Sociology Class 12 chapter 2 questions and answers The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society

Ncert Solutions for Class 12 Sociology Chapter 2: The demographic structure of the indian society question answer

Textbook	Ncert
Class	Class 12
Subject	Sociology
Chapter	Chapter 2
Chapter Name	The Demographic Structure of the Indian Society ncert solutions
Category	Ncert Solutions
Medium	English

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Question 1: Explain the basic argument of the theory of demographic transition. Why is the transition period associated with a ‘population explosion’?

Answer 1: The theory of demographic transition explains the transformation of countries from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as they develop economically and socially. It is divided into four (or sometimes five) stages:

Stages of Demographic Transition:

1. Pre-Industrial Stage: High birth rates and high death rates due to limited medical knowledge, poor sanitation, and lack of reliable food supply. Population growth is slow or stagnant.
2. Early Industrial Stage: Death rates decline significantly due to improvements in medical care, sanitation, and food production. Birth rates remain high, leading to rapid population growth.
3. Late Industrial Stage: Birth rates begin to decline as people gain access to education, urbanization increases, and the costs of raising children rise. Population growth slows down.
4. Post-Industrial Stage: Both birth and death rates are low, leading to a stable or declining population. Fertility rates may fall below replacement levels in some regions.

Population Explosion During the Transition Period: The transition period is associated with a population explosion, particularly in the early industrial stage, due to the following reasons:

1. Decline in Death Rates: Improvements in healthcare and sanitation reduce mortality, especially among infants and children, leading to longer life expectancy.
2. Continued High Birth Rates: Social and cultural factors, such as traditional views favoring large families, and lack of access to contraception, keep birth rates high temporarily.
3. Lag Effect: The reduction in birth rates typically lags behind the decline in death rates, causing a temporary period of rapid population growth.

Question 2: Why did Malthus believe that catastrophic events like famines and epidemics that cause mass deaths were inevitable?

Answer 2: English political economist Thomas Robert Malthus argued that human population tend to grow at a much faster rates than the rate which the means of human subsistence (land, agriculture) can grow. He said population rises in geometric progression whereas agricultural production can only grow in Arithmetic progression.

Malthus believed that positive checks to population growth in the form of famines and diseases, was inevitable. These are nature’s way of dealing with the balance between food supply and increasing population. According to him, these natural checks are extremely painful and difficult. Although it helps to achieve a balance between population and subsistence by increasing the death rate.

Question 3: What is meant by ‘birth rate’ and ‘death rate’? Explain why the birth rate is relatively slow to fall while the death rate declines much faster.

Answer 3: Birth Ratе: Birth ratе rеfеrs to thе numbеr of livе births pеr thousand pеoplе in a givеn population in a spеcific timе pеriod. 

Dеath Ratе: Dеath ratе rеfеrs to thе numbеr of dеaths pеr thousand pеoplе in a givеn population in a spеcific timе pеriod. 

Thе birth ratе is rеlativеly slow to fall comparеd to thе dеath ratе bеcausе birth ratеs arе influеncеd by various social and cultural factors, such as fеrtility prеfеrеncеs, family norms, and contracеptivе usе. Changing thеsе factors takеs timе and oftеn rеquirеs changеs in sociеtal attitudеs and policiеs. 

In contrast, dеath ratеs can dеclinе morе rapidly duе to improvеmеnts in hеalthcarе, sanitation, and disеasе control. Tеchnological advancеmеnts and mеdical innovations can quickly rеducе mortality ratеs, lеading to a fastеr dеclinе in dеath ratеs comparеd to birth ratеs. 

Question 4: Which states in India have reached or are very near the ‘replacement levels’ of population growth? Which ones still have very high rates of population growth? In your opinion, what could be some of the reasons for these regional differences?

Answer 4: Replacement level refers to the rate of growth required for new generations to replace the older ones that are dying out.

Replacement level refers to giving birth to two children that replacement completes. States at the replacement level of population growth: Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Goa, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.

States very near to the replacement levels of population growth :- Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and West Bengal.

States having very high rates of population growth :- U.P., Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh.

Reasons of regional differences :-

Difference in Literacy Percentage in different states.
Societal conditions vary in different states. Terrorism, war-like conditions and insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir and North-East.
Socio-Economic conditions vary in different states.
(i) Number of BPL people is highest among states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha.
(ii) Socio-cultural formation:- A belief that more children means more hands to earn or religious beliefs.

Question 5: What is meant by the ‘age structure’ of the population? Why is it relevant for economic development and growth?

Answer 5: The age structure of a population refers to the proportionate numbers of people in different age categories in a given population for a defined time. It is a natural characteristic of a population in a country or a region. The age structure is closely related to the birth rate, death rate and migration of a population.

Age structure of the indian population 1961-2026

Year	Age groups (Percentage round up)			Total
	0-14 years	15-59 years	60+years
1961	41	53	6	100
1971	42	53	5	100
1981	40	54	6	100
1991	38	56	7	100
2001	34	59	7	100
2011	29	63	8	100
2026	23	64	12	100

This table indicates that the share of the under 15 age group in the total population has come down from higher level of 42% in 1971 to 34% in 2001 and it is perfected to be reduced to 23% in 2026. It means birth rate in India is gradually decreasing.

Relevance for economic development and growth :-

• (i) Due to the advancement in medical sciences, public health measures and nutrition the life expectancy is at rise. This is due to economic development and growth.
• (ii) Need of family planning in being understood. Decrease in 0-14 years age group reveals that National population policy is implemented properly.
• (iii) Because of socio-cultural changes in Indian society and economic growth Age structure of population is moving towards positive young India.
• (iv) Dependency ratio is decreasing and increase in working population is causing positive growth in Indian economy.
• (v) Economic development and improvement in quality of life improve life expectancy and changes the structures of the population.
• (vi) High infant mortality rate and material mortality rate due to poor economic growth hence an adverse effect of age structure on the population.

Question 6: What is meant by the ‘sex ratio’? What are some of the implications of a declining sex ratio? Do you feel that parents still prefer to have sons rather than daughters? What, in your opinion, could be some of the reasons for this preference?

Answer 6: The sex ratio refers to the number of females per 1,000 males in a given population. It is an important demographic indicator that reflects the social and cultural dynamics of a society. A balanced sex ratio is crucial for societal stability and equality.

Implications of a Declining Sex Ratio: A declining sex ratio (fewer females compared to males) has significant social, economic, and cultural implications:

1. Gender Imbalance in Society: Skewed sex ratios can lead to a surplus of men, resulting in difficulties for some men to find partners. This imbalance can create social tensions.
2. Increased Crimes Against Women: A scarcity of women can lead to issues like trafficking, forced marriages, and exploitation of women in some regions.
3. Adverse Effects on Family Structures: The preference for male children can perpetuate smaller family sizes and neglect of daughters in terms of education and health.
4. Economic Consequences: A reduced number of women in the workforce can hinder economic growth and gender diversity in various sectors.
5. Social Stigma and Patriarchy: A declining sex ratio reflects entrenched patriarchal values that undervalue women’s roles and contributions.

Do Parents Still Prefer Sons Over Daughters?

In many societies, including India, there is still evidence of a preference for sons, though this is gradually changing in urban and progressive areas.

Reasons for Son Preference

1. Cultural Beliefs: Sons are often seen as carriers of the family name and lineage.
2. Economic Factors: Sons are traditionally viewed as breadwinners who provide financial support to parents in old age, whereas daughters are often perceived as a financial burden due to dowries and marriage expenses.
3. Religious Practices: In many traditions, sons are required to perform last rites for parents, which is considered essential for salvation.
4. Patriarchal Norms: Societies with patriarchal norms give greater importance to male heirs for property inheritance and decision-making roles.
5. Security Concerns: Parents may feel daughters are more vulnerable to violence and exploitation, leading to a preference for sons who are perceived as protectors.