RBSE Class 9 Social Science Solutions Geography Chapter 6 Population
RBSE Class 9 Social Science Solutions Geography Chapter 6 Population
RBSE Class 9 Social Science Population InText Questions and Answers
Page No. 54
Question 1.
What could be the reason of uneven distribution of population in India?
Answer:
The following are the reasons of uneven distribution of population in India:
(1) Geographical Factors:
(i) Relief:
Regions with rugged surface and those covered with thick forests, such as the mountainous areas and island groups of India are not at all suitable for human habitation and are hence thinly populated. However, the northern plains with flat and fertile land is densely populated.
(ii) Climate:
Harsh climatic conditions and low amount of precipitation found in the hot and cold deserts of India (the Thar Desert and Ladakh region) and places located in high mountain regions do not attract human settlements. But, northern plains, coastal plains and plateau regions with pleasant or tolerable climate and high amount of precipitation are moderately to thickly populated.
(iii) River-Systems:
Rivers are the main source of water that is used for domestic and industrial purposes and irrigation. Rivers facilitate inland transportation, production of hydroelectricity and deposition of fertile alluvium in the river valleys. Therefore, river basins such as Ganga, Satluj and Brahmaputra plains are densely populated. Several populated cities such as Patna, Kanpur and Kolkata are situated at river banks.
(iv) Natural Resources:
Places rich in natural resources such as rich soil, minerals, and natural vegetation promote economic activities and are densely populated. Therefore, the area of northern plains, coastal plains, the chotanagpur plateau, the Karnataka plateau are densely populated.
(2) Economic factors:
(i) Places with more employment opportunities such as fertile lands, industrial towns and big cities attract a large number of people.
(ii) Regions which are well-connected by means of roadways, railways, waterways and have with modem infrastructure are densely populated. Good transport system and infrastructure has a positive impact upon trade as they facilitate movement of people and goods. Hence, such areas are thickly populated, whereas the remote areas are sparsely populated.
(3) Administrative and Religious Factors:
Well-placed government policies, good governance and religious sentiments attached to a place are some other ‘pull’ factors for human settlements. Population
Page No. 56
Question 2.
Table 6.1 reveals that despite the decline in growth rates, the number of people being added every decade is steadily increasing. Why?
Answer:
Since 1981, the rate of growth has been declining gradually due to rapid decrease in the low rates during this period. However, India’s population is very large. Even with a low rate of growth in population per annum, the total additions in the base population becomes very large. Kerala has a sex ratio of1084 females per 1000 males, Puducherry has 1038females for every 1000 males, while Delhi has only 866 females per 1000 and Haryana has just 877.
Question 3.
What could he the reasons for such (sex ratio) variations?
Answer:
Kerala and Puducherry have high literacy levels. Most people are well-educated and number of working women is high. Therefore, discrimination between male and female children and prevalence of social customs unfavourable to women are low. This has led to more ideal sex ratios. On the other hand, Delhi and Haiyana are male dominated societies with preference for a male child. Low literacy levels, especially among females have given rise to discrimination between male and female children and social evils such as dowry and female foeticide are common. This is the reason behind the sex ratios that are unfavourable to females.
RBSE Class 9 Social Science Population Textbook Questions and Answers
Question 1.
Choose the right answer from the four alternatives given below.
(i) Migrations change the number, distribution and composition of the population in
(a) the area of departure
(b) the area of arrival
(c) both the area of departure and arrival
(d) none of the above
Answer:
(c) both the area of departure and arrival
(ii) A large proportion of children in a population is a result of
(a) high birth rates
(b) high life expectancies
(c) high death rates
(d) more married couples
Answer:
(a) high birth rates
(iii) The magnitude of population growth refers to
(a) the total population of an area
(b) the number of persons added each year
(c) the rate at which the population increases
(d) the number of females per thousand males
Answer:
(b) the number of persons added each year
(iv) According to the Census 2001, a “literate”person is one who
(a) can read and write his/her name
(b) can read and write any language
(c) is 7 years old and can read and write any language with understanding
(d) knows the 3 ‘R’s (reading, writing, arithmetic)
Answer:
(c) is 7 years old and can read and write any language with understanding
Question 2.
Answer the following questions briefly.
(i) Why is the rate of population growth in India declining since 1981?
Answer:
The rate of population growth has been declining since 1981 because of the rapid decline of the birth rates during this period.
(ii) Discuss the major components of population growth.
Answer:
Major components of population growth are:
(a) Birth rate: It is the number of live births per thousand person in a year. It is a major component of population growth because it is always higher than death rates.
(b) Death rate: It is the number of deaths per thousands person in a year. It is also major reason behind population growth because there is rapid decline in death rates.
(c) Migration: Migration is movement of people across region or territories. Migration can be internal or international. Internal migration does not change the size of population within the nation. Migration plays a very significant role in changing the composition and distribution of population.
(iii) Define age structure, death rate and birth rate.
Answer:
Age structure: The age structure of a population refers to the number of people in different age groups in a country. It is one of the most basic characteristic of population. It has three broad’categories – children, working age and aged groups.Death Rate The number of deaths per 1000 persons in a year is called the death rate. Birth Rate: The number of live births per 1000 persons is called the birth rate.
(iv) How is migration a determinant factor of population change?
Answer:
Migration is the movement of people across regions or territories. It is a determinant factor of population change because it changes the population size and the distribution and composition of population across countries or regions within a country. Internal migration or migration within the country, causes no change in the population size of the country. It changes only the distrit&tion and composition of population within a particular area of the country. On the other hand, International migration or migration between two countries, changes the population size of a country, and influences the distribution and composition of its population as well.
Question 3.
Distinguish between population growth and population change.
Answer:
1. Population growth:
Population growth refers to the change in the number of inhabitants of a country territory during a specific period of time.
2. Population change:
Population change refers to the changes in population composition like age structure, sex ratio, literacy rate, occupational structure, and distribrltion of the population in various areas of the country.
Question 4.
What is the relation between occupational structure and development?
Answer:
The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure. Occupations are generally classified as primary, secondary, and tertiary economic activities. The proportion of people working in different economic activities is the index of development of a country. In developing countries, a higher proportion of their workforce is engaged in activities, such as agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, fishing, mining and quarrying.
These are classified as primary economic activities and involve extraction or refining of natural resources. In developed nations, a high proportion of people are involved in either secondary economic activities that involve the processing of raw materials , such as manufacturing industry, building and construction work; or else are involved in tertiary activities that involve providing services , such as transport, communications, commerce and administration.
Question 5.
What are the advantages of having a healthy population?
Answer:
The following are the advantages of having a healthy population:
- A healthy population is physically strong and mentally active. It makes an efficient productive workforce for the country and thus contributes in promoting social and economic development of the nation.
- Healthy people can work hard and earn enough to reduce poverty and raise their standard of living.
- A healthy population can work towards removal of social evils and lead to social progress.
- Population in the non-productive age group also needs to be healthy to reduce expenditure on healthcare. Healthy elders put less drain on the nation’s resources.
- Healthy children grow into healthy adults and contribute better in the economy.
Question 6.
What are the significant features of the National Population Policy 2000?
Answer:
The Significant features of the national population policy are:
(i) The percentage of population that is economically active is an important index of development. The distribution of the population according to different types of occupation is referred to as the occupational structure. An enormous variety of occupations are found in any country. Occupations are, generally, classified as primary, secondary and tertiaxy.
(ii) The proportion of people working in different activities varies in developed and developing countries.
(iii) Developed nations have a high proportion of people in secondary, and tertiary activities.
(iv) developing countries tend to have a higher proportion of their workforce engaged in primary activities.
(v) In India, about 64 per cent of the population is engaged only in agriculture. The proportion of population dependent on secondary and tertiary sectors is about 13 and 20 per cent respectively.
(vi) There has been an occupational shift in favour of secondary and tertiary sectors because of growing industrialisation and urbanisation in recent times.