CBSE Class 9 - Social Science - Population (Q and A) (#CBSEClass9Notes)

Population

Q & A based on NCERT Chapter

Part-2

Q1: Which one of the following states is the least populated state?

(a) Rajasthan

(b) Tripura

(c) Jammu and Kashmir

(d) Sikkim

Answer: (d) Sikkim

Q2: What are the primary concerns of population studies? Explain.

Answer: 

① Population size and distribution: How many people are there and where are they located.

② Population growth and process of population change: How has the population growth changed through time.

③ Characteristics or qualities of a population: What are their age, sex composition, literacy levels, occupational structure and health conditions.

Q3:  What are the three categories of occupational activities in India? Has India witnessed any occupational shift in recent times?

Answer: The three categories are:

① Primary activities: 

These activities include agriculture, animal forestry, husbandry, fishing, mining and quarrying, etc.

② Secondary activities: 

These include building, manufacturing industries and construction work, etc.

③ Tertiary activities: 

These include communication, transport, commerce, administration and other services.

There has been an occupational shift in India in favour of secondary and tertiary sectors because of growing industrialisation and urbanisation in recent times.

Q4: In which one of the following years was the first census conducted in India?

(a) 1881

(b) 1872

(c) 1879

(d) 1870

Answer: (b) 1872

Q5: What do you mean by sex ratio? Give two reasons responsible for unfavourable sex ratio in India.

Answer: 

Sex ratio is defined as the number of female per 1000 males in the population. Following reasons are responsible for unfavourable sex ratio in India:

(1) The problem of pre-natal sex determination in the North Indian States.

(2) The problem of female foeticide in the North Indian States.

(3) Heavy migration rate to cities.

Q6: Why is literacy important? Explain.

Answer: An educated and literate person can make better decisions. He or She can participate in development projects thus contribute to economic development of a nation. A literate person has better skills and is an asset to the nation. On the other hand, illiterate persons may not possess good skills and are obstacles for economic development.

Q7: What is National Population Policy? Explain its four main characteristics.

Answer: The National Population Policy constitutes a set of plans and programmes to promote a responsible and planned parenthood on a voluntary basis. It also takes measures to check the uncontrolled population growth that may lead the country to the state of population explosion.

Following are its main characteristics:

ⅰ To reduce the mortality rate.

ⅱ To achieve universal immunisation of children against all vaccine preventable diseases.

ⅲ To promote delayed marriage for girls.

ⅳ To make family welfare, a people friendly programme.

ⅴ To provide a policy framework for imparting free and compulsory school education up to 14 years of age.  

Q8: What is the literacy rate of the country as per the census 2011?

Answer: The literacy rate as per 2011 census is 74.04%. i.e. 82.14% for males and 65.46% for females.

Q9: What percentage of the population of India is engaged in agriculture?

Answer: 64%

Q10:  Identify the three states of the Northern Plains with high population densities.

Answer: The three states of the Northern Plains with high population densities are:

(i) Uttar Pradesh

(ii) Bihar

(iii) West Bengal

Q11: Kerala has a sex ratio of 1,058 females per 1,000 males, Pondicherry has 1,001 females for every 1,000 males, while Delhi has only 821 females per 1,000 males and Haryana has just 861.

What would be the reasons for such variations?

Answer: Kerala has the highest female literacy rate.

The variations in a sex ratio of South Indian States like Kerala and Pondicherry to North Indian states like Delhi and Haryana are as follows:

1.The problem of pre-natal sex determination in the North Indian States.

2.The problem of female foeticide in the North Indian States.

3.A heavy migration rate into Delhi. Usually, males migrate to Delhi for better job opportunities thus, creating an imbalance in the sex ratio.

Q12: As per the census of 2001 in India 75.26 per cent of males and 53.67 females were literate. Why do such differences exist?

Answer: In India, there is a wide variation in literacy rates between males and females. Such differences exist due to the following reasons:

(i) Orthodox views of the parents that the money spent on girl’s education will be a sheer wastage of money. The same money can be saved for her marriage.

(ii) The girl child is expected to help in household works with her mother in spite of giving to the school.

(iii) In the case of less income of parents, the sons are sent to school while girls are told to sit at home.

(iv) Early marriages is also a hindrance in the girl's education.  

✎Note: See Population Q & A (Part-1)
MCQs on Population