agriculture as the primary occupation.
(iii)Why do some states of India have higher rates of work participation than others?
Ans. States like Himachal Pradesh and Nagaland have higher work participation rates due to the predominance of agricultural activities and fewer alternative employment opportunities.
(iv)‘The agricultural sector has the largest share of Indian workers.’ – Explain.
Ans. Despite a declining trend, agriculture continues to employ the largest portion of India’s population due to its historical dominance and the lack of industrialization in many areas.
Answer the following questions in about 150 words:
(i)Discuss the spatial pattern of density of population in India.
India’s population density shows significant spatial variation. Northern plains and coastal areas such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal have high population densities due to fertile soil and favorable climate. In contrast, regions like Rajasthan, Arunachal Pradesh, and Jammu & Kashmir have low population densities, mainly due to the harsh climatic conditions and difficult terrain. Industrial areas like Mumbai and Delhi also have high densities, reflecting urbanization and migration.
(ii) Give an account of the occupational structure of India’s population.
India’s occupational structure is dominated by the primary sector, with about 54.6% of the population working in agriculture as cultivators or laborers (2011 Census). The secondary sector, including industries and manufacturing, accounts for 3.8% of workers, while the tertiary sector, which covers services like trade, commerce, and IT, employs about 41.6% of the population. There has been a gradual shift from agriculture to non-farming activities, reflecting economic transformation.
Other Important Short Answer-type Question
Here are some important short answer-type questions based on Chapter 1: “Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition,” of the NCERT Class 12 Geography textbook, which can be useful for 12th-grade exam and competitive exams like UPSC. These questions are designed to go beyond the exercise section of the textbook and are formulated to test core concepts.
1.What are the factors affecting population distribution in India?
Answer: The factors affecting population distribution in India include:
- Physical Factors: Climate, terrain, and availability of water. For example, fertile plains and river valleys such as the Indo-Gangetic plains have high population density, while hilly, arid, and forested regions like the Himalayas have low population density.
- Socio-Economic Factors: Areas with better job opportunities, industrialization, urbanization, and development of transport networks attract higher population densities. For instance, cities like Delhi and Mumbai have high densities due to industrial and commercial growth.
2.Explain how India’s population density has changed over time.
Answer: India’s population density has steadily increased from 117 persons per sq. km in 1951 to 382 persons per sq. km in 2011. This growth is due to high birth rates, declining death rates, and improvements in healthcare and sanitation. Areas with developed infrastructure and resources have seen a higher increase in density, while remote and less accessible regions have seen a slower increase.
3.What is the significance of physiological density in measuring population pressure?
Answer: Physiological density measures the population in relation to the amount of arable land, providing a clearer idea of the pressure on productive land. In a country like India, where agriculture is a key livelihood, high physiological density indicates intense pressure on available agricultural land, which can lead to over-cultivation, land degradation, and food security concerns.
4.What are the phases of population growth in India?
Answer: India’s population growth has experienced four distinct phases:
- Phase I (1901-1921): Stagnant growth due to high birth and death rates.
- Phase II (1921-1951): Steady growth due to declining death rates but high birth rates.
- Phase III (1951-1981): Population explosion caused by rapid reduction in mortality rates with continued high fertility rates.
- Phase IV (Post-1981): Gradual decline in growth rate due to reduced birth rates, better healthcare, and education, especially among women.
5.How does urbanization impact population distribution in India?
Answer: Urbanization leads to a higher concentration of the population in urban areas, especially in industrialized and economically developed regions such as Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru. This is due to better employment opportunities, improved infrastructure, and services. In contrast, rural areas, especially those with stagnant agricultural economies, witness lower population growth or even population decline due to migration to urban centers.
6.What role does the National Youth Policy play in managing India’s adolescent population?
Answer: The National Youth Policy (NYP) 2014 focuses on empowering youth aged 15-29 years. It aims to develop their skills and potential through education, employment opportunities, and entrepreneurship. By addressing challenges such as school dropouts, unemployment, and health issues like malnutrition and HIV/AIDS, the policy seeks to improve the productivity of this demographic group and ensure their contribution to national development.
7.Explain the concept of population doubling time and its significance.
Answer: Population doubling time refers to the time it takes for a population to double in size at its current growth rate. It is an important indicator of how fast a population is growing and helps in planning for future resource allocation. In India, the doubling time has been decreasing over the years due to high growth rates, but recent trends show a gradual slowdown in population growth.
8.What is the composition of the working population in India?
Answer: India’s working population is divided into three categories:
- Primary Sector (54.6%): Involves agriculture and allied activities. This sector has the largest share of workers but is declining due to rural-urban migration.
- Secondary Sector (3.8%): Includes manufacturing and household industries.
- Tertiary Sector (41.6%): Comprises services like trade, commerce, and administration. It has been growing as industrialization and urbanization increase in India.
9.Discuss the relationship between population growth and economic development.
Answer: Population growth impacts economic development in multiple ways. Rapid population growth can put pressure on resources like land, water, and food, leading to poverty, unemployment, and strain on infrastructure. However, with proper education and skill development, the youthful population can contribute to economic growth through labor force participation. Effective management of population growth, as seen in policies like the National Policy for Skill Development, can lead to sustainable economic development.
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
Here are 20 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) based on NCERT Class 12 Geography Chapter 1, “Population: Distribution, Density, Growth, and Composition,” which have relevance to UPSC and other exams. The answers are provided at the end.
1. What is the population of India as per the 2011 Census?
a) 1028 million
b) 1210 million
c) 3182 million
d) 3287 million
2. Which of the following states has the highest population density as per the 2011 Census?
a) Kerala
b) Bihar
c) West Bengal
d) Uttar Pradesh
3. What is the population density of India as per the 2011 Census?
a) 250 persons per sq. km
b) 400 persons per sq. km
c) 382 persons per sq. km
d) 350 persons per sq. km
4. Which state has the largest rural population according to the 2011 Census?
a) Uttar Pradesh
b) Maharashtra
c) Bihar
d) Madhya Pradesh
5. Which of the following factors affects the population distribution in India?
a) Climate
b) Terrain
c) Socio-economic factors
d) All of the above
6. Which of the following regions in India has a very low population density?
a) North Indian Plains
b) Coastal Plains
c) Himalayan Region
d) Western Ghats
7. Which of the following states has the lowest population density?
a) Arunachal Pradesh
b) Sikkim
c) Mizoram
d) Nagaland
8. Which of the following is not a reason for high population growth in India?
a) High birth rate
b) Low mortality rate
c) Increased urbanization
d) Early marriage
9. What does population density indicate?
a) The number of persons per unit area
b) The growth rate of population
c) The literacy rate of an area
d) The number of females per 1000 males
10. What is the major reason for uneven population distribution in India?
a) Physical factors
b) Religious factors
c) Linguistic factors
d) Climatic factors
11. Which phase is known as the period of population explosion in India?
a) 1901-1921
b) 1921-1951
c) 1951-1981
d) 1981-2011
12. In which census did India record a negative growth rate?
a) 1901
b) 1921
c) 1931
d) 1951
13. The period 1921-1951 is known as the phase of:
a) High growth
b) Stagnant growth
c) Steady growth
d) Population decline
14. What is the agricultural density of a region?
a) Total population / net cultivated area
b) Total agricultural population / net cultivated area
c) Total population / total land area
d) Total workers / total land area
15. The National Youth Policy 2014 defines ‘youth’ as individuals in which age group?
a) 10-19 years
b) 15-24 years
c) 15-29 years
d) 18-35 years
16. Which state in India has the highest proportion of urban population?
a) Goa
b) Tamil Nadu
c) Kerala
d) Maharashtra
17. Which of the following is a socio-economic factor affecting population distribution?
a) Climate
b) Terrain
c) Industrialization
d) Natural disasters
18. What is meant by physiological density?
a) Population per unit of cultivated land
b) Population per unit of total land
c) Population per household
d) None of the above
19. The doubling time of a population is defined as:
a) Time taken for a population to increase by 50%
b) Time taken for a population to double in size
c) Time taken for the death rate to halve
d) Time taken for the birth rate to double
20. What was India’s annual population growth rate as per the 2011 Census?
a) 1.64%
b) 2.2%
c) 1.2%
d) 2.0%
Answers:
1. b) 1210 million
2. d) Bihar
3. c) 382 persons per sq. km
4. a) Uttar Pradesh
5. d) All of the above
6. c) Himalayan Region
7. a) Arunachal Pradesh
8. c) Increased urbanization
9. a) The number of persons per unit area
10. a) Physical factors
11. c) 1951-1981
12. b) 1921
13. c) Steady growth
14. b) Total agricultural population / net cultivated area
15. c) 15-29 years
16. a) Goa
17. c) Industrialization
18. a) Population per unit of cultivated land
19. b) Time taken for a population to double in size
20. a) 1.64%
Other Chapter
| Chapter 2:- HUMAN SETTLEMENTS | Chapter 3:- LAND RESOURCES AND AGRICULTURE |
| Chapter 4:– WATER RESOURCES | Chapter 5:- MINERAL AND ENERGY RESOURCES |
| Chapter 6:- PLANNING AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN INDIAN CONTEXT | Chapter 7:- TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION |
| Chapter 8:- INTERNATIONAL TRADE | Chapter 9:- GEOGRAPHICAL PERSPECTIVE ON SELECTED ISSUES AND PROBLEMS |
