One of the major challenges faced by Indian economy is POPULATION EXPLOSION. India has the highest world rate of population in the world. This has lead to population explosion . POPULATION EXPLOSION is the situation where the growth of population is faster than the growth and development of the economy . India's population is very large and it is growing rapidly.This has created difficulties in the way of economic development.
CAUSES OF POPULATION EXPLOSION IN INDIA
The growing difference between the slowly falling birth rate and rapidly declining death rate has kept the 'survival rate' high, this is responsible for population explosion. Since independence the population in India has more than tripled from 36.1 crores in 1951 to 121.02 crores in 2011.
BIRTH RATE means the number of births occuring per thousand population in a year. The main causes of birth rate are:
- UNIVERSAL MARRIAGE- Marriage is almost universal in India . It is a social and religious necessity. It is considered quasis-religious obligation to procure children.
- ILLITERACY- A large proportion of population in general and women in particular are illiterate in INDIA. i.e.37.54 as per the census 2011. So long as large proportion of population remains illiterate 25.6% 2011 the people are bound to be superstitious, ignorant, they will continue to have large families.
- POVERTY- Poverty has contributed to birth rate significantly. They feel child is the GIFT OF GOD . They think every additional child will suppliment to their family income.Many poor people are illiterate and hence they are not aware of benefits of family planning.
- TROPICAL CLIMATE - Due to tropical climate girls and boys attain their puberty at an early age , therefore the birth rate is high in India.
The number of deaths per thousand population in a year is called death rate or mortality rate.
Causes of rapid decline in the death rate are:-
- CONTROL OF NATURAL CALAMITIES - The devasting effects of natural calamities like famines, floods, earthquakes etc. have been controlled by bringing improvement in transportation, communication, rescue operations, medical aid, water supply etc. This has lead to decline in death rate.
- IMPROVEMENT IN MEDICAL AND HEALTH FACILITIES - Due to wide spread increase in medical and health facilities , epedemics like plague, cholera, malaria, etc have been almost eradicated. Improved medical facilities , hygiene , increase in doctor nurse ratio etc have helped to reduce death rate.
- EDUCATION - Increase in literacy rate both among males and females has helped in bringing down the death rate.
- IMPROVEMENT IN STANDARD OF LIVING - Improvement in standard of living of people due to improvement in per capita consumption , good quality food, education clothing and accomodation has contributed to fall in death rate.
- OTHER FACTORS -
a) DECLINE OF INFANT MORTALITY
b) SOCIAL REFORMS
c) RAPID URBANIZATION