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Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition

NCERT Class 12 · Geography Based on NCERT Class 12 Geography textbook · Free CBSE study kit

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Chapter Notes

Overview
This chapter examines the spatial distribution, density, growth trends, and socio-economic composition of India's population as per the 2011 Census. It explains why population is unevenly distributed across the country due to physical, socio-economic, and historical factors, and analyses the four phases of population growth. The one big idea a student must take away is that India's population is not only large but also highly diverse in terms of rural-urban residence, language, religion, and occupation, and that understanding these patterns is essential for planning and development.
Key Concepts (18)
Census
The official enumeration of population carried out every 10 years in India. The first complete Census was conducted in 1881.
e.g. The 2011 Census recorded India's total population as 1,210 million.
Population distribution
The pattern of where people live across a geographical area. In India, it is highly uneven.
e.g. Uttar Pradesh has the highest population share, while Arunachal Pradesh has only 0.11% of the total population despite its large area.
Density of population
The number of persons per unit area (persons per sq km). It helps understand spatial distribution in relation to land.
e.g. India's population density in 2011 was 382 persons per sq km, ranging from 17 in Arunachal Pradesh to 11,297 in Delhi.
Physiological density
Total population divided by net cultivated area. It measures pressure of population on cultivable land.
e.g. A high physiological density indicates intense pressure on agricultural land.
Agricultural density
Total agricultural population (cultivators, agricultural labourers, and their families) divided by net cultivable area.
e.g. This measure is significant for India because of its large agricultural population.
Growth of population
The change in the number of people living in a particular area between two points of time, expressed as a percentage.
e.g. India's decadal growth rate from 2001 to 2011 was 17.64%.
Population doubling time
The time taken by any population to double itself at its current annual growth rate.
e.g. If the annual growth rate is 1.64%, the doubling time can be estimated using the rule of 70.
Adolescents
Population in the age group of 10-19 years. In 2011, they constituted about 20.9% of India's population.
e.g. Male adolescents constitute 52.7% and female adolescents 47.3% of the adolescent population.
National Youth Policy (NYP–2014)
A policy launched in February 2014 that defines 'youth' as persons in the age group of 15–29 years and aims to empower them to achieve their full potential.
e.g. The NYP–2014 proposes a holistic vision for the youth of India.
Rural–Urban composition
The division of population based on place of residence. In 2011, 68.8% of India's population lived in villages.
e.g. Himachal Pradesh and Bihar have very high percentages of rural population, while Goa and Mizoram have only about half their population in villages.
Linguistic composition
The classification of population by language spoken. India has 22 scheduled languages and numerous non-scheduled languages.
e.g. Hindi has the highest percentage of speakers among scheduled languages; Sanskrit, Bodo, and Manipuri have the smallest.
Language families
Groups of languages that share a common origin. India's major languages belong to four families: Austric, Dravidian, Sino-Tibetan, and Indo-European.
e.g. Indo-Aryan (under Indo-European) is the largest group, spoken by 73% of Indians.
Religious composition
The distribution of population by religion. Hindus are 79.8%, Muslims 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jains 0.4% (2011).
e.g. Muslims are concentrated in Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Lakshadweep.
Main worker
A person who works for at least 183 days (or six months) in a year.
e.g. A factory worker employed year-round is a main worker.
Marginal worker
A person who works for less than 183 days (or six months) in a year.
e.g. A seasonal agricultural labourer who works only during harvest is a marginal worker.
Work participation rate
The proportion of working population (main + marginal workers) to total population. In 2011, it was 39.8% for India.
e.g. Himachal Pradesh has a high work participation rate of 51.9%, while Lakshadweep has a low rate of 29.1%.
Occupational structure
The distribution of workers across different sectors: primary (cultivators, agricultural labourers), secondary (household industries), and tertiary (other workers).
e.g. In 2011, 54.6% of workers were in primary sector, 3.8% in secondary, and 41.6% in tertiary.
Beti Bachao–Beti Padhao
A nationwide social campaign launched by the Government of India to address gender discrimination and promote education and empowerment of girls.
e.g. The campaign aims to improve the child sex ratio and ensure girls' access to education.
How It Works
Calculation of Decadal Growth Rate
  1. Identify the population of the base year (p1) and the present year (p2).
  2. Subtract p1 from p2 to get the absolute increase.
  3. Divide the absolute increase by p1.
  4. Multiply by 100 to express as a percentage.
  5. Formula: g = ((p2 - p1) / p1) × 100
💡 Students often forget to multiply by 100 or use the wrong base year. Always use the earlier year as the denominator.
Four Phases of Population Growth in India (1901-2011)
  1. Phase I (1901-1921): Stagnant/stationary phase — very low growth rate, even negative (-0.31% in 1911-1921) due to high birth and death rates, poor health services, illiteracy, and inefficient distribution.
  2. Phase II (1921-1951): Steady growth — mortality rate declined due to improved health, sanitation, and transport; birth rate remained high, leading to higher growth despite the Great Depression and World War II.
  3. Phase III (1951-1981): Population explosion — rapid fall in mortality but high fertility; average annual growth rate of 2.2%; developmental activities and international migration contributed.
  4. Phase IV (1981-present): Growth rate slowing down gradually — downward trend in crude birth rate due to increased mean age at marriage, improved quality of life, and female education.
💡 The year 1921 is called the 'Great Divide' because it marks the transition from stagnant to steady growth. Phase III is the 'population explosion' phase.
Determinants of Population Distribution
  1. Physical factors: climate, terrain, availability of water — North Indian Plains, deltas, and coastal plains have higher population.
  2. Socio-economic factors: evolution of settled agriculture, pattern of human settlement, development of transport network, industrialisation, urbanisation.
  3. Historical factors: early history of human settlement in river plains and coastal areas.
  4. Development of irrigation, mineral/energy resources, and transport can convert thinly populated areas into moderately/highly populated ones (e.g., Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Peninsular states).
💡 Students often list only physical factors. Socio-economic and historical factors are equally important for full marks.
Classification of Indian Languages by Family
  1. Austric (Nishada) — 1.38%: Austro-Asiatic sub-family includes Mon-Khmer (Meghalaya, Nicobar) and Munda (West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, etc.).
  2. Dravidian (Dravida) — 20%: South Dravidian (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala), Central Dravidian (Andhra Pradesh, M.P., Odisha, Maharashtra), North Dravidian (Bihar, Odisha, West Bengal, M.P.).
  3. Sino-Tibetan (Kirata) — 0.85%: Tibeto-Myanmari, Tibeto-Himalayan, North Assam, Siamese-Chinese, Assam-Myanmari branches.
  4. Indo-European (Aryan) — 73%: Includes Iranian, Dardic (Jammu & Kashmir), and Indo-Aryan (most of northern, central, western, and eastern India).
💡 The largest family is Indo-European (73%), not Hindi alone. Dravidian is the second largest (20%).
Occupational Classification of Workers (Census 2011)
  1. Cultivators: persons engaged in cultivation of crops on land owned or leased.
  2. Agricultural Labourers: persons who work on others' land for wages.
  3. Household Industrial Workers: persons engaged in industrial production within the household.
  4. Other Workers: all workers not in the above three categories (non-household industries, trade, commerce, construction, repair, services).
💡 Primary sector includes cultivators and agricultural labourers together (54.6% in 2011). Secondary sector is only household industries (3.8%). Tertiary sector is 'other workers' (41.6%).
Exam Traps — Don't Make These Mistakes
⚠ Confusing 'density of population' with 'distribution of population'
✗ Density of population means how people are spread out in a region.
→ Distribution refers to the spatial pattern of where people live (e.g., uneven, concentrated in plains). Density is a specific numerical measure: persons per sq km.
✓ Density of population is the number of persons per unit area (persons per sq km), which helps quantify the pressure of population on land.
⚠ Mixing up 'physiological density' and 'agricultural density'
✗ Physiological density is total population divided by total geographical area.
→ Physiological density uses net cultivated area, not total geographical area. Agricultural density uses net cultivable area and includes only agricultural population.
✓ Physiological density = total population / net cultivated area. Agricultural density = total agricultural population / net cultivable area.
⚠ Incorrectly stating the year of the 'Great Divide'
✗ The year 1951 is the great divide because it marks the start of population explosion.
→ The 'Great Divide' in India's demographic history is 1921, because it separates the stagnant phase (negative growth) from the steady growth phase. 1951 marks the beginning of the population explosion phase.
✓ The year 1921 is considered the 'Great Divide' as it marks the transition from a period of stagnant/negative growth to a period of steady population growth.
⚠ Confusing 'main worker' and 'marginal worker' definitions
✗ A main worker works for more than 183 days, and a marginal worker works for less than 183 days.
→ The definition uses 'at least 183 days' for main worker and 'less than 183 days' for marginal worker. 'More than' is incorrect because 183 days exactly qualifies as main worker.
✓ A main worker is a person who works for at least 183 days (or six months) in a year. A marginal worker works for less than 183 days in a year.
⚠ Stating that India's population is the largest in the world
✗ India is the most populous country in the world.
→ As per the 2011 Census data in the chapter, India is the second most populous country after China. (Note: As of 2023, India has surpassed China, but the chapter text explicitly states 'second most populous after China'.)
✓ India is the second most populous country in the world after China, with a total population of 1,210 million (2011).
⚠ Omitting 'induced' component when defining population growth
✗ Population growth is the change in number of people due to birth and death rates.
→ Population growth has two components: natural (birth and death rates) and induced (migration). The chapter explicitly mentions both, though it focuses on natural growth.
✓ Population growth has two components: natural (crude birth and death rates) and induced (inward and outward movement of people, i.e., migration).
Compare & Contrast
Definition and purpose
Physiological density
Agricultural density
Physiological density = total population / net cultivated area (measures overall pressure on farmland). Agricultural density = total agricultural population / net cultivable area (measures pressure specifically from farming population).
Number of days worked per year
Main worker
Marginal worker
A main worker works for at least 183 days (six months) in a year, while a marginal worker works for less than 183 days.
Growth characteristics
Phase I (1901-1921)
Phase III (1951-1981)
Phase I was a stagnant/stationary phase with very low or negative growth due to high birth and death rates. Phase III was the population explosion phase with rapid fall in mortality but high fertility, leading to an average annual growth rate of 2.2%.
Exam Focus
Marks pattern: 2 MCQs (1 mark each), 1-2 Short Answer questions of 3 marks, 1 Long Answer question of 5 marks. Total approximately 10-12 marks.
Most asked: Four phases of population growth (especially the significance of 1921) · Spatial pattern of density of population (high, moderate, low density states) · Factors affecting population distribution (physical, socio-economic, historical) · Occupational structure (primary, secondary, tertiary sector shares) · Rural-urban composition and its variation across states · Religious and linguistic composition of India
Don't skip: Discuss the spatial pattern of density of population in India (5 marks); Give an account of the occupational structure of India's population (5 marks); Explain the four phases of population growth in India (5 marks); Describe the factors responsible for uneven distribution of population in India (3 marks)
One-Line Revision (read aloud before the exam)
  1. India's population as per 2011 Census is 1,210 million, making it the second most populous country after China.
  2. Population density of India in 2011 is 382 persons per sq km, ranging from 17 in Arunachal Pradesh to 11,297 in Delhi.
  3. Uttar Pradesh has the highest population share, while Arunachal Pradesh has the lowest (0.11%).
  4. The year 1921 is known as the 'Great Divide' in India's demographic history.
  5. Phase III (1951-1981) is called the period of population explosion with an average annual growth rate of 2.2%.
  6. Physiological density = total population / net cultivated area; Agricultural density = total agricultural population / net cultivable area.
  7. Adolescents (10-19 years) constitute 20.9% of India's population (2011).
  8. 68.8% of India's population lives in rural areas (2011).
  9. India has 22 scheduled languages; Hindi has the highest percentage of speakers.
  10. The four language families of India are Austric (1.38%), Dravidian (20%), Sino-Tibetan (0.85%), and Indo-European (73%).
  11. Hindus constitute 79.8%, Muslims 14.2%, Christians 2.3%, Sikhs 1.7%, Buddhists 0.7%, Jains 0.4% of India's population (2011).
  12. Work participation rate in India is 39.8% (2011); Himachal Pradesh has the highest (51.9%), Lakshadweep the lowest (29.1%).
  13. 54.6% of workers are in primary sector, 3.8% in secondary (household industries), and 41.6% in tertiary sector (2011).
  14. A main worker works for at least 183 days a year; a marginal worker works for less than 183 days.
  15. The National Youth Policy (NYP-2014) defines youth as persons aged 15-29 years.
  16. Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao is a government campaign to address gender discrimination and promote girls' education.

MCQs — 10 Questions with Answers

Q1. According to Census 2011, which state/UT has the highest population density in India?

  • A. Delhi (11,297 persons/sq km) ✓
  • B. Bihar (1,102 persons/sq km)
  • C. West Bengal (1,029 persons/sq km)
  • D. Kerala (859 persons/sq km)

Answer: A — Delhi as the National Capital Territory has the highest population density at 11,297 persons/sq km due to concentration of government, commerce, and services.

Q2. Which of the following ten states together account for approximately 76 per cent of India's total population?

  • A. UP, Maharashtra, Bihar, WB, AP, TN, MP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat ✓
  • B. UP, Maharashtra, Bihar, WB, AP, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Jharkhand
  • C. UP, Maharashtra, Bihar, WB, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Gujarat, Rajasthan
  • D. UP, Maharashtra, Bihar, WB, AP, TN, Assam, Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana

Answer: A — The ten states of UP, Maharashtra, Bihar, WB, AP, TN, MP, Rajasthan, Karnataka, and Gujarat together contain 76% of India's population.

Q3. What is the decadal growth rate of India's population according to Census 2011?

  • A. 1.64 per cent annually
  • B. 2.11 per cent per decade
  • C. 1.97 per cent per decade ✓
  • D. 0.82 per cent annually

Answer: C — The decadal growth rate shown in Census 2011 data is 1.97 per cent per decade, reflecting the slowing growth rate over the last century.

Q4. Study the formula: Physiological Density = Total Population / Net Cultivated Area. Why is this measure more significant for India than simple arithmetic density?

  • A. Because it shows pressure on cultivable land, which is crucial for an agrarian country with large farming population ✓
  • B. Because it increases with every Census and is easier to calculate
  • C. Because it measures only urban population and not rural population
  • D. Because it removes the effect of mountains and water bodies from density calculation

Answer: A — Physiological density is more relevant for India because it measures human pressure on actual farmable land, critical for a country where 69% are rural and dependent on agriculture.

Q5. Which of the following statements about population density in India is NOT correct?

  • A. Density has increased from 117 persons/sq km in 1951 to 382 in 2011
  • B. Hill states of the Himalayan region have relatively high population densities ✓
  • C. Coastal plains have higher population concentration than interior districts of southern India
  • D. Bihar has higher density (1,102) compared to Tamil Nadu (555)

Answer: B — Hill states of the Himalayan region have relatively LOW population densities due to difficult terrain, lower temperatures, and challenging agriculture, not high densities.

Q6. Assertion (A): The concentration of population remains high in North Indian Plains despite resource degradation. Reason (R): An early history of human settlement and developed transport networks keep these regions attractive for habitation. Which of the following is correct?

  • A. Both A and R are correct, and R is the correct explanation of A ✓
  • B. Both A and R are correct, but R is not the correct explanation of A
  • C. A is correct but R is incorrect
  • D. Both A and R are incorrect

Answer: A — The statement correctly explains that historical settlement patterns and transport infrastructure lock populations into regions even when resources degrade, making R the valid reason for A.

Q7. If the natural growth component of population is (Birth Rate − Death Rate), then the induced growth component refers to:

  • A. Inward movement of people minus outward movement (net migration) ✓
  • B. The doubling time calculation
  • C. The census operations conducted every 10 years
  • D. The increase in agricultural density

Answer: A — Induced growth is specifically the volume of inward and outward migration; net migration (inward − outward) is the induced component complementing natural growth.

Q8. Examine the data: Arunachal Pradesh (17 persons/sq km), Rajasthan (201 persons/sq km), and Punjab (550 persons/sq km). Which factor best explains why Rajasthan and Punjab have much higher densities than Arunachal Pradesh despite similar climatic challenges?

  • A. Rajasthan and Punjab have flat terrain while Arunachal Pradesh is mountainous
  • B. Development of irrigation in Rajasthan and Green Revolution agriculture in Punjab have attracted and sustained population ✓
  • C. Rajasthan and Punjab have cooler climates than Arunachal Pradesh
  • D. Urban industrialisation is absent in Arunachal Pradesh

Answer: B — Irrigation development in Rajasthan and agricultural mechanisation (Green Revolution) in Punjab transformed population potential in these regions from what would be thinly populated areas.

Q9. Which of the following cities shows high concentration of population primarily due to industrial development and urbanisation rather than early agricultural settlement?

  • A. Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru (all mentioned as urban regions with high concentration) ✓
  • B. Varanasi and ancient river delta cities
  • C. Rural settlements in the North Indian Plains
  • D. Himalayan foothill towns

Answer: A — Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and similar urban regions have high population density primarily due to modern industrial development and urbanisation drawing rural-urban migrants, not historic agriculture.

Q10. HOTS: If India's population is 1,210 million with a density of 382 persons/sq km, and the total geographical area is approximately 3.28 million sq km, calculate which of the following correctly interprets the relationship between India's land and population resources.

  • A. More than 90% of India's land is densely populated with over 500 persons/sq km
  • B. Uneven distribution means some regions (plains, coasts) are densely populated while hills and plateaus are sparse, requiring better resource management across regions ✓
  • C. The average density of 382 persons/sq km is uniformly distributed across all states
  • D. Population growth is slowing, so density will decrease in the coming decades

Answer: B — The 382 average masks extreme variation (Delhi 11,297 vs Arunachal 17); uneven distribution concentrates 76% in 10 states, creating resource pressure in some areas while others remain underutilised, requiring regional planning.

Flashcards

What is the current population density of India (Census 2011)?

382 persons per square kilometre, representing an increase from 117 persons/sq km in 1951.

Which five states account for the largest share of India's population?

Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh are the five most populous states.

Define physiological density and give its formula.

Physiological density = total population divided by net cultivated area, measuring pressure on farmland.

Name three physical factors that influence population distribution in India.

Climate (temperature and rainfall), terrain (plains vs mountains), and water availability are the three main physical factors.

Which two components make up the total population growth rate?

Natural growth (births minus deaths) and induced growth (migration in and out) together form total population growth.

What is population doubling time?

Population doubling time is the number of years required for a population to double itself at the current annual growth rate.

Which state has the highest population density among Indian states?

Bihar has the highest population density among Indian states with 1,102 persons per square kilometre.

Name the sources of population data in India.

Population data are collected through Census operations held every 10 years; India's first complete Census was in 1881.

How has development of irrigation affected population distribution in India?

Irrigation development in Rajasthan has resulted in moderate to high population concentration in previously thinly populated areas.

Which physical feature do the North Indian Plains and Coastal Plains share regarding population?

Both the North Indian Plains and Coastal Plains have higher proportions of population due to fertile soils, water availability, and early settlement.

Important Board Questions

Define population density and name the three types of population density used in geography. [2 marks] [2 marks]

State that density is persons per unit area; name (1) Arithmetic, (2) Physiological, (3) Agricultural density; mention their individual formulas in one line each.

Explain with examples how physical and socio-economic factors together determine the uneven distribution of population in India. [5 marks] [5 marks]

Physical factors: cite climate/water/terrain in plains vs mountains with examples (North Indian Plains vs Himalayas). Socio-economic: explain early agriculture settlement, transport networks, industrialisation (Delhi/Mumbai urban centres) with 2-3 specific examples showing how development changed thinly populated areas.

Analyse the spatial variation in population density across India (2011 Census data) and discuss why physiological density is more important than arithmetic density for agricultural planning in India. Support your answer with three specific state examples. [6 marks] [6 marks]

Compare highest (Delhi 11,297) and lowest (Arunachal Pradesh 17) arithmetic densities; explain physiological density = pop/cultivated area measures farm pressure; show why this matters: India has 69% rural population dependent on agriculture (use Appendix-i data for 3 states like Bihar/UP showing high physiological pressure vs states like Punjab/Haryana with better irrigation/mechanisation reducing pressure despite high arithmetic density); conclude how physiological density guides agricultural policy and land-use planning better than simple arithmetic average.

Assertion-Reason Questions for Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition

Q1. Assertion (A):

The decadal growth rate of India's population has been steadily increasing over the last one century.

Reason (R):

The increase in crude birth rate relative to crude death rate is responsible for high and increasing growth rates.

Answer: B — Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A — The assertion is explicitly stated in the chapter text. However, the reason is incomplete/partially incorrect. While increasing birth rates relative to death rates contribute to growth, the chapter emphasizes natural increase (birth rate minus death rate) and migration as two separate components. The reason doesn't fully explain why growth rates have been 'steadily increasing' over a century, as death rates have actually declined in recent decades.

Q2. Assertion (A):

Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, West Bengal, and Andhra Pradesh together account for approximately 76 per cent of India's total population.

Reason (R):

These states are located in North Indian Plains and coastal deltas where water availability, terrain, and historical settlement patterns favor high population concentration.

Answer: D — A is false but R is true — The assertion is FALSE. The chapter states that TEN states/UTs (including Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Gujarat) together account for ~76%, not just five states. The reason is correct in explaining why population concentrates in plains and deltas, but it explains a true general principle, not the false assertion.

Q3. Assertion (A):

Population density in India increased more than threefold from 1951 (117 persons/sq km) to 2011 (382 persons/sq km).

Reason (R):

The increase in arithmetic population density reflects a corresponding increase in physiological density and agricultural pressure on cultivable land across all Indian states equally.

Answer: C — A is true but R is false — The assertion is TRUE (382/117 ≈ 3.26 times). However, the reason is FALSE because physiological and agricultural densities may not increase proportionally to arithmetic density. Different states have varying cultivable areas, irrigation development, and agricultural labor force changes, so the increase in pressure on land is NOT uniform across states.

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Case-Based Questions (CBQ) for Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition

Case Study:

Census 2011 data reveals striking patterns in India's population concentration. Uttar Pradesh with 199.8 million people represents 16.5% of India's total population, while Arunachal Pradesh has only 1.38 million (0.11%). Similarly, Delhi's NCT shows a density of 11,297 persons/sq km, while Arunachal Pradesh has merely 17 persons/sq km. Urban agglomerations like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Bengaluru account for disproportionately large shares of their respective state populations. Historical records show that North Indian Plains have been centers of settled agriculture since the Bronze Age, with established trade routes and irrigation systems predating modern infrastructure by centuries.

Q1. Which factor most directly explains why Delhi's population density (11,297 persons/sq km) is approximately 664 times higher than Arunachal Pradesh's (17 persons/sq km)?

  • A. Delhi has more rainfall and better soil quality than Arunachal Pradesh
  • B. A combination of terrain, historical settlement patterns, capital city status, and industrial development concentrating opportunities in Delhi ✓
  • C. Arunachal Pradesh's population is naturally restricted by government migration policies
  • D. The difference is purely due to current infrastructure development

Answer: B

Q2. The data showing Uttar Pradesh's 199.8 million population versus Arunachal Pradesh's 1.38 million illustrates:

  • A. Arithmetic population density measures
  • B. The uneven spatial distribution of India's population across states and territories ✓
  • C. The direct relationship between state geographical area and population share
  • D. The effectiveness of modern census collection methods

Answer: B

Q3. How would the physiological and agricultural densities of Uttar Pradesh likely compare to those of Arunachal Pradesh?

  • A. UP would have much lower densities due to its larger cultivable area
  • B. Both states would have identical physiological densities
  • C. UP would have much higher densities due to dense agricultural population relative to cultivable land ✓
  • D. Agricultural density cannot be calculated for states with urban populations

Answer: C

Q4. The historical data showing North Indian Plains as ancient centers of settled agriculture explains modern high population concentrations there because:

  • A. Ancient populations developed better climate-control technology
  • B. The climate in North Indian Plains has improved significantly since the Bronze Age
  • C. Path dependency: early agricultural development created permanent advantages in transport networks, infrastructure, and settlement patterns that persist today ✓
  • D. Modern populations are genetically adapted to higher densities in plains

Answer: C

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Previous Year Questions (PYQ) for Population: Distribution, Density, Growth and Composition

Real CBSE board exam questions from past papers — free to attempt.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/2 · 1 mark

Choose the most appropriate option related to the major speech areas of the 'Indo-European' language family.

  • Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka
  • West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
  • Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra
  • Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/1/1 · 1 mark

During which one of the following phase of population growth in India, negative growth was recorded in a decade?

  • Phase I
  • Phase II
  • Phase III
  • Phase IV

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/1/3 · 1 mark

Which one of the following phases is associated with gradual slowing down of population growth in India?

  • Phase I
  • Phase II
  • Phase III
  • Phase IV

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/1 · 1 mark

During which one of the following decades, the population growth in India was negative ?

  • 1911 to 1921
  • 1931 to 1941
  • 1951 to 1961
  • 1971 to 1981

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/3 · 1 mark

Which one of the following phases of population growth in India is referred to as 'period of steady population growth'?

  • Phase I
  • Phase II
  • Phase III
  • Phase IV

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/2 · 1 mark

India : Decadal Birth Rate, Death Rate and Rate of Natural Increase, 1901 – 2011

The natural rate of increase is continuously in an increasing order in which of the following phase of population growth ?

  • Phase-I
  • Phase-II
  • Phase-III
  • Phase-IV

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/2 · 1 mark

India : Decadal Birth Rate, Death Rate and Rate of Natural Increase, 1901 – 2011

Choose the duration of 'Phase-III' of population growth from the following.

  • 1921 – 1951
  • 1931 – 1961
  • 1941 – 1971
  • 1951 – 1981

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/4/2 · 1 mark

India : Decadal Birth Rate, Death Rate and Rate of Natural Increase, 1901 – 2011

The lowest crude birth rate was recorded in which of the following decades ?

  • 1971 – 1981
  • 1981 – 1991
  • 1991 – 2001
  • 2001 – 2011

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/5/2 · 5 marks

"India has a highly uneven pattern of population distribution." Support the statement with examples.

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/1/1 · 1 mark

Choose the right group of states where Dravidian language is spoken majorly.

  • Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra
  • Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh
  • Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
  • Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/1/3 · 1 mark

Choose the right group of states where Dravadian language is spoken majorly.

  • Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Maharashtra
  • Karnataka, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh
  • Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Karnataka
  • Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Madhya Pradesh

CBSE 2026 · Set 64/3/1 · 3 marks

The adolescent people of India have high potential but they are quite vulnerable. Explain the statement.

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Class 12 Geography Previous Year Questions, Chapter-wise

All 759 CBSE board questions from 2022–2026, sorted by chapter and question type. Free PDF download.

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Class 12 Geography Map Work

All 99 places on the CBSE 2026-27 map list, with where each is and what to remember, marked with the board years (2022–2026) each was asked. Free PDF download.

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